I am writing in response to…

I am writing in response to the proposed Bill 4, whose purpose would be to repeal the Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act 2016 and provide for various matters related to the wind down of the Cap and Trade Program.
Cancelling the Program will be costly; there will be legal fees connected to the withdrawal from the joint cap-and-trade market Ontario joined with California and Quebec. There will also be legal fees attached to lawsuits that are inevitable. We already have the example of Tesla’s successful lawsuit against the Ontario government. More are inevitable.
In spite of rules specified in Bill 4 for some participants of the program to be reimbursed, many businesses will not be compensated for the almost $3 billion in permits sold. That’s not fair.
My strongest objection is that the cancellation of the Program means that the revenues from it will not be available for programs that were initiated to reduce carbon emissions. These include free smart thermostats for homeowners, energy-saving retrofits for hospitals, schools, and social housing, programs to help businesses save energy, electric vehicle charging stations, and other programs to encourage a switch to low-carbon alternatives. This just doesn’t make sense. Offering incentives makes the decision to act to reduce carbon emissions easier.
The good news is that this is not a done deal. The government has a chance to step back, look at the numbers, and make a better decision for Ontario. I urge the Ontario government to use the opportunity for reconsideration. Do not pass Bill 4. Instead, enact legislation that will promote individual citizens, communities and businesses to reduce their carbon emissions.