Article content continued

While Ford is clumsily mauling Trudeau’s piffling carbon tax, Ontario environment minister Rod Phillips is calmly outlining the shape of a realistic Ontario climate strategy. It will focus on spending to reduce emissions and helping Ontario adapt to climate change.

In a speech this week, Phillips argued that Ontario has already done its share on the emissions front. Since 2005, Canada’s emissions have increased by three per cent but Ontario’s have declined by 22 per cent. One has to smile at the PCs now pointing to the upside of their predecessors’ expensive green energy program, but it’s a valid point all the same.

Ontarians are still stretched from the expense of the major changes to our electricity system, the PCs say, and people can’t afford any more. Phillips underlined the point that Trudeau’s plan is not enough to make a behavioural change. In fact, if the PCs follow through on a promise to reduce the province’s own gas tax by an additional 5.7 cents, Trudeau’s effort will be largely undermined.

Phillips also mentioned a number of approaches designed to reduce emissions without a tax. They include a carbon emissions fund like the one in Britain, which pays businesses to reduce emissions. As well, Ontario will pay for greenhouse gas emission reduction projects and create a green bank to encourage climate change mitigation investment.

There is one point the minister didn’t make, and it is too often ignored. Those who are keenest to cut emissions can easily take significant action on their own. If you want to reduce emissions, buy a car that uses less gas, take the bus, walk, or cycle. Do we need government to force us to cut gasoline use?

Based on what we know of it, the PC plan will not be as exciting as being part of an effort to save the world, but it’s a realistic approach. The sooner the PCs switch to that channel, the better off they will be.

Randall Denley is an Ottawa political commentator and former Ontario PC candidate. Contact him at randalldenley1@gmail.com.