The cap and trade program…

The cap and trade program helped raise $2.87 billion in revenue for provincial government by selling credits to companies. But “the province says it estimates it will only have to reimburse companies for $5 million of the $2.87 billion they have already paid into provincial coffers.” It is estimated that this reimbursement estimate of $5 million is 100 times too low, and companies will be wanting their money back. Revenues from Ontario’s cap and trade system went towards school refurbishment and home-energy rebates. The Ford government cancelled these programs even though there remains money in the fund which was collected to go towards these initiatives.
On the lawsuit that pressured the government into opening a consultation for public comment: “The case alleges that the Ford government unlawfully failed to provide for public consultation on a regulation that ended Ontario’s cap and trade program and on Bill 4, the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018, currently before the legislature.” The failure to consult went against Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights.
“Environmental Defence is urging Ford’s government to ‘support Ontario’s current science-based pollution reduction targets.’ Programs director Keith Brooks said those targets need to be ‘nearly carbon neutral by mid-century, which is what is required if we hope to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, as agreed to by 195 countries in Paris.’

Bill 4 is idiotic, and is profoundly damaging to the environment. As a citizen of Ontario who most certainly did not vote for the PC party, I sincerely ask you to reconsider this policy.