I wish to express by deep…

I wish to express by deep concern about Bill 4 and the abolition of the Cap & Trade program. While the evidence of climate change is all around us I find it appalling that the provincial government has more commitment to big and small business than to the survival of our planet. The recent suggestion that Premier Ford is going to take action to reduce pollutants from large trucks, etc., is simply window dressing to appear concerned about the environment. Pollution from big trucks is only a small percentage of the problem. It's fine to reduce diesel engine pollutants but let's not abandon a program that penalizes polluters and moves the resources to companies and individuals who are developing innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas pollutants.

I recently dropped into the riding office of my local MPP to express my concern about Bill 4. I was told that the emphasis of the government is to provide jobs and stimulate the economy. Who can't support stimulating the economy? But at what expense? Government should be leading the way in educating Ontarians to the dangers of climate change. The evidence is overwhelming that the health of our planet is deteriorating at an alarming, and ever-increasing pace. Lest we think that giving companies the right to pollute in order to improve their bottom line and provide jobs, please do not ignore the long term impact of polluting our environment. The number and intensity of hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe storms are far out of proportion to anything we have seen in my lifetime and that exceeds 70 years! What we are seeing is unprecedented. It is getting harder and harder to get insurance in some storm-prone areas and in time, a short time, it will be impossible to get insurance for storm damage in many areas. Who picks up the pieces for people who lose everything in such circumstances. Not only will homes be destroyed but places of employment. And there go the jobs people polluted to preserve! Will the government step in and fund those losses? I think not. But even if government does who will be the ultimate payor? The tax paying public of course. So the tax payer will pay for the follies of short-sighted government yet again.

Your policies re the environment are regressive and destructive. Don't hide behind the fact that the people want jobs. Of course they do. But it is the government's responsibility to educate the people as to what the impact is if we get our priorities backwards. There are generations that will follow us. I have teenage grandchildren and I speak up on their behalf. The near-sightedness and self interest of politicians who develop policies that serve only their own selfish career interests, will be reaped by my grandchildren. They have every right to ask me what I did to prevent the environmental mess that lies ahead. Here's what I will tell them. I will further curtail my travel at home and abroad; (we stopped going to Florida last year so as not to support a government that has no interest in saving the environment) continue to reduce my use of electricity and natural gas where possible, lower home temperatures in the winter and raise them in the summer; I will dispose of hazardous waste as required and wherever possible; our next vehicle will be a hybrid to further reduce greenhouse emmissions and it will be electric once the technology is there to make it practical. And I will write to government to urge them to care about future generations, urge them to proactively and honestly assume their obligation to the public by educating them to the dangers that lie in the near future. I know that's not much but I don't sit where you do. You have the power and influence to do much more. You are the policy makers. What are you doing?

I ask every elected MLA , regardless of political stripe, to vote against Bill 4. I ask and expect each member of the majority party in the legislature to think of your responsibility to do the right thing, not the expedient thing; not the thing that will keep you in the good graces of the Premier. I urge you to put statesmanship above politics. Do the right thing for the country and for my grandchildren, and yes, for my children, because these environmental changes are happening NOW! We are in an environmental crisis NOW! We are nearing the tipping point from which there will be no recovering. I URGE YOU TO DEFEAT BILL 4.