A More Detailed Look: Proposed Options For Ontario's Cap-And-Trade Program

As noted in our earlier posting, the Ontario government announced in April 2015 that it would implement a cap and trade program that would eventually be linked with the existing cap and trade systems in Québec and California. Following extensive public consultations over the summer, Ontario has released its Cap and Trade Program Design Options paper, which is open for public comment until December 16, 2015. As part of the current consultation process, the Ontario government is seeking input on various elements of the program design including timing, scope of the program, caps on greenhouse gas emissions, allowance distribution, price stability mechanisms, market design features, compliance requirements, flexibility mechanisms and enforcement. Feedback will inform the development of a regulatory proposal for the cap and trade program, which is expected to be tabled in early 2016. This will be followed by another round of public consultations before the cap and trade