Dear decision maker, The…

Dear decision maker,

The proposal to cancel the cap and trade program is a terribly short sighted decision and completely unacceptable in the face of predicted climate change impacts which are collaborated amongst the world's top scientist. The IPCC recently released a report stressing that we have 13 years to make significant steps to decarbonize our economy to avoid irreversible impacts and human hardships. Now is not the time to back track, the conservative government cannot allow squabbling between parties to motivate decisions with such significant impacts.

The story being told by the Premier misrepresents the cap and trade program as a carbon tax which is irresponsible and the last thing Ontario needs. According to the current Ontario Environment Minister the conservative government's proposed new climate change action plan will "put the onus on polluters in a new climate change plan". Well that is exactly what the cap and trade program has been doing, and has already had major successes. It appears that the conservative government aims to waste resources and time reinventing the wheel so they can have their name on something instead of working collaboratively for the better of the province with a tested system being used by one of the strongest economies in North America (California).

I personally ask you to consider the following. It is understood that climate change is a reality which is going to impact Ontario at a cost to our people to either prepare for, or a greater cost to respond to retroactively. Is it really in the best interest of the people of Ontario to delay action (and the costs associated with action) to a time where our environmental conditions are less favourable and resources are more scarce? The reality is Ontario is not designed or adapted to the future realities of climate change and it is going to cost money to ensure we can all live healthy and enjoyable lives. It is up to the government to understand these risks to the public and to then educate the public and to make decisions in our best interests. So far all I have seen from the conservative government is downplaying the issue of climate change, back tracking on major climate change action achievements and continued misrepresentation of information. Canada is a country that values equality and science (among many other things) and the kind of actions I've seen taken by the Premier's team does match those values. I expect better and I hope that you take my message, along with the many other concerns of Ontario’s citizens as seriously as they deserved to be taken.

Please don't gamble our future for short term gains and political popularity; we cannot afford such an old way of thinking in the face of our changing climate.