I find the approach of…

I find the approach of cancelling the cap and trade program, without analyzing and disclosing costs, to be troubling. I would much prefer to see some discussion and disclosure of costs and benefits that transitioning from cap and trade to federal carbon tax. It is unreasonable to consider that Ontario will avoid a federal carbon tax if there is no provincial carbon pricing.

Climate change should be taken very seriously, and Ontario has the resources to take advantage of this emerging market. I would have preferred to see programs funded by cap and trade analyzed by their long-term cost effectiveness and value for Ontario. Under-producing programs could be scrapped in favour of investments in businesses that remove or reduce carbon output, or in R&D either by grants to businesses or to colleges and universities performing research creating technologies which would reduce carbon output while creating value and jobs for Ontario.

Much of the negative public perception of carbon pricing and environmental policies is a result of gas and energy costs. This could be addressed by moving revenues from programs to rebates, particularly for rural citizens of Ontario who are most sensitive to gas prices due to transportation requirements.

I hope, though I doubt it will be the case, that instead of the immediate cancelling of cap and trade the program will be analyzed and and revenues directed differently or the program will be decreased and wound down slowly.

Whatever solution is implemented needs to be a stable, long term policy that allows businesses to plan effectively. I do not think that cancellation of cap and trade, and the cancellation of program payments that has already gone through, is effective, long term planning.