I have to admit that I find…

I have to admit that I find it very disturbing that I am having to even provide comments on this proposal, given both the recent report from the IPCC and the awarding of the 2018 Nobel Prize for Economics to a professor for his work on Carbon Pricing. The evidence is very clear that we need to take action now to address climate change. It is also clear that pandering to self-interest capitalist groups and buying uneducated votes will not help. The decision to even table this bill shows a complete inability on the part of the government to look beyond the next election. Meaningful action on climate change is an individual, governmental, and societal responsbility. We have spent too many years with our heads in the sand, ignoring the warning signs and instead listening to the narrative of the oil and gas sector, and all those that use it. Yes, carbon taxing will cost. Yes, as a middle class citizen I am prepared to pay that extra cost in order to have a hospitable planet and a functioning society for my children. What separates humans from the rest of the animal kingdon is our ability to plan well into the future. Sadly, with the proposal of this bill it appears that the provincial government does not want a future. Perhaps a class-action lawsuit against the province might make a difference. The evidence is on the side of carbon taxing (unless you wish to dispute the Nobel prize), and the IPCC clearly articulates the consequences of not taking appropriate action, so there is no longer a case for plausible deniability. This bill represents a direct threat to current and future generations of Ontarians (and Canadians). It is for these reasons that I, someone who would undoubtably pay more with a carbon tax, am against this bill.