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ARTICLE · 12 DECEMBER 2016

Ontario's Auditor General Raises Questions About Cap And Trade

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On November 30, 2016, Ontario's Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk released her 2016 Annual Report, which included a chapter titled Climate Change.

CanadaEnvironment
David Stevens
David Stevens
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On November 30, 2016, Ontario's Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk released her 2016 Annual Report, which included a chapter titled Climate Change. The accompanying News Release titled "Ontario's Cap and Trade Will Not Significantly Lower Emissions Within the Province by 2020: Auditor General" summarizes the concerns raised by the Auditor General about Ontario's pending Cap and Trade Program. Overall, the concern seems to be that the value for money proposition of the Cap and Trade Program is questionable.

Among other things, the Auditor General raises doubts about how much Cap and Trade will contribute to emissions reductions in Ontario. Citing a report that was commissioned by Ontario's Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the Auditor General's Report observes that Cap and Trade may support as little as 3.5Mt of the 18.7Mt emissions required in Ontario to meet 2020 commitments. The balance of emissions reductions required would be achieved by

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