It is my firm belief that…

It is my firm belief that Ontario should be developing a plan that will lead to us using 100% renewable energy sources as quickly as we can.

The costs of worsening  climate change and other environmental issues, arising from our ongoing dependence on fossil fuels for energy, weaken our prospects for a healthy future economy, as the damage caused subtracts from growth prospects. That would be a true cost to the Ontario public which I do not wish to burden future generations with.

Ontario cannot improve this situation on it's own. If Ontario demonstrates we are making an effort to work in this direction it will give other regions confidence that a spirit of cooperation on this issue is possible, and encourage others to pursue their own efforts.

A shift to a greener economy should be accompanied by a boost in economic activity resulting from the demand for the development of new forms of economic activities and new ways of meeting our needs.

I believe our economic activity is limited by the form government policy takes at every level under the guidance of neo classical economics, that neo classical economic theory is seriously flawed, and as such represents the major drawback to achieving fast and appropriate responses to this crisis.

I therefore urge the province of Ontario to unite with other provinces and municipalities to send a clear message to Ottawa that it's cooperation with an appropriate fiscal response is needed, and that our monetary system allows the federal government the fiscal policy space to assist provinces in this task with a strong "New Deal" type progressive response which will also help us work towards full employment. We cannot afford to waste any available human resources in the pursuit of the goal of a green economy.

Our economy and it's future growth prospects cannot afford the burden of paying economic rents to private owners of utility monopolies who would resist change in their pursuit of profit maximisation. Public ownership was successful when we needed economic development in the past, and public ownership will be best in he climate were redevelopment of our economy is required today.

[Original Comment ID: 206403]