Report recaps a year of carbon taxation in Ontario

by Truck News

TORONTO, Ont. – Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner said the first year of Ontario’s carbon cap-and-trade system went well, but that more needs to be done.

“A price on carbon pollution is a crucial tool we need to slow climate change,” said Environmental Commissioner, Dianne Saxe.

Carbon taxes raised $1.9 billion in 2017, which was used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A report titled Ontario’s Climate Act: From Plan to Progress, noted that $1.37 billion in projects were funded through the program as of November 2017.

The report acknowledged the government needs a better plan for spending cap-and-trade funds, and that a number of proposed policies may not lower emissions.

The report also raises concerns that the government’s long-term plans for reducing emissions may not be sufficient.

“There are no more silver bullets,” said Saxe.

Transportation represents a third of Ontario emissions, and GHG emissions from freight transportation have more than doubled since 1990, the commissioner reports.

“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and putting a price on carbon pollution are a good start,” said Saxe. “But this is a complicated process; there is a lot more to do.”

The report can be downloaded from eco.on.ca.


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  • So what did that 1.9 billion go to thats gonna help the environment? Or maybe its best said, which boondoggle program did they award to one of their buddies in turn to launder the money back to the government officials personally? Good job lib’s. Keep the exodous of business from ontario flowing.

  • I love how vague they are. They crow about how much money it made them (duh) but go quiet fast when asked where the money is going and how it’s going to help.

    What these knuckleheads don’t seem to understand is that their amazing plan of making everything more expensive just makes people spend less money.