This is not a partisan issue…

This is not a partisan issue, nor a provincial one. The recent IPCC Report was a stark reminder that climate change is an international, human issue - and humanity has a deadline. Rather than being eliminated, cap and trade needs to not only exist in this province, but be ramped up with the cap declining by even more than 4% annually, and more funding made available to support the programs for both individuals and business that will help contribute to overall reductions (energy retrofits, electric vehicles, improved infrastructure, reforestation and afforestation, investment in clean energy industries).

The only way the cancellation of cap and trade is acceptable is if it is being done to make way for a new, stricter regulation that will come into effect immediately to force a faster reduction in emissions. But as that seems unlikely, an aggressive cap and trade policy is required to provide the economic incentives to bring emissions down as rapidly as possible.

Ontario needs to step up and become a climate leader, and make use of market incentives and support for clean industry to bring us safely into the future.