'We're going to expect some money' to help reduce emissions, says Kathleen Wynne
by Chris Hall
Kathleen Wynne has the federal partner she wanted in Justin Trudeau. But Ontario's premier acknowledges that the two of them will have have a challenge meeting expectations in the province as 2016 unfolds.
In an interview with CBC Radio's The House, Wynne said one of the first tests will be how well the two governments can work together in getting money flowing for infrastructure programs, including public transit.
Another will be the upcoming first ministers' meeting where Ottawa and the provinces will begin the work of setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a plan to get there.
"If we're going to reach the existing targets - never mind more ambitious targets - we are going to need a federal partner," Wynne told The House.
She's looking for direction from the federal government on how those national emission targets will be set, and how they will mesh with what provinces across the country are already doing. And the provinces will have their own demands.
"To be very frank about it we're going to expect some money. There needs to be money on the table to help us to help ourselves," Wynne says. "There have been large costs associated with the changes we've already made in Ontario."
Wynne's not putting a price tag on that.
"I have no idea what the amount will be. I wouldn't even hazard a guess. But i think it would do a disservice to the discussion if were were to start talking about amounts."
Wynne says it will be difficult to come to an agreement with all the provinces - especially when some provinces and regions have done more to reduce emissions.
Ontario and Quebec have already opted for a cap and trade system. British Columbia imposed a carbon tax and Alberta's NDP government announced a strategy this fall to bring in a carbon tax, cap emissions from the oil sand and phase out coal-fired electrical generation in favor or renewable energy sources.
Even so, Wynne says the provinces and territories will have to do more.
"Can we get past this notion that if we've done our bit here in Ontario then we can take a deep breath and let the rest of the provinces do their thing now. I don't think it works that way."
Canada committed to do its part to prevent the global temperature from rising more than 2 degrees celsius at the United Nations climate change conference in Paris in December.
The Pembina Institute says the agreement will require Canada to transition away from oil, coal and gas.
"If Canada is going to contribute its fair share of emissions reductions… it will need to decarbonize the economy by mid-century. This will mean reducing emissions by at least 80 per cent relative to Canada's current levels in the next 35 years," wrote Pembina's Erin Flanagan.
That's an enormous challenge for an energy-producing country like Canada. One that could well test the close bond between Justin Trudeau and his provincial partners - including Wynne.