I think it's absolutely…

I think it's absolutely heinous that the government is cancelling a program designed not only to help tackle one of the world's - and Ontario's - most pressing crises of global climate change, but that would also have incentivized the rapid growth of low-carbon industries, increasing job creation and prosperity within these sectors. It is beyond clear from the evidence and from the stark reality of Canadians' experiences here at home that people around the world are already suffering the extreme impacts of a rapidly changing climate, as the earth's average temperature continues to increase due to our global society's greenhouse gas emissions.

These impacts are not just environmental, but have tremendous social and economic consequences as communities are torn apart, and alternately scorched, flooded, face extreme droughts and wildfires, and super-powered storms due to the extra energy being trapped in the climate system. When a community burns or a city is hit by a super-charged hurricane, the social and economic consequences are enormous. It is due to the urgency of this crisis that cities around the world are now leading, and in some cases suing the carbon-intensive industries that have caused this crisis, where their provincial or federal governments are falling behind.

Ontario has been a leader in the past on pressing towards a more sustainable society, for instance by phasing out coal-fired power plants. Now, all Ontarians reap the health benefits from this decision as there are far fewer smog days than there were previously, and our economy if anything has gotten stronger. As one of the leading regions in Canada for clean energy development and deployment, it is economic stupidity to NOT be investing in the rapid growth of this sector, which worldwide is now worth in the trillions of dollars. Instead, it is clear that the provincial government is simply pandering towards the corrupt influence of the fossil fuel industry, when it should be looking out for the well-being, safety and long-term prosperity of Ontarians.

While it's sensible to debate the most appropriate climate policies to support a low-carbon transition, "no climate policy" is now merely a sign of greed, corruption and a willingness to worsen our crisis, and makes no economic or social sense whatsoever. It will also cost us millions in already-sold credits to wind down a program that was actually beginning to work. The government should reverse this decision and get back to representing the PEOPLE, NOT the oil industry. SHAME.