I disagree strongly with the…

I disagree strongly with the idea that charging polluters for polluting doesn't work. Hitting a company's bottom line is the only thing that will get a business to change its practices - as a small business owner, I understand this concept very well.

The money raised by charging polluters could be used to actually return money directly to the taxpayers - especially the "little people" who need it most (see attached article from National Post). Imagine writing a rebate cheque from the government of Ontario to each household - that would probably earn more votes than the foolhardy scheme of cancelling cap and trade - a system which has been proven to work everywhere else for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

We all drink the same water and breathe the same air. If pollution is not reduced, health care costs will increase directly in proportion to the amount of noxious emissions (as the attached California study demonstrates). Taxes will have to go up to cover additional sickness due to dirty air and water. Ultimately, failure to rein in polluters will cost the government and the people of Ontario through increased spending on OHIP, and hit employers in the pocketbook with higher employee extended health insurance premiums and more sick days taken. In either case, someone has to pay - I would rather it be the ones who create the pollution than the ordinary taxpayer.

It has been argued that companies who pay to pollute will simply pass on the extra cost to the customer, so the taxpayer pays in the end. However, when pollution-causing products cost more, people may switch to more ecological bands, and the ensuing competition will clean up the whole economy. Meanwhile, with our rebates from the carbon tax rebate described above, we will be able to afford more thoughtfully made ecological and health-promoting products. Win-win for everyone.

Finally, we as a province can also stop subsidizing fossil fuel companies. Yes, energy is necessary to life, but the form it takes can be a much cleaner one. $34 billion of uncollected tax on fossil fuel could be redirected into "green" energy technologies, which would have the added benefit of reducing the health care costs of air pollution. That money could also be used to build efficient public transit, which is sorely needed in many urban areas. We could also partner with Quebec, which produces cleaner energy with hydroelectric.

Bottom line - Ontario must move towards green energy, by a polluter pay scheme, ending fossil fuel subsidies and finding green energy sources that work.