Ford's decision to opt out…

Ford's decision to opt out of the Cap & Trade program (CTP) was in my view short-sighted and ill-advised. By all accounts this program was successful in generating significant revenue that was used to support initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of individuals, industry and businesses. I wrote to Ford to express my concerns, only to receive a boiler-plate response (full of political talking points) that reflected gross ignorance on the issue. I'll briefly refute these points below:

1. must wind down CTP to meet our commitment to reduce gas by $0.10 per litre
My response: We must encourage people to drive less not more. It only makes sense to pay more for things like fossil fuels that cause harm to the environment and human health. No different than alcohol and tobacco.
2. CTP is a cost burden to Ontario businesses that will stifle their growth
My response: Actually, trade-exposed industries and businesses whose competitiveness may be affected by a carbon levy represent only a small percentage of the national economy. These entities are largely confined to the fossil fuel industry which is already heavily subsidized by the federal and provincial governments to the tune of several billion dollars a year!
3. CTP does nothing to protect the environment
My response: Duh! Less carbon emitted to the atmosphere = less warming. Inaction and backsliding on the climate file is not an option. It's already affecting Canadians directly in a myriad of ways:
1. northern Indigneous communities forced to relocate due to sea level rise and melting of permafrost
2. displacement of entire communities due to devastating wildfires (ie. in BC and Northern Ontario this summer).
3. multiple deaths of seniors in Montreal during the oppressive heat wave in early July
4. historic flooding in southwestern Quebec in the spring
and the list goes on-------

Why scrap a well-designed and functioning carbon-pricing system with potential liabilities in the billions to the Ontario taxpayer? Instead the PCs could continue with CTP and recycle the revenue to fulfill some of their campaign promises including cutting corporate and personal income taxes, reducing the deficit or expanding mass transit.