Schreiner to other leaders: Ontario needs to go 100% renewable by 2050

TORONTO, ON — Today Mike Schreiner announced the Green Party of Ontario’s target of 100% renewable energy by 2050 and challenged Doug Ford, Kathleen Wynne and Andrea Horwath to share their vision for tackling climate change, an issue that all three parties have been silent on.

“I am deeply concerned that climate change is not being mentioned by the other parties in this election. Climate change is real and by ignoring it, the status quo parties are doing damage to our environment and to our economy. Greens will seize opportunities in the $6 trillion dollar clean economy to create jobs and prosperity,” said Mike Schreiner.

Overlooking the Toronto skyline, Schreiner unveiled a $4.18 billion Green Building and Business Program to help homeowners, renters and businesses invest in energy efficiency and conservation to save money by saving energy.

“Statistics show that for every dollar of investment you can create seven times more clean energy jobs than fossil fuel jobs. Greens are ready to leap into the future and embrace twenty-first century jobs in cleantech, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, construction, energy retrofits, and design,” said Schreiner.  

Already, over 1000 cities and regions around the world have committed to being fully powered by 100% renewable energy by 2050, including Schreiner’s home riding of Guelph and Oxford county in southwest Ontario. And yet, the big three status quo parties have shown no vision for making Ontario a climate leader.

“The Liberals completely mismanaged the Green Energy Act, putting corporate interests ahead of communities. Doug Ford is saying he’ll rip out wind turbines. And meanwhile for the NDP, climate change is a complete afterthought. This is why we need Green voices at Queen’s Park to drive the transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Schreiner.

“As a Green MPP, I will be pushing Ontario to follow in the footsteps of my home riding of Guelph. I got into politics to protect my children’s future and this is something I am determined to continue fighting for at Queen’s Park,” added Schreiner.