cap and trade

Wednesday October 18, 2023

Premier Doug Ford's recent efforts to protect Ontario's Greenbelt are met with skepticism, as his government's track record, including a shift towards fossil fuels and the cancellation of green energy projects, raises doubts about their commitment to environmental preservation.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday October 18, 2023

Is Doug Ford’s Ploy a Real Greenbelt Reset or Just Smoke and Mirrors?

September 26, 2023

The recent moves by Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives to protect the Greenbelt in Ontario might seem like a step in the right direction. However, it’s essential to take a closer look at their motivations and track record. The Ford government’s attempt to curtail the Greenbelt development and regain public trust is nothing more than a cynical ploy to distract from their questionable actions and their approach to renewable energy.

The $8.28-billion land swap scandal, currently under investigation by the RCMP, has left the Tories scrambling to rebuild their tarnished reputation. They’ve introduced a law that promises to restore the Greenbelt properties they previously sought to remove and enhance protections for this ecologically sensitive area. While this might appear as a positive move, it is essential to scrutinize their true intentions.

News: Ontario government tables bill to return lands it removed back to Greenbelt

July 11, 2018

The Ford government has a track record that contradicts their newfound commitment to environmental preservation. They’ve consistently undermined efforts to transition to renewable energy sources while increasing reliance on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas. A recent investigation has revealed that gas plants in Ontario, once promised to operate only during peak electricity demand, are running 12 or more hours a day, contributing to dirtier power and worsening climate change. This not only contradicts their alleged commitment to environmental protection but also raises serious concerns about their energy policy choices.

The government’s decision to scrap over 700 green energy projects as “unnecessary and expensive” is another example of their disregard for clean energy initiatives. Rather than investing in renewable sources, they are opting to build more gas plants, further perpetuating the reliance on fossil fuels. This is a stark departure from the previous government’s approach, which aimed to replace coal-fired pollution machines with gas-fired plants while transitioning to a cleaner energy mix.

Investigation: Ontario gas plants were supposed to run only during peak periods. Instead they’re running most of the time, polluting the air you breathe

October 16, 2020

The solution is clear: Ontario should be investing in renewable energy sources, like wind and solar power, to reduce reliance on gas “peaker plants.” The expansion of renewables, as seen in California and the Midwest, offers a blueprint for a more sustainable energy future. In contrast, Ontario lags behind, with only eight percent of peak demand being met by renewable sources in 2022.

Premier Doug Ford’s current approach to energy and the environment raises concerns similar to the gas plant scandal that marred former Premier Dalton McGuinty’s legacy. Like McGuinty, Ford may come to regret his government’s hasty dismissal of clean energy initiatives that are crucial for Ontario’s future. Instead of using the Greenbelt issue as a smokescreen to divert attention from their actions, the Ford government should prioritize the expansion of renewable energy sources and the reduction of their dependence on fossil fuels. It is only through meaningful actions, not political posturing, that they can be trusted as stewards of the environment. (AI)

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro. If you’re creative, give illustration a try:

 

Wednesday October 24, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday October 24, 2018

Doug Ford slams federal government’s carbon tax plan

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has come out swinging against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plans for carbon tax rebates.

Trudeau announced details of the plan Tuesday, saying provinces that have not implemented their own carbon taxation system will have one imposed on them by the federal government.

He promised, however, that the feds would return 90 per cent of the tax it collects in affected provinces directly to Canadians to keep the plan from being unaffordable.

Ford calls the rebates phoney, describes the carbon tax as an ineffective environmental protection measure, and vows he’s willing to take the province’s ongoing legal fight against it all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Trudeau has said an Ontario family of four would receive $307 back through the rebates this spring, with that figure doubling by 2022.

Ford, whose Progressive Conservatives introduced legislation to scrap Ontario’s cap-and-trade system established by the former Liberal government, says Trudeau should be ready for a fight on the carbon tax issue and raised questions about the timing of the rebate announcement.

“The people of Canada are too smart to believe that Trudeau’s phoney rebates are anything more than a temporary vote buying scheme that will be discarded once the election is over,” the premier said in a statement. “In contrast, the carbon tax rip-off is forever.

Ottawa required all provinces to put a minimum price on pollution of $20 a tonne of emissions by Jan. 1.

Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick have not complied and will have a federal carbon levy on fuels as well as a cap-and-trade style system for large industrial emitters imposed on them.

Residents in those provinces will start getting federal rebates on their next tax return to offset the extra costs they will pay for everything from gasoline and groceries to home heating and electricity.

Ford has joined other provincial leaders in challenging the carbon tax in court. (Source: CTV) 

 

Friday October 19, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday October 19, 2018

Premier Doug Ford’s cap-and-trade move will cost treasury $3B over four years

Premier Doug Ford’s move to scrap Ontario’s cap-and-trade alliance with Quebec and California will deal a $3-billion blow to the treasury, according to the province’s financial accountability officer.

September 29, 2018

“By cancelling the cap-and-trade program, the province’s annual budget balance will worsen by a cumulative total of $3 billion over the next four years,” Peter Weltman warned Tuesday.

“The province’s budget balance worsens because the loss of cap-and-trade revenue from ending the auction of emission allowances is greater than the savings achieved from cancelling cap-and-trade-related spending programs,” said Weltman.

Environment Minister Rod Phillips, who will unveil a replacement climate-change plan later this year without any taxation component, insisted the $3-billion hit was anticipated.

“That’s $3 billion back in the pockets of Ontario taxpayers,” said Phillips.

July 11, 2018

“We committed to the orderly wind-down of this program that was killing jobs, that was regressive, and we will follow that through. It’s a promise we made, it’s a promise we’ll keep,” he said.

“Yes, that means less money for government — that’s more money for families.”

NDP MPP Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth) countered that “Ford is hurting Ontario’s environment, and he’s charging all Ontarians extra to do it.”

“The direct result of Ford’s favour to big polluters will be $3 billion in costs piled onto the backs of the people of Ontario. That means ripping $3 billion right out of folks’ bank accounts, or cutting $3 billion from things like health care,” said Tabuns.

November 22, 2016

Green Leader Mike Schreiner said “Ford’s anti-climate agenda is bad for the environment and bad for business.”

“Today, we learned that the premier’s reckless actions are a $3-billion boondoggle that will dig a deeper fiscal hole for the province,” said Schreiner.

Greenpeace’s Keith Stewart said the FAO report proves axing cap-and-trade “is bad for the budget and worse for our environment.”

Beyond any environmental impact of withdrawing from the climate accord, Ontario will now be subject to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s forthcoming federal carbon-pricing scheme that could be more expensive.

It was exempt from that while it was part of the two-year-old cap-and-trade accord with Quebec and California. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

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Saturday October 6, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday October 6, 2018

Canada’s fight against climate change is at risk

With Manitoba’s reversal this week of its plan to impose a carbon tax, it’s clear the federal government’s overall climate plan is in jeopardy. But that’s only part of the story.

Why did Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister ditch years of work to join with other conservatives like Doug Ford and Jason Kenney? Winnipeg Free Press columnist Don Lett puts it this way:

October 25, 2013

‘When you boil it all down, you have this: a premier with a penchant for erratic behaviour who willingly trashes two years of hard work by his own government, with the full knowledge he cannot stop a carbon tax from being implemented and will get all the money anyway.’

In this, Pallister is in good company. Doug Ford killed a working, revenue-generating cap-and-trade plan. Jason Kenney is against a carbon tax even though prominent conservatives, Preston Manning being one, support it. Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe attacks carbon pricing at every opportunity. Ford and Moe are committed to fighting the tax in court, even though legal experts agree the federal government has the right to impose it. Ford is prepared to waste $30 million on an unwinnable fight.

All taxes are unpopular. And it’s always good optics for provincial premiers to be seen as fighting Ottawa.

May 29, 2008

But there’s method in this madness. The premiers know, almost certainly, they can’t win a legal fight. But by pulling out and blaming Ottawa, they get the optics they want. And, they get the revenue from that nasty tax, because the government has pledged that all carbon tax revenue collected will be returned to the provinces it was collected from. Brilliant?

Maybe not. This strategy doesn’t work nearly as well if the Trudeau government imposes the tax and sends the cheques, probably through Revenue Canada, directly back to Canadian citizens, effectively cutting out the provinces. Trudeau takes the bold but necessary step of fighting climate change, but returns a tangible benefit to Canadian taxpayers. Continued: Hamilton Spectator Editorial) 

 

Wednesday June 11, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 11, 2018

Ontario PC government cancels $100-million school repair fund

Ontario’s new Tory government has cancelled a $100-million fund earmarked for school repairs this year, a cut that comes as a result of Doug Ford’s campaign promise to scrap the province’s cap-and-trade system.

School boards were notified on July 3 that the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund would be eliminated and that only work contracted on or before that date would be covered.

The memo, obtained by The Canadian Press, advises school boards to stop spending the cash that was allocated in April immediately.

“Please maintain detailed records of the contracts that have been signed as ministry staff will contact boards to collect information on the scope of the work underway,” the memo said.

Toronto District School Board chair Robin Pilkey said the move is disappointing because that board has a $4 billion repair backlog.

The TDSB had budgeted $300 million for upkeep this fiscal year, including the $25 million it was awarded specifically from this fund, and now faces difficult choices, Pilkey said.

“Losing $25 million is a big deal to us,” she said. “Our repair backlog is so large that every piece counts. We’ll have to make decisions in the next few weeks whether we don’t do those projects or we take the money out of … other funds and scrap something else.”

The board had planned to use the funding to repair windows, lighting and complete other mechanical work in its schools, she said.

It’s unlikely much of the money has been spent, however, because the board must hire contractors through the proper procurement process, which takes time, she said.

“It’s not like you get the money on May 1 and can spend it on May 15,” she said. “It takes a while to get the money flowing.”

The province has an approximate $15 billion repair backlog at its 4,900 publicly funded schools.

Stephen Seaborn, spokesman for the education advocacy group Campaign for Public Education, said the cut will hurt schools across Ontario.

“It’s bad,” he said. “It was done just like as if it was nothing. There was no discussion about what would be done about the budgets of the schools.”

Seaborn said the cancellation of cap and trade has clearly had unintended consequences and cutting funds for the renovation program is a prime example. (Source: CTV News) 

 

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