The Ontario government needs…

The Ontario government needs to understand the imminent threat that climate change poses to us and future generations. I feel that the government is not taking this issue seriously, and has a flippant, disrespectful attitude toward people that care about the environment. This should not be a partisan battle between politicians of different stripes, and treated like a zero-sum game. The stakes are the future of the planet, and our children's futures. Environmental policy should be smart, evidence-based, and respect future generations.

The recent IPCC Report states in no uncertain terms that climate action needs to be taken immediately, and that measures must be considerable. Nobel Prize-winning economist Bill Nordhaus has recently stated that the best way to help the environment is through carbon taxes. We need to take away incentives for people who pollute, and increase incentives for people to create new technologies, businesses, and scientific discoveries that don't pollute. Ontario should seek to be at the cutting edge of new technologies, and accrue the economic benefits of being early adopters and innovators in healthier tech and business practices, ones that that don't pollute and ruin our atmosphere and oceans.

I am appalled by the government's regressive action on this serious issue. Stop rewarding people that pollute the environment. Governments need to be smart, and they need to use the best evidence available when deciding what to do on this life or death issue. Carbon taxes are our best bet to create a livable planet for our children.