One Step Forward NOT Two Steps Backwards!

Ontario’s Green Energy & Economy Act

As representatives of labour unions, environmental organizations and social justice groups with operations in Ontario, we wish to comment on the significance of Ontario’s Green Energy & Economy Act. Although it is the role of the opposition parties in the Ontario Legislature to keep the Government in check, we feel that Mr. Hudak’s recent attacks, which appear to be aimed at killing this legislation, are irresponsible.

In our view, this Act has begun the process of making a significant contribution to both the environment and the economy of Ontario. It has contributed to achieving a massive increase in the amount of renewable energy coming online in Ontario while building a clean energy industry in this province. As a result, tens of thousands of new environmentally beneficial jobs have been created in Ontario as part of a planned transition to a much more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable economy.

In particular, the Ontario Green Energy & Economy Act contains several positive components and accomplishments:

• it has provided the first Feed-in-Tariff or “FIT” program in North America which is designed to guarantee that renewable energy can be sold on the electricity grid;
• it had greater uptake in its first year than most other countries with over 22,000 new applications across the province, representing three applications an hour 24/7;
• it has provided a stable investment climate for renewable energy, stimulated the development of a clean energy industry and created thousands of new green jobs;
• it allots the majority of producer power rights to Ontario companies thereby making it possible for the province to make the transition from coal, oil and gas without major impacts on local economies;
• its ‘domestic content requirements’ ensure that new manufacturing jobs will be created in Ontario by requiring that 25 percent of the content of all wind projects and 50 percent of the content of all solar projects are produced by workers and industries in the province.

In short, we see the Ontario Green Energy & Economy Act as a step forward in making the shift to an authentic sustainable economy, which is becoming increasingly imperative in an age of climate change. However, this does not mean that improvements are unnecessary. While the Act includes provisions for mixed ownership options --- public, private community --- the vast majority of the contracts so far in Ontario have been with the private sector. If this Act is to serve in making an effective and smooth transition to a green economy future, then a much higher percentage of public and community ownership is required.

In addition to the large-scale private power projects, therefore, which are currently driving the expansion of renewable energy under the feed-in tariff in Ontario, we need to redouble our efforts to ensure there is greater participation of community and publicly owned energy projects. By putting power into the hands of local cooperatives, municipalities and First Nations, and by facilitating the expansion of publicly owned large-scale renewable energy projects in general, we can help ensure that the benefits of renewable energy stay within our communities and we can build meaningful public support for an urgent shift away from oil, coal and gas towards the efficient development and use of renewable energy.

For Ontarians, we maintain the Green Energy & Economy Act is one important step forward in building a fair and sustainable future. In an age of climate change, all parties should exercise leadership by advocating ways to strengthen and improve this Act along lines noted above. If, however, we allow this legislation to be killed, we would be taking two steps backward. For the sake of our children and future generations, two steps backward would be far too costly!

Co-signed by the following organizations who are members of the Green Economy Network:

·         Canadian Auto Workers [CAW]

·         Canadian Union of Public Employees [CUPE]

·         Canadian Union of Postal Workers [CUPW]

·         Canadian Youth Climate Coalition [CYCC]

·         Climate Action Network [CAN]

·         Green Communities Canada [GCC]

·         National Union of Public and General Employees [NUPGE]

·         Ontario Federation of Labour

·         Polaris Institute [PI]

·         Public Service Alliance of Canada [PSAC]

·         United Steel Workers [USW]