Green Ontario fund is closing
Ford scraps program that rebates homeowners for energy-efficient work
Incoming premier Doug Ford is facing sharp criticism for quietly axing an environmental program to help Ontarians get smart thermostats and energyefficient windows to reduce their energy bills and fight climate change.
The $377-million Green Ontario Fund — financed by auctions in which industries buy greenhouse gas emission permits — is winding down in the wake of Ford’s decision to scrap the province’s cap-and-trade effort putting a price on pollution. Launched last summer by Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal government, the program popularly known as Green ON aided homeowners, renters and businesses in saving money by shrinking their carbon footprints. The Green ON website was reduced Tuesday to one page stating, “The following programs are closed,” and listing everything from residential solar, window and insulation rebates to smart thermostats and help for businesses.
“Doug Ford received a clear mandate from the people of Ontario to cancel Kathleen Wynne’s cap-and-trade carbon tax and the slush fund that was paid for by the carbon tax,” said his spokesperson, Simon Jefferies.
The Progressive Conservative premier-designate “is delivering on his promise to put more money back into people’s pockets,” Jeffries added.
Controversy over the cancellation overshadowed Ford’s first meeting with his 76-member caucus, where he proclaimed “the party with the taxpayers’ money is over” and warned gas companies against weekend price spikes.
Opposition parties slammed Ford for eliminating Green ON without warning or details, sending the wrong message to companies in the fast-growing clean-energy economy.
“It’s ideological and it’s shortsighted. I challenge Mr. Ford to explain how cutting programs that help people lower their energy bills is consistent with his ‘for the people’ message,” said Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, elected as MPP for Guelph.
“Mr. Ford has declared war on businesses creating jobs that are good for the environment … I’ve already received emails and calls from business owners angry that Ford’s reckless actions will force them to fire staff and lose money.”
“It’s beyond irresponsible to scrap clean air and climatechange initiatives with no plan to replace them,” said New Democrat MPP Gilles Bisson.
“Mr. Ford announced Friday he’ll remove the cap on how much industrial operations are allowed to pollute … today, he went after the rebates that everyday families were getting for doing the right thing helping make Ontario green. Does Doug Ford not believe in climate change?”
Ford has said he believes climate change is a problem but considers cap-and-trade ineffective and a cash grab that hurts businesses and makes Ontario less competitive.
The Green ON website says contracts will be honoured if agreements have been signed with participating contractors for work to be completed by the end of August. Rebate applications must be submitted by Sept. 30.
At his caucus meeting, Ford received a standing ovation and warned gas companies they’d better pass along his promised 10-cent-a-litre price cut to motorists and tread carefully with long-weekend price hikes.
“I’m going to be watching every move they make.”