On September 25, 2018, Dr. Dianne Saxe, the Environmental
Commissioner of Ontario (the
"Commissioner") released the 2018
Greenhouse Gas Progress Report, Climate Action in Ontario: What's
Next? (the "Progress Report")
to the Ontario Legislature. In the Progress Report, the
Commissioner recommends that Ontario implement a strong new climate
law to replace the Climate Change Mitigation and Low-carbon
Economy Act, 2016 (the "Cap and Trade
Program") that is to be repealed by Bill 4, Cap
and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018 (the "Proposed
Act").1
The Progress Report recognizes that the Cap and Trade Program was a
catalyst for meaningful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions
and was on track to produce many economic and environmental
benefits. It also notes that Ontario's climate leadership was
enhancing Ontario's reputation and attracting foreign
investment to Ontario's clean technology sector; a sector that
in 2017 included 5,000 companies with 130,000 employees, generating
about $19.8 billion in revenue each year.
Key Recommendations
The Commissioner recommends the implementation of a climate action program with sustained and credible long-term commitments to achieve statutory emission reductions that:
- employs a "polluter-pay" principle as a financial incentive to reduce pollution;
- unlocks funds for investment in low-carbon solutions; and
- regulates climate pollution and enforces regulations.
The Commissioner calls on the provincial government to create a climate change law that would drive down emissions while funding sensible solutions through science-based emissions budgets, a legal obligation to stay within those budgets, and credible, transparent progress reporting.
Unwinding Ontario's Cap and Trade, Green Energy Act and Related Programs
On July 25, 2018, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks introduced the Proposed Act, which, if passed, will repeal the Cap and Trade Program and retire or cancel the various emissions allowances and offset credits currently held by Ontario participants under the Cap and Trade Program. On July 13, 2018, the Government of Ontario announced that it would cancel or wind-down 758 renewable energy contracts. These contracts have compensation clauses providing for the recovery of at least a portion of the developmental costs.
On August 2, 2018, the Attorney General announced the Government of Ontario will challenge, before the Ontario Court of Appeal, the constitutionality of the federal government's carbon tax, which will begin to apply in Ontario on January 1, 2019.
On September 20, 2018, the Government of Ontario introduced legislation to repeal the Green Energy Act (GEA), introduced in 2009 to support the development of, among other things, renewable energy in the Province.
Further, on September 26, 2018, the Government of Ontario revoked regulatory amendments made by the previous government to Ontario's net metering framework that were to come into effect on October 1, 2018, under the Ontario Energy Board Act, and which would have expanded the scope of the net metering program by enabling third party ownership of net-metered facilities.
The Government of Ontario had also previously terminated other programs, including the GreenOn home energy efficiency rebate program and the Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Incentive Program, which were being funded by the Cap and Trade Program.
On September 11, 2018, Ecojustice, in conjunction with the uOttawa-Ecojustice Environmental Law Clinic, filed a lawsuit on behalf of Greenpeace Canada alleging the Government of Ontario failed to consult the public on the Proposed Act and on a regulation that ended the Cap and Trade Program. The group, which cited Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights as requiring a 30-day public consultation period on environmentally significant legislation and regulations, is seeking to have the regulation quashed. The case is expected to be heard before the Proposed Act passes. That same day, the Government of Ontario posted a notice of the Proposed Act on the Environmental Registry of Ontario where the public is invited to comment on this and other actions taken by the Government of Ontario that could affect the environment.
What this Means for Industry and Other Ontarians
The cancellation of the Cap and Trade Program is expected to remove billions of dollars from the funding for climate change solutions in Ontario. These funding reductions could have a negative impact on local and foreign investment in cleantech solutions and new emissions reduction technologies in Ontario, unless replaced by alternative funding, regulatory requirements and/or other initiatives supporting the implementation of cleantech solutions.
Next Steps
The provincial government is accepting comments regarding the Proposed Act until October 11, 2018, and regarding the repeal of the GEA until October 21, 2018. Those who are interested in the implications of these developments for the Province are encouraged to provide their comments through the Environmental Registry.
Footnote
1 See our previous Updates on the cancellation of Ontario's cap and trade program: Going, Going, Gone – Ontario Premier-Designate Announces Cancellation of Cap and Trade; Pulls Ontario Out of August GHG Auction and Ontario Introduces Bill to Cancel Cap and Trade and Launches Carbon Tax Case.
The content of this article does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on in that way. Specific advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
