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Statement to the Legislature

By

The Honourable Laurel Broten
Minister of the Environment

“Ontario and the Climate Change Challenge”

Main Legislative Building, Queen’s Park
Toronto, ON
Thursday, February 16, 2006

Thank you, Speaker: Today marks the first anniversary of the coming into force of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the good work being done across Ontario by families, communities, businesses and governments to address those twin demons of the 21st century – air pollution and global warming.

Speaker, our government has committed to protecting the health of our citizens.

By actively working toward a healthier environment and cleaner air today, we can help pass on a better world to our children and the generations of tomorrow.

Recently, former US President Bill Clinton recently was widely quoted saying that climate change has “the power to fundamentally end the march of civilization as we know it.” Those are potent words but the sense of imminent danger that they conjure is much more potent. With so much at stake, Speaker, our efforts are critical.

Climate change is, in simple terms, a major threat to the sustainability of our quality of life. Its effects will be revealed gradually, and then rapidly, in many different ways. If we do not act decisively, climate change and transboundary pollution will erode our health, our environment and our economy.

We have the scientific knowledge and the technology to address this threat. We have the responsibility as an environmentally conscientious society. And as leaders in North America on air quality, we are determined to act.

What we build, where we live, how we get our fuel and energy – these have changed many times in our history. They will change again, and it is our responsibility to see that they change for the better.

By taking real action on climate change, you’ll find that in 50 years our province could look like a very different place.

Ontario could build North America’s most advanced economy based on clean and renewable fuels, on zero-emission transportation, on energy-efficient homes and businesses.

Our government has taken major steps to cut emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants.

As you know, we are strongly committed to closing all coal-fired electricity plants by 2009.

This will have both local and global benefits. It will reduce emissions of air toxins and smog-causing pollutants dramatically. At the same time, it is the single largest greenhouse gas reduction initiative underway in Canada.

This one action will eliminate up to 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, which is equivalent to taking almost seven million cars off the road.

And Speaker, cars that are on the road in Ontario will be cleaner.

Our government has implemented a new regulation that requires gasoline in Ontario to contain five per cent ethanol on average by 2007.

We’ve improved the Drive Clean program, which now focuses on older vehicles at higher risk of polluting.

Our government has also worked closely with industry to find workable ways to achieve lower emissions.

We’ve set new, tough standards for 40 harmful air pollutants and placed strict air emission caps on our largest industrial sectors.

Every step we take to reduce pollutants in our airshed helps improve the air we breathe.

Speaker, our government has found innovative ways to meet our province’s energy needs while reducing our environmental impact.

We have made an important commitment to clean, green renewable energy and we’re on track not only to meet, but to exceed our target. New renewable generation will account for at least 5 per cent - or 1,350 megawatts of our capacity - by 2007. And double that by 2010.

In just two years, our government has advanced projects that will provide us with nearly 10,000 megawatts of clean and renewable power by 2010 - enough power for 4.8 million homes. In the past two years, Ontario has secured more new generation capacity than any other jurisdiction in North America.

In 2003, this province had less than 15 megawatts of wind generation. In just two years, this government has set the wheels in motion to bring online over 1300 megawatts of wind power – an 80-fold increase.

We are boosting clean hydroelectric capacity, with a major expansion of the existing facilities at Niagara Falls.

We are encouraging businesses to use co-generation, and letting them sell surplus energy back to the grid.

Further, we are building a culture of conservation that is instrumental to our climate change efforts.

Ontario will become a leader in energy efficiency by curbing demand, changing entrenched habits, and promoting the wise use of energy in homes, business and in the community.

Our target is to reduce growth in peak demand by five per cent by 2007. And we’re setting an example by cutting electricity use in government operations by ten per cent over this same period.

By undertaking energy efficient retrofits and upgrades to our buildings, the Ontario Realty Corporation has reduced electricity demand in buildings they manage by as much as 7.8 per cent, well within reach of the 10 per cent target by 2007. We’re also installing Deep Lake Water Cooling, which will further reduce our energy consumption during the summer period.

Speaker, our government has come a long way in our quest to improve Ontario’s air quality and keep our province clean and healthy.

We still have more to do.

Addressing the twin issues of climate change and air pollution demands clear focus and a strong plan of action.

Our government has both.

We will continue to work as innovative and respected leaders in this area.

We look forward to meeting with our new federal counterparts to ensure a healthier Canada.

Most importantly, we will continue to challenge our neighbours to the south to follow our lead and commit to major reductions in transboundary emissions of smog-causing pollutants and greenhouse gases.

Speaker, just before Christmas, Canada hosted one of the largest ever gatherings of climate change and air emissions experts for an international conference. The Conference of Parties in Montreal was a chance to hear about the latest research, the best new technologies and the examples being set by governments and industries from around the world.

I had the chance to attend this conference along with my colleague, Minister Cansfield. No matter who I was speaking to, there was total agreement on a number of points.

Climate change is a real threat to our shared future health and prosperity. We have the knowledge and the tools to address it. And we can only succeed through shared effort.

Governments, industry, educators and scientists all came together on these statements. And it is clear to me, Speaker, that there is a continuing opportunity for Ontario to play a leading role in this challenge.

Speaker, US President John F. Kennedy once said, “We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world -- or to make it the last.”

We are committed to working with all governments and all jurisdictions – to deliver cleaner air, a higher quality of life, and to make this the best generation in the history of our great province.

Thank you.

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