Ontario Liberal Leadership Candidates Must Discuss Climate Change

The Green Party of Ontario is challenging the Liberal leadership candidates to talk about climate change in their final speeches today.

“It’s deeply disturbing and irresponsible that none of the candidates running for Premier have talked about how they would address climate change,” says GPO leader Mike Schreiner. “Failure to discuss, let alone lead, on the climate issue threatens Ontario’s economy and environment.”

Climate change will cost Canada’s economy $5 billion by 2020 and up to $43 billion by 2050 according to the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy. Environment Commissioner Gord Miller says that climate change could cost the Ontario forestry industry alone $75 billion by 2080.

After another year of record temperatures and extreme weather events, Ontario’s next Premier cannot ignore climate change. Environment Commissioner Gord Miller’s recent report showed that Ontario is not on track to meet its greenhouse gas emission reductions and has no plan to meet its targets.

“How can someone lead the province if they don’t talk about one of the biggest threats to our economy and our quality of life?” asks GPO Deputy Leader Kevin O’Donnell.

World leaders meeting in Davos this week have called for a $14 trillion investment to green the world’s economy.

“I want Ontario to be a global leader in the emerging low carbon economy,” says Schreiner. “We can stimulate jobs and innovation by leading with solutions to climate change. Sadly, the Liberal leadership candidates are missing in action.”