I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my opposition Bill 4 and the cancellation of cap and trade for the following reasons:

1. Eliminating cap and trade sends the wrong message to the business community. Eliminating cap and trade on such short notice will inject uncertainty into the business community and create economic loss for the dozens of participating businesses. And the Ontario government is opening itself up to more costly lawsuits through the investor-state dispute settlement mechanism from businesses who have lost their permits. At the very least, affected businesses will demand compensation.
2. Eliminating cap and trade will cost Ontario. We are shutting the door on $420 million in funding federal through the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund, funds that will support valuable projects and job security.
3. Eliminating cap and trade delays the inevitable. If Bill 4 is passed, a carbon tax most likely be imposed by the federal government as early as January. This is of course unless the Ontario government develops an alternative carbon reduction plan, which it has made no indication of doing.
4. Eliminating cap and trade will cost tax payers. Much of $2.9 billion in revenue from cap-and-trade has already been reinvested in programs that tax payers benefit from including home energy efficiency, public transit and electric vehicle infrastructure.

Bill 4 makes absolutely no economic sense. I implore you to listen to concerned citizens and the business community and keep cap and trade.