Re: ERO # 013-3738 – Bill 4,…

Re: ERO # 013-3738 – Bill 4, Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018

To whom it may concern,

Climate change is real and is already impacting the lives of Ontario’s citizens, municipalities and the entire Province of Ontario. Immediate and sustained action is required in order to mitigate and adapt to climate change. It has been widely accepted that man-made GHG emissions from the burning of fossil fuels is causing the world to warm at an unnatural rate.

A recent special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated that keeping the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius is still possible, but only with immediate and drastic action to curb emissions. Ontario being the economic hub of Canada needs to be the leader across our great country to show the nation and the world that Canada is taking climate change seriously.

The National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy in 2012 released a report that found the economic impact on Canada due to climate change could reach $5 billion per year by 2020 and between $21 and $43 billion per year by 2050. The impacts of climate change far outweigh the increased costs caused by Cap and Trade.

Cap and Trade was able to generate over a $1 billion within the first year that was legally required to be re-invested into GHG emission reduction programs. This not only created jobs but also included investment in:

• Public transit that would help alleviate congestion and help people move throughout Ontario getting to work and family;

• Energy efficient retrofits at schools, hospitals and social housing which would help decrease energy costs and improve indoor air quality; and

• Active transportation that would support more bicycling and walking which would improve the overall health of our population.

A strong climate change action plan that includes implementable actions towards GHG emission reductions AND climate adaptation actions are required immediately to help avoid the severe health, financial and environmental destruction that climate change poses to Ontario and the rest of the world.

A detailed and strong financial framework will be required in order to help pay for these actions. Financial support, research and dedicated staff from all levels of government are required in order to address this massive, complex problem.

I have been an optimist my entire life and strongly believe together we can make the world a better place. The past couple of years have made me wonder if we (human kind) have the capacity to tackle this problem. I remain cautiously optimistic but am strongly encouraging the provincial government to NOT make this into a political issue and stay focused on what the Ontario people, environment and economy need to remain prosperous in a changing climate. Policy makers need to listen to science in order to make smart, evidence informed decisions.

Thank you for your time and consideration of my comment.