I'm extremely concerned that…

I'm extremely concerned that the Ontario Government is proposing the cancellation of the Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act, 2016. I hear a great deal about whether or not we should put a price on carbon. Our use of fossil fuels comes with a cost but our method for accounting for these costs is seriously flawed since it fails to recognize that the true cost must include the degree to which this use is subsidized by the environment. An appropriate price on carbon is NOT an additional cost as is often argued, but simply a more appropriate price that we have failed to pay in the past and will continue to ignore if Ontario's Cap and Trade is eliminated. Consequently, our ENVIRONMENTAL deficit continues to skyrocket with no meaningful mechanism in place to reduce or eliminate it and certainly with little meaningful effort to reduce our ENVIRONMENTAL debt.

Is it a "job killing tax"? Addressing this failure will only cost jobs if the government and industry lack the vision and leadership to fully engage the Province in the opportunities that are being brought about by shifting the planet to a low, and eventually zero, carbon economy. It will be a difficult transition and yes, some jobs will be lost (and many others could be created). However, we can no longer delude ourselves into thinking we have a choice. We missed that opportunity 40 years ago.

The most recent report by the IPCC warns that if we are to minimize the impacts of a changing climate to a level that just might be manageable (in terms of our economy, security, health, etc.) we must take aggressive action in a matter of months. Any government that does less will be in the same class as Nero or Neville Chamberlain. But will there be anyone around to write or read this sad history of failed leadership?