Specific feedback on Bill 4:…

Specific feedback on Bill 4:

3 (1) and 4 (1)
Wow, you're kidding me. It's three decades too late for such a vague commitment; establish strict (and significantly low) targets immediately. Change this wording to require the minister to establish targets before January 1, 2019. Require this "climate change plan" by July 1, 2019 and make it comprehensive. Staff within MOECC have extensive knowledge on this front, you do not need to do very much original research and policy development.
3 (2) and 4 (3)
Again, what a low bar. "The Government will make the public aware of things it does." Why bother including a statement like this in legislation? Is there an alternate universe in which you would NOT make GHG emission targets public? What on earth would that serve?
4 (2)
What terrible language choices. Using "advisory" and "advisable" in the same sentence makes it sound like advisory panels might be the ones (necessarily or not) to advise the minister to appoint advisory panels. As well, why on earth bother including this in the bill? Of course the minister will ask experts for advice. If this clause is meant to defend the government against concerns over expensive and unnecessary spending of public resources, then the Premier should change his talking points. And as I said earlier, the public service and countless NGOs across the country and indeed the world have extensive knowledge and documentation regarding planning against climate change; you do not need to appoint panels to delay the establishment of a concrete plan that Ontarians can hold the government to.
5 (1)
How frequently is a "regular basis"? What will be included in these reports? Please suggest the contents in an appending regulation.
5 (2)
Gee, no duh.
10
If this clause is meant to indemnify the Government of Ontario against ANY legal action related to this bill and the previous climate change plan, then that is COMPLETELY unacceptable. It is an overreach of parliamentary power, and indeed a leap towards authoritarian rule, to mandate that citizens can not hold their government to account. Shame on you.
14
Be clear about what powers you intend to transfer to a public servant; I cannot see any reasonable situation in which the elected minister should not be held accountable for decisions that impact my future as a citizen of Ontario.