Premier Kathleen Wynne says climate change plan coming 'very soon'
The government promised that cap-and-trade revenue, no matter how much it is, will be spent on initiatives to cut greenhouse gases, including investments in public transit, clean technology and retrofitting homes and businesses to be more energy efficient.
The province's larger climate change plan will be released "very soon," said Wynne.
A published report based on a leaked draft copy said the province would phase out fossil fuels for home heating, something the premier denies.
"We're not banning natural gas, in fact we're expanding natural gas into rural and northern communities. There's $230 million in our last budget that is going to make that expansion. But we're going to be tackling challenges in the building sector and transportation, because that's where the greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced," she said.
'Challenging' decisions made
Wynne said electricity prices won't go up, but there "will be some small increases in some areas like home heating."
The premier acknowledged that her government's stance on climate change may be bringing her down in the polls.
"I think we're doing some hard things. We've made some decisions that are challenging. It is a real challenge to tackle climate change. There are going to be voices, you know, from people who don't believe we should be tackling climate change, and those voice are strong and loud," she said.
"We need to win those people over, or more than that we need to demonstrate that this is the best interest of their families as well."
Ontario Liberals rethink $1.9B cap-and-trade projection in uncertain market - Politics - CBC News
The government promised that cap-and-trade revenue, no matter how much it is, will be spent on initiatives to cut greenhouse gases, including investments in public transit, clean technology and retrofitting homes and businesses to be more energy efficient.
The province's larger climate change plan will be released "very soon," said Wynne.
A published report based on a leaked draft copy said the province would phase out fossil fuels for home heating, something the premier denies.
"We're not banning natural gas, in fact we're expanding natural gas into rural and northern communities. There's $230 million in our last budget that is going to make that expansion. But we're going to be tackling challenges in the building sector and transportation, because that's where the greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced," she said.
'Challenging' decisions made
Wynne said electricity prices won't go up, but there "will be some small increases in some areas like home heating."
The premier acknowledged that her government's stance on climate change may be bringing her down in the polls.
"I think we're doing some hard things. We've made some decisions that are challenging. It is a real challenge to tackle climate change. There are going to be voices, you know, from people who don't believe we should be tackling climate change, and those voice are strong and loud," she said.
"We need to win those people over, or more than that we need to demonstrate that this is the best interest of their families as well."
Ontario Liberals rethink $1.9B cap-and-trade projection in uncertain market - Politics - CBC News