Platform of the Ontario Green Party focuses on climate crisis and invests $65 billion

The Ontario Green Party is rooted in a $65-billion climate plan that will achieve net-zero carbon emission by 2045. ElectionPlatform, with a focus to electrify vehicles and make buildings more energy-efficient.

Leader Mike Schreiner said some may criticize the price tag of the four-year commitment as being “overly ambitious,” but countered that it’s necessary to ensure a sustainable future.

The Green Party released its platform Thursday. It pledges to reduce carbon pollution by half by 2030 and reach net zero 15 years later. This timeline is five years more than the platform promises of the Liberals or NDP, which promise net-zero by 2050. The Progressive Conservatives promised to reduce emissions by 30 percent by 2030 while they were in government.

“It’s not overly ambitious to ensure that our children have a livable future and a stable climate. It’s not overly ambitious to say that we want Ontario to be a global leader in the new climate economy,” said Mr. Shcreiner, the party’s only MPP elected in 2018, during the Green platform release event in Toronto. “That’s what Ontario needs in this moment.”

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The climate strategy includes several measures to reduce greenhouse-gas emission. It includes investments in electric vehicles (EV), retrofitting buildings, and other investments to transition to EV. Mr. Schreiner stated that a Green government would offer cash incentives of up to $10,000 to purchase a new EV, and phase out the sale new gas and diesel passenger cars and buses by 2030.

To support the transition to electric vehicles, the party will require that all parking lots be resurfaced and EV charging stations installed. It will also offer tax incentives to businesses to invest in charging infrastructure.

The plan also includes the reintroduction of a provincial carbon price, increasing it by $25 per year until it reaches $300/tonne in 2032. Residents would get dividends from the higher carbon price.

Mr. Schreiner said the Greens would implement new fees and taxes to pay for the plan, including a “congestion charge” to travel by vehicle in certain parts of the province during peak hours. Details on locations or hours weren’t provided in the platform, but the party projects annual revenue of $1.6-billion from the fee.

A Green government would also raise the corporate tax by 2% over two years for large corporations, introduce 1-percent surcharges on households with an income over $200,000 annually, and work with the federal to implement a tax on individuals with a net worth over $10-million. The party would also reverse the July-imposed temporary gas tax reduction and reinstate license-plate renewal fees.

Mr. Schreiner defended the increased taxes in his party’s platform as necessary to meet the needs of the province and fund urgent climate priorities.

“This platform meets the moment that we are in, the now or never moment to address the climate crisis,” he said.

The party’s four-year financial outlook doesn’t balance the books, with a projected 2025-26 deficit $1.2-billion higher than that projected in the PC’s budget. However, Mr. Schreiner stated that he sees a path towards balance in the next term by 2027-28. This is the same timeframe for the PC Party. The Liberal plan projects a balanced Budget a year before, while the NDP has yet to release a fully-coordinated plan for their platform promises.

The Greens have also pledged to double rates in the Ontario Disability Support Program. This is by far the largest increase among all parties. Both the NDP, Liberals and PCs have promised a 20% increase. The PCs also announced a plan of raising rates by 5%. The party promises to make the day of a general election a paid holiday and launch a citizen-led panel to bring forward recommendations on reforming Ontario’s electoral system.

June 2nd is Ontario’s election day

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