As a medical school student…

As a medical school student at the University of Toronto, I strongly oppose the Minister of Energy's misinformed attempts to overrule the Ontario Energy Board's decision.

Methane gas in the home is linked to asthma, exacerbations of COPD, and other cardiorespiratory diseases. I work in anatomy labs and more often we are now seeing soot-filled lungs that aren't linked to chronic smoking. Rather they are from people having lived in highly polluted areas, such as in neighbourhoods with homes connected to gas, or in areas where where wildfire smoke (caused by the burning of methane gas) is pervasive in the air.

The energy ministers' claims that this will save money for new homeowners is completely false: studies show that cold climate electric heat pumps would cost less to heat homes than burning methane. This is because these homes would be built with only ONE type of energy infrastructure, electricity, and not require a second (in this case methane gas). Also, methane gas is a stranded asset, meaning that the costs of using this form of energy will be significantly higher in the future for these homeowners, locking them into a 'doomed' investment. Finally, the Energy Minister has not considered the significant health care costs with treating the long-term effects of burning methane gas.

It would be a mistake to overturn the OEB decision. Minister Smith, please reconsider your decision and instead allow for a solution that is less expensive for homeowners, healthier for families, and that also avoids contributing to the buildup of Greenhouse Gases that drive climate change.