Ontario’s recent performance on climate change has been “disappointing,” said federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
“I believe that every level of government in Canada needs to do their fair share when it comes to climate change and the climate crisis, and frankly, when you look at what Ontario’s been doing, it’s been disappointing, and I’m not the only one who’s said that,” said Guilbeault in an interview with Canada’s National ObserverLast week.
His comments come a few months before a provincial election in Canada’s most populous province. The first term for Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives saw the rolling back of environmental regulations, cancelling the province’s cap-and-trade program, moving ahead with plans to build new highways through protected areas and scrapping consumer incentives for electric cars.
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Guilbeault claimed that Ontario has not shown the political will to address climate change. But he is hopeful that that will change. Recent progress has been made by the federal and provincial governments in relation to biodiversity loss. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. It’s just political will [to make]It can happen. We would be happy to work with Ontario on climate change.”
The province often touts having “one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world” after former premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal government successfully phased out the use of coal.
“It’s one great thing over 10 years ago,” said Guilbeault. “We all need to do more.”
He singled out the province’s approach to electric vehicles (EVs) for consternation, pointing out that provinces with incentive programs such as Quebec and B.C. Ontario has a much higher rate of electric vehicle adoption than Ontario. Even for those who don’t care about climate change, Guilbeault said, there are economic and job benefits to be had from supporting the industry, particularly for a major auto manufacturer like Ontario. “I really don’t understand why they’re not doing that,” he said.
Ford’s government was initially hostile toward electric vehicles when it was elected in 2018, slashing incentive programs and going so far as to dismantle already existing charging stations. However, it has since reversed some of its initial opposition to electric vehicles.
Phillip Robinson, the press secretary of David Piccini’s provincial Environment Minister, stated that the province supports EV adoption in many ways in an emailed response. Ontario has invested heavily to retool auto plants in order to build EVs as well as in the creation a vehicle innovation system. The province has also created a Transportation Electrification Council. They are currently building infrastructure, such as charging stations.
“Ontario’s support for these initiatives will reduce barriers to EV ownership, support Ontario’s growing manufacturing market and critical minerals sector, and help achieve Ontario’s goal of building at least 400,000 electric and hybrid vehicles by 2030,” Robinson wrote.
Steven Guilbeault stated that there has been insufficient political will in Ontario to address climate crisis. However, he is optimistic that this will change. #ClimateCrisis #ONpoli
Robinson stated that the province is working towards tackling climate change. He pointed to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 2005. These reductions are largely due to previous Liberal governments’ elimination of coal-fired electricity generation.
Ontario recently announced funding to help steelmakers in Hamilton (and Sault Ste. Marie phasing coal out of their operations and finalized emissions performance standards to “ensure large, industrial emitters are accountable for their greenhouse gas emissions,” he said, while also listing off a slew of other measures.