I am submitting comments to…

I am submitting comments to day opposing the proposed cancellation of the Cap and trade program in Ontario. My reasons are listed below:
Some programs affected by this cancellation are
-GreenON, an initiative that provided Ontario residents with incentives to make our homes more energy efficient thus leading to lower costs for heating and electricity consumption.
-The hybrid and electric vehicle subsidy & associated funding to help Ontarians install EV charging stations at home.
-Funding to help Ontario schools replace windows and take other measures to make schools more energy efficient and comfortable for students year round.
-Grants for Ontario not-for-profits to undertake climate-focused initiatives
-Funding for cycling infrastructure in communities across Ontario
-Funding to improve the energy efficiency of social housing in Ontario
-Funding to help municipalities pursue climate friendly initiatives (ie. Hamilton had requested funding for an electric bus pilot)

All the above mentioned programs have a multitude of benefits to Ontario residents. The obvious is a reduction in energy consumption with positive effects on reducing our carbon footprint. But more so these programs ALL help save Ontario residents and public entities to reduce the "operating" cost of buildings and general costs of living. Thus the Cap and Trade program is a perfect example of a win-win solution. Creating incentives for industry to reduce their reliance on the carbon industry while at the same time the benefits go directly into the pockets of Ontario residents.

A further delay in acting on reducing our CO2 emissions would be a drastic mistake that future generations in Ontario would pay for dearly. The IPCC report just released on Oct. 8, 2018 paints a very exact scientific picture of what will happen if we do not act swiftly with drastic CO2 reduction measures. It is very apparent that future residents of Ontario would carry the burden of climate change, poorer health and costs down the road while the industry responsible for large amounts of the problem causing CO2 emissions would not be required to pay up. Furthermore it will delay needed incentives for industry to get on board to create a reduced CO2 footprint. Other jurisdictions such as countries in Europe with advanced industries have shown us that reduced CO2 emission targets do not lead to an exodus. They rather create room for more advanced technologies to get developed and deployed thus strengthening the industry against global competition.

I encourage the Ontario government to do the right and only responsible thing and keep the current CAP and Trade program in place. If desired the government should look into developing a similar strategy to replace the current system BUT not just cancel the existing program without any clear plan and guidance for Ontario and Ontario's industry.