Take from the poor, and give to the rich. The reverse Robin Hood philosophy has been fully embraced by the Ontario government, an odd turn of events for the self-proclaimed "social justice premier." Nothing shows this philosophy better than the government's newest costly experiment, the cap-and-trade carbon tax.

(Photo: Chris Boswell via Getty Images) A spokesperson for Toronto-Centre MPP and Environment Minister Glenn Murray proclaimed that the government is eager to turn the Toronto Stock Exchange into a financial hub for carbon credits, stating that "Ontario's financial sector is well positioned to provide these services and then leverage this expertise to serve other growing carbon markets in Canada and internationally." In other words -- cap and trade will cost working Joe's at the pumps and in their home heating bills, while Bay Street types get rich trading the new government created commodity. Cap and trade works by putting a "cap" on the amount of emissions businesses can produce. The government then invents a new tradeable financial product out of thin air, called carbon credits. Businesses who are able to emit below their "cap" are allowed to "trade" those government created carbon credits on a government created "carbon market" to those who need to emit above their "cap."

(Photo: AlexSL via Getty Images) Effectively, the government uses regulation to invent a demand, and then supplies it themselves. But businesses are not the only ones entitled to participate in these trades. Cap and trade also allows for "market participants" who can trade on speculation. In fact, the entire idea of a carbon market is designed to encourage speculation, which drives up the price of the carbon credits. Correspondingly, companies that have to buy these expensive credits pass the cost along to customers. This can drive up the price of necessities of life, like home heating fuels and gasoline. Financial speculators who might otherwise make their money trading stocks, bonds or oil futures, can now get rich trading a commodity that is essentially linked to your higher home heating costs. The higher your bills, the more the big boys on Bay Street make. And the Wynne government wants you to think this is a good thing. This false market links Ontario with Quebec and California, allowing businesses and speculators to trade across borders. The Auditor General has found that by 2030, this will result in up to $2.2 billion in Ontarian's money leaving Ontario for Quebec and California.