November 22nd, 2021

Auditor General’s report shows Ford’s war on the environment doing damage

QUEEN’S PARK – The Official Opposition NDP’s Environment critic Sandy Shaw and NDP Climate Crisis critic Peter Tabuns released the following statement in response to Ontario’s independent Auditor General’s report on the environment:

“Ontarians know the climate crisis is the greatest threat our world faces. Yet Premier Doug Ford is continuing to do whatever his buddies want, no matter what it costs the rest of us.

He’s automatically rubber stamping his buddies’ requests to pave over Ontario in the form of Minister’s Zoning Orders and highways that don’t help commuters like the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413— shutting out community members, even though it’s our kids and grandkids that will pay the price.

Instead of making big polluters pay for 78,000 toxic spills they are responsible for, Doug Ford is forcing Ontario families to pay millions in clean-up costs, letting big industry off the hook.

With Ford in charge, it’s certain Ontario will not meet its emissions targets. This is the same premier that ripped electric vehicle charging stations out of the ground. The same premier that paid extra to have nearly-complete wind farms torn down. We can’t afford any more of Ford’s big cuts and bad decisions.

Sadly, in the Liberals’ 15 years they didn’t make the progress we needed. We have a way to go to meet Ontario’s climate commitments.

Andrea Horwath and the New Democrats have released the strongest environmental platform Ontario has ever had. It will give our children and grandchildren a fighting chance at a livable future. Our plan creates jobs, and is rooted in justice, affordability, and reconciliation.”