As a longtime Ontario…

As a longtime Ontario resident, and someone whose health is affected by the impacts of climate change, I oppose this Bill and the repeal of Ontario's Cap and Trade system. This Bill is not supported by any evidence and is premature, given that nothing has been put in its place. Ontario must honour its international agreements on climate change and the reduction of emissions within set targets. This is the most important issue of our time and there is no business case for allowing polluters to pollute. I don't care if gas prices increases -- pollution affects us all and this Bill concerns our planet, our health, and our economy. The Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon Economy Act, 2016, is absolutely necessary in order to address climate change, and encourage investment in renewable energy. It is already clear that renewables have taken over traditional fossil fuels and are an obvious source of jobs, bringing significant investment to Ontario. This Bill does not address any of those objectives. It is reckless to repeal the CCMLEA as it has been proven to work. The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has reported:

“Dismantling a climate change law that was working is bad for our environment, bad for our health, and bad for business… A meaningful climate law needs science-based emissions budgets, a legal obligation to stay within those budgets, and credible, transparent progress reporting. Ontario can still choose sensible solutions that help families make ends meet while bringing climate pollution down. Polluter-pay tools, for example, give people more choice and a fair reward for reducing their emissions, and can help reduce other taxes they pay.”

I also oppose the government's plan to prevent any cause of action from accruing against the Crown from the repeal of the CCMLEA -- The Crown should be held accountable for its actions.

In summary, I strongly oppose this Bill and fully support the CCMLEA in its current form.