The Ontario government has passed a bill that formally ends the cap-and-trade program, setting the stage for a carbon pricing showdown with the Justin Trudeau government.

Environment Minister Rod Phillips said the move will leave more money in the pockets of Ontario families.

“We also made it clear that not only would we get rid of the Kathleen Wynne cap and trade program because it was ineffective and costly, but also would fight Justin Trudeau’s tax,” Phillips said Wednesday, immediately after the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act was passed.

Ontarians have already seen a 4.7 cent cap-and-trade charge off their per-litre price of gasoline, and a 5.7 cents off a litre of diesel — plus an $80 reduction in annual home heating costs for an average annual household savings of $260, he said.

The Trudeau government has stated that it will implement a carbon pricing ‘backstop’ for any provinces that do not have what it deems to be an acceptable alternative.

Trudeau visited Premier Doug Ford’s own riding of Etobicoke North recently to announce that it will be moving forward with a carbon pricing plan, and will directly rebate Ontarians.

Phillips said provinces are well-suited to deal with climate change issues on their own.

“This is a mandate that we got from the people of Ontario and it said that not only did they want to get rid of cap and trade, but they didn’t want Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax,” he said. “We will fight it in the courts… but we’ll also continue to fight it in the court of public opinion.”

With a majority of provinces now opposing the Ottawa plan, Phillips is predicting an “interesting” meeting with federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna next month.

Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser said the PCs killed cap and trade without putting in place any program to target greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

“It’s a sad day for Ontario,” Fraser said. “It is the most irresponsible thing they’ve done since coming to government.”

Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said he moved a motion after Bill 4 passed for an emergency debate on climate action.

“We already had 70 people in Quebec over the summer die due to extreme heat which scientists have linked to climate change,” Schreiner said. “So those kind of extreme weather events are only going to increase and get worse.”

The Environment Commissioner said Ontario is likely not going to meet its 2020 target for greenhouse gas emission reductions, he said.

The Green Party proposes a carbon fee and dividend program, he said.

Ontario is doing its share on greenhouse gas emissions, and a federal carbon pricing plan would just punish the economy and serve as a tax on commuters, Phillips said.

The province will release its own plan, likely next month, he said.

“There are going to be rules and those who folks who don’t behave within those rules are going to feel the weight of the provincial government,” Phillips said.

aartuso@postmedia.com