Summary Bill 4 fails to…

Summary

Bill 4 fails to match the urgency of the climate crisis and represents a major step backward in the fight against climate change.
It is unfair and unreasonable to eliminate the province’s only climate plan without being transparent with the public about the plan to replace it.
Bill 4 closes Ontario for business to the $26 trillion global clean economy and will have a negative effect on clean jobs and investment.
Pollution pricing must be a pillar for a climate plan to be efficient and effective.
A credible climate plan would include binding targets to shift Ontario towards being 100% carbon neutral by 2050, supported by specific measures in the areas of energy efficiency, home and building heating, transportation, electricity, and climate adaptation.

Where Bill 4 goes wrong

The consultation process for Bill 4 was insufficient
Bill 4 ignores the urgency of climate change
Bill 4 closes Ontario for business to the clean economy
Bill 4 gives little detail about a replacement plan
Bill 4 does not contain binding emissions targets
Bill 4 eliminates the most important policy tool: pollution pricing

The way forward: Recommendations for a credible climate plan

Adopt carbon fee and dividend
Focus on energy efficiency in homes and buildings
Electrify our transportation system
Support jobs and investment in the clean economy
Make our electricity system clean, affordable, and community-owned
Prepare Ontario for climate impacts

Conclusion

We cannot accept that increasingly severe wildfires, flooding and storms are our new normal.

We still have time to act.

We need profitable plans to do our part in the climate crisis, making GHG reductions a priority across all ministries in government. Time and money is wasted when problematic legislation such as Bill 4, as well government programs and spending plans, undermine our climate obligations.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

We need to get going now -- not just tomorrow