Hotter temperatures, higher food costs: Ontarians will be stuck paying for Ford’s failure to cut emissions

TORONTO – The Auditor General's report on Greenhouse Gas emissions makes it clear that the Ford government will fail to meet the province’s 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target. Ontario NDP Shadow Minister for Environment, Conservation, and Parks Peter Tabuns has issued the following statement:

“The Ford government’s failure to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions will make it harder to grow food, and lead to more expensive groceries,” said Tabuns.

“Ontarians will have to deal with higher insurance premiums due to the increased frequency of disasters such as floods and wildfires, and a decrease in workplace safety as temperatures continue to rise.

“It is incomprehensible that the Conservative government’s so-called plan relied upon emissions reductions stemming from programs that they have been opposing.

“Ontarians know that government help to allow them to cut their energy needs means lower energy costs, which leads to more money in their pockets and real action on climate change. New Democrats will continue to fight for a cleaner, safer, more affordable Ontario, and will put money back into people’s pockets to make this a reality.”

BACKGROUND:

• The auditor general’s report predicts emissions will likely be higher than MECP predictions in sectors such as transportation, industry, buildings, agriculture, waste, and electricity.
• Unlike the federal government, and 10 of 12 Canadian provinces and territories, Ontario does not have any greenhouse gas reduction targets past 2030.
• The MECP has not released a new greenhouse gas reduction progress report since 2021. The Ford government’s 2018 climate change plan has not been approved by cabinet and remains a draft proposal on the Environmental Registry. The MECP has not kept up with their commitment to review and revise the plan every four years.
• While emissions are slowly going down over time, the pace falls well short of the Ford government’s commitments. Most current progress can be attributed to the previous phasing out of coal, something that happened before they were elected.