Ontarians’ carbon footprint still ‘dangerously large,’ warns environmental commissioner
Dianne Saxe also warns of risks ahead with cap-and-trade program

thestar.com
By Kristin Rushowy
Nov. 22, 2016

Ontario has made gains on greenhouse gas reductions but its carbon footprint is “dangerously large,” warns environmental commissioner Dianne Saxe in her annual report.

Saxe also said that while Ontario has passed an “ambitious” climate change mitigation act - which introduces a cap-and-trade program next year, as well as a plan for how to spend funds from emission permits - she has concerns.

“The government proposes to link our cap-and-trade program with California and Quebec starting in 2018,” she told reporters at Queen’s Park Tuesday morning. “There are many good reasons for such a link,” however, “in the first few years of a linked system, it could often be cheaper for Ontario emitters to purchase California allowances, permits to pollute, than to reduce emissions in Ontario.”

While any reductions are beneficial, she warns that polluters opting for California permits could “slow Ontario’s transition to the low-carbon economy that is essential for our future prosperity, and would make it harder for Ontario to meet future (greenhouse gas) targets.”

Saxe also said proceeds from cap-and-trade should not be used to subsidize electricity rates because there’s “no evidence that this subsidy will reduce (greenhouse gas) emissions. Changing the funding source for existing conservation programs won’t increase conservation, and most of the time conserving clean Ontario electricity does not reduce emissions at all.”

Environment Minister Glen Murray told reporters the report is an “affirmation of a lot of the hard work that’s been done by the ministry, by industry, by Ontarians in building this together.”

He said the “cap-and-trade revenues in the action plan for energy have to deliver greenhouse gas reductions, that’s the commitment” and that details are being worked out.

“The point that she makes, that you can’t just use the money to subsidize rates, that you actually have to achieve some reduction is an important one,” he also said.

Saxe noted Ontario met its 2014 target to reduce emissions by 6 per cent “despite substantial population and economic growth. Now Ontario has a much-needed climate act to help us meet the even more challenging targets ahead.”