Please reconsider the…

Please reconsider the cancellation of the Cap and Trade program. As a person who cares deeply about the kind of world we are creating and leaving for future generations, climate change needs to be addressed. It seems your government is practicing a new kind of climate change denialism. It appears because you can no longer get away (politically) with outright saying climate change is a hoax. Even 45 in Washington won't publicly state his former views that it is some Chinese plot to redistribute funds and enter some kind of worldwide socialist state. But in cancelling the Cap and Trade program without anything tangible to replace it, that is exactly what you are doing. You wouldn't toss an imperfect, yet working system of climate mitigation in favour of absolutely nothing unless you truly believed there was no problem to begin with. If I wasn't happy with the disease treatment and care I was receiving from my family doctor, I would not choose to leave him unless I had some other better options in mind. To kick him or her to the curb with a vague promise to find a new way to combat the problems in your life would be irresponsible. But that is exactly what your are doing with Ontario's climate change file.

If you agree with your Minister of Environment Rod Phillips that this recent Ontario election was a referendum of carbon taxation, please respect the majority of Ontarians who did not vote for the PC party — the only one promising to dismantle carbon pricing.

Further, if you want to score political points, I have an idea. Do not cancel the Cap and Trade program. Keep it until you have a better, more efficient way to reduce carbon emissions. I doubt you will lose much support from your base for this so-called 'back-track', but have the potential to gain huge numbers of those to the left of the political spectrum. On a personal level, you will gain my respect as a party that values democracy and public consultation. Many people in this great province want to keep taxes low but also have social and environmental supports in place that help us create a brighter and more prosperous future. You could even replace the Cap and Trade with a revenue neutral, and Ontario specific carbon tax. As people who can most easily not drive as much for example, you would gain huge numbers in Toronto (where most of this revenue kick-back would likely take place). Thus in contrast to using Cap and Trade revenues to fund environmental initiatives such as electric vehicle car incentives, you could put that money directly back into people's wallets. Imagine; I'm paying $120 (for example) more per year in gasoline but when I receive a annual cheque for $190, what will I remember? The $2.50 extra per week I spend at the pump or this cheque with 'For the people' plastered all over it? As humans we are not very good at detecting small, routine hits to our budget but are well aware of large, rare payouts. Tell someone that their car is costing them between 8-13k and they will not believe it (supporting link provided). But tell them to buy a new house they will need to come up with $10,000 more and the picture changes.

In summary, I do not support this move to cancel the Cap and Trade program without anything tangible in its place to address climate change. Other states and provinces are looking to us to provide leadership and enter this new era of low-carbon economies and lifestyles. Please do all you can to support this.

p.s. Doug, I hear you do not eat red meat. Good on you! That is one of the best things we can do to help mitigate climate change. Please keep that kind of momentum going on larger, more influential climate policies that are also in your hands.