Last week Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada, hand delivered a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau requesting him to establish Clean Electricity Regulations which will: a) prohibit the building of new gas plants in Ontario effective immediately; and b) move Ontario to a net zero-carbon electricity grid by 2030.
Strong federal leadership is necessary because Doug Ford’s plans to build new gas plants, and ramp up the greenhouse gas pollution of Ontario’s existing gas plants by 375% by 2030 and by more than 600% by 2040, are a clear and unequivocal threat to Canada’s ability to meet its Paris Agreement climate targets.
Canada has had nine climate plans since 1990 and has failed to meet any of their targets. We can’t afford to fail again.
Fortunately, Ontario has realistic, achievable, viable alternatives to the Ford Government’s plans which are moving us in the wrong direction.
Ontario can move to a zero-carbon electricity future and lower energy costs by 2030 by investing in energy conservation and efficiency, wind and solar energy, and by increasing its electricity cooperation with Quebec, including using its neighbouring province’s reservoirs to serve as a giant storage battery for Ontario’s wind and solar energy.
According to a report released by Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator on Sept. 30, 2022, Ontario can avoid the need for new gas plants and lower its electricity costs by up to $290 billion by investing in zero-carbon options to keep our lights on, including solar power, energy storage and smart efficiency programs.
What you can do
We need your help to persuade your M.P., your M.P.P., your Mayor and your Municipal Councillor to also send letters to the Prime Minister calling for Clean Electricity Regulations that will phase-out gas power in Ontario by 2030.
Find your federal Member of Parliament here.
Find your Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament here.
Please click here to download a draft letter for your elected officials to send to the Prime Minister. For more background info, click here.
Please tell political representative that our recommendations are supported by Elizabeth May, Ontario Clean Air Alliance, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Environmental Defence, For Our Kids, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, Climate Fast, Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign, Seniors for Climate Action Now and more than 25 other organizations.
Please send us copies of your elected officials’ letters to the Prime Minister, so that we can post them on our webpage.
Let us know if you need any assistance. Thank you!