I am so disappointed and…

I am so disappointed and disgusted with the Ford Government and their plans cancel the cap and trade act.

Climate change is occurring; we are witnessing weather and environmental changes that can only be attributed to climate change. It is our obligation for this and future generations to mitigate its effects and undertake adaptation actions as rapidly as possible. The plans of our new government are literally pushing us backwards; I am embarrassed by their lack of understanding of our country's situation.

Cap and trade was providing the resources to mitigate climate change and targeting the carbon polluters, incentizing behaviour to reduce carbon pollution. The program was supporting many projects important to our municipalities including transit and energy efficiency in public buildings. With projects cancelled, needed investments will not be occurring and cost savings will not be realized. Further, carbon pollution will not be reduced.

The cap and trade program has incorrectly been referred to as a tax - it was anything but. I object to our government misleading the public with incorrect information.

Our government needs a climate change plan. We have one and see no reason to spend scarce public resources on redoing a perfectly good system; no less spending more resources on the compensation that will inevitably be required for the credits that have already been purchased or challenging the federal government’s right to ensure Canadians are protected from climate change.

For a government that claims to be looking to save taxpayers money, the attack on a climate change program that brought billions of dollars to the Ontario economy and supported so many needed public projects is counter intuitive. The government has not factored in any of the costs to Ontarian's for not taking meaningful action on climate change. The costs to business and individuals are rising and will continue to do so.

I received a rebate on windows that were supported by the cap and trade program. It was a win-win situation; I save money; jobs were created; and I reduce my reliance on fossil fuels. A 10 cent savings at the pumps will not have the same effect and encourage people to use more fossil fuels.

Adapting to climate change will drive innovation for the next decades. With innovation comes jobs and growth and an Ontario that I can be proud of.

I encourage the government to put aside its philosophical differences with the previous government and do what’s best for Ontario: helping us mitigate and adapt to our new climate reality. We have already delayed action by a quarter of a year and while we wait for some new plan it will be a half a year of inaction that we can ill afford to wait for.

Please, give me an Ontario that I can be proud to call home.