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Green Party Leader @MikeSchreiner makes history, sworn in as MPP for Guelph. #onpoli pic.twitter.com/YE2i5aNvFW — Antonella Artuso (@suntooz) July 5, 2018

Although Schreiner is the only member of his party to be elected, he believes he can make a “huge difference” in the same way that federal Green Party MP Elizabeth May and Green Party provincial representatives in other provinces have impacted debates.

Schreiner said he wants to work across party lines, through measures such as private member’s bills, to help solve challenges faced by real people.

“I’ve sent letters to the new premier suggesting that we meet and we figure out ways to work together,” he said.

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But Schreiner said Premier Doug Ford’s first move to scrap cap-and-trade was reckless without an alternative plan in place to address climate change.

The Green Party is proposing a carbon fee and dividend policy, a revenue neutral plan where carbon emissions are taxed at the source or when imported, and the revenue then distributed to citizens in the form of a carbon dividend cheque.

“Do we want to have a short-term fix or do we want to solve the problem,” Schreiner said. “I want to get the noose of the oil and gas industry off our neck and start really helping people save money by travelling with electric vehicles, transit and other forms of transportation.”

aartuso@postmedia.com