Bill 4 should be modified to…

Bill 4 should be modified to consider the recommendations made by the Environmental Commissioner Dianne Saxe in her recent report.

There should be accommodations made to ensure the Far North indigenous communities (such as the Nishnawbe Aski Nation) are able to adequately manage the speed of change in their environment.

The changes of migratory patterns and abundance of wildlife species is already apparent.

The challenges these communities face is exemplified by the increased unpredictability of the ice road network - which in many communities is the only link to supplies other than expensive air transport

Encourage innovative programs such as wood stove changeout that will help northern and rural communities control their emissions by using modern low emission, clean burning wood stoves that require a reduced volume of wood to supply the level of heat. Using wood heat keeps money in the local economy rather than paying for fossil fuels imported from elsewhere. It shovel be noted that Canada and Ontario is the home of modern wood stove manufacturers.

Make informed decision on how to help rural and northern communities - that consider lower population densities and long travel distances

Provide economic rewards to companies such as GoldCorp that do the right thing - such as the development of new "all-electric" mine near Chapleau

Do a serious value for money review of provincial (and arms length agencies) buildings energy efficiency and immediately implement the recommendations

Enshrine long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets in law, as was the case under the 2016 Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act.

GHG reduction targets set at at a level consistent with Ontario doing its fair share towards achieving the Paris climate agreement target. To avoid overshooting the Paris agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5° Celsius would entail a minimum 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

I believe a permanent Committee of the Legislature be established with monthly public sessions to provide transparency and reporting on progress on what the Province is doing on this topic.

The permanent Committee would have access to expert committee to propose consecutive multi-year (5-year?) carbon budgets which lead to compliance with the long-term emission reduction targets and would straddle the 4 year election cycle

The ECO Commissioner would be expected to report to this Committee at least twice during any calendar year

I suggest the legal challenge of the federal carbon pricing program while good for headlines - is not a useful way forward if we are to use all the tools required to control global warming and climate change and as such should be abandoned.

Consider redeploying GreenON so it can be repurposed for a results driven effort to control emission and provide citizens with advice, incentives and other tools to allow them to reduce their climate impacts.