Climate change inaction plan

Dear Minister Biggar:

I believe people who invest in solar panels are helping to lower P.E.I.’s carbon footprint. Whether or not the province exempts them from paying the service charge and HST on energy they’ve produced (which I think they should), it shouldn’t preclude an incentive to others to purchase panels.

Your government has ended the one solar tax credit that was available and in its place offered us cheaper fossil fuels (while the market price has plunged). Yes, heat pumps are great, but it would be even greater if they were powered by solar power rather than by what comes through a cable from N.B.

And tell me how not charging for drivers’ licences and lowering the cost of vehicle registrations is going to benefit the environment? You can do much better than this. How about free bus tickets to those under a certain income? How about expanding transit to rural areas and setting up carpooling parking areas and a website to help people connect with others? How about legislation that would require all new buildings to use passive heating and cooling designs and other ways to make them more energy efficient?

You’re using our money to buy votes while assuming Islanders will be pleased to pay a few less dollars. The cost from climate change will affect everyone and the damage from this last storm will be insignificant compared to what is to come. Please work together with all parties for the benefit of all.

Jeanne Maki, Charlottetown