Ending cap and trade…

Ending cap and trade abruptly is wasteful, cost-inefficient, and harmful to the businesses who have planned their financials and strategies around a predictable, understandable, effective policy tool that was resulting in Ontario achieving measurable reductions in emissions.

Cancelling cap and trade without having any alternatives in place, or any plan prepared, has resulted in lost time - time we don't have, based on daily reports about the worsening effects of a warming world.

You have thrown out the most effective policy option available.

In its absence, at the very least you have committed to releasing a climate change plan -- too little, too late, but it's something.

The climate change plan must be based on science-based targets, and contain evidence-based pathways to achieve them. The methods and technologies exist:
-invest in transit options to reduce reliance on fossil fuels (gas-powered cars)
-provide incentives for freight vehicles to switch to lower emission fuels / go electric
-introduce incentives that encourage purchasing of electric vehicles and develop the associated infrastructure
-provide funding (incentives/rebates/grants) for energy-efficient retrofits which are already badly needed (e.g. in schools) and which will also lower emissions if done in a smart way
-introduce stringent energy standards for buildings and new homes
-encourage homeowner actions to reduce emissions, e.g. installing solar panels, geothermal

The responsible Minister should provide an annual progress update.

It is possible for Ontario to benefit from a transition to clean energy, both economically and socially. It is NOT possible for Ontario to benefit from ignoring climate change and our role in creating emissions. We are already seeing increased flooding (e.g. in Toronto and Hamilton-Burlington), heavier downpours, unseasonal temperatures occurring throughout the year, sudden windstorms, and tornados (Ottawa-Gatineau). We know it is going to get worse. A path of inaction will only make it get worse, faster.