Most of the world's…

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Most of the world's population believes that climate change is real and pollution is a major problem for all life on this planet. Regardless of whether either of these hypotheses is true, people are looking for new processes, methods and technologies to solve these perceived problems. The Cap and Trade initiative seeks to provide incentives to businesses to find or invent new processes, methods and technologies that reduce the pollution they create. This new knowledge can then be sold around the world, making Ontario richer in the process.

This initiative is not free. Investments must be made by businesses, and these investments cost money. Cap and Trade distributes the cost of this initiative across all businesses, regardless of whether they are actively working on the problems. Ultimately, cheap and easily implemented solutions invented in Ontario will benefit every business and individual in the province. Those who own the solutions will benefit the most, but overall the province will be better off, even those who continue to pollute as they do today.

Cap and Trade may not be perfect, but something like it is desirable, and even necessary for the province's financial survival in the future. Dismantling Cap and Trade without replacing it with something that achieves a similar goal would be short-sighted and irresponsible.