I want Ontario to remain…

I want Ontario to remain prosperous, democratic and openly engaged with the rest of the world, even as climate change intensifies and rapid change becomes unavoidable. I think this will only be possible if Ontario is resolutely supporting the national and global effort to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For this, we need a strong provincial climate plan with:
- Legally binding long-term targets for reduced emissions;
- A long-term plan and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: removing incentives to burn fossil fuels, putting a price on carbon pollution, and offering incentives for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and new technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage;
- Legally binding requirements to monitor and report, so the public can understand and trust the results of the climate plan in terms of costs, benefits, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions;
- Public education about the impacts of climate change in Ontario, Ontario’s readiness to support environmental refugees and citizens impacted by extreme weather, and the health benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Economists say the most efficient policy for reducing emissions is to put a price on carbon. Carbon-fee-and-dividend is a carbon pricing policy where all sides win. 100% of the fees collected from an incrementally rising price on carbon pollution are returned to citizens. The policy is championed by Canadians for Clean Prosperity who reported (Sept.21, 2018), “… the vast majority of households, regardless of income level, would receive more money in the form of carbon dividend cheques than they would pay in carbon taxes, should the federal government implement carbon dividends as its “backstop” starting in 2019.” Carbon fee and dividend was also endorsed by the PostMedia Editorial board (Sept 2017, “Here’s how to make carbon pricing honest”).

The first compliance period for Ontario’s cap and trade program ends in December 2020. This is a logical time to end the program and bring in carbon fee and dividend. Before then, Ontario needs to establish a strong, long-term climate plan that will assure business, industry and citizens of the future direction of climate policies and provide policy persistence for dealing with the climate crisis.