A New Hope

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has just announced his intention to push for an interprovincial carbon emissions “cap-and-trade” system at an upcoming premiers meeting in Toronto. This system, which would initiate the creation of an interprovincial carbon market thus putting a price on emissions, is precisely the type of effective market based solutions to global warming that we should be supporting (see previous post: New Plan?).

It has already received a full approval from BC Premier Gordon Campbell, whose province is already working on a similar plan with neighbouring American states, as well as a tentative yes from Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador. Alberta is obviously opposed, but both Premiers McGuinty and Campbell have indicated that, though it was preferred, a consensus wasn’t required to put the system in place.

You can see how excited I am, because this is exactly what needs to be done to fight climate change: market based solutions. If the provinces decide to act, we might actually see some movement, regardless of the federal position.

You know what, if this system ends up being implemented, I might even forgive McGuinty for breaking his numerous campaign promises, including shutting down the coal plants.