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TORONTO — Ontario’s New Democrats and Greens are comparing Doug Ford’s plan to scrap the province’s cap-and-trade system to the outgoing Liberals’ decision to cancel the construction of two gas plants several years ago.
The parties say both decisions involve ripping up contracts, and warn that changing course on the gas plants came at a steep price for the province.
In a news conference Thursday, Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner — who won a seat in a legislature in this month’s election — said Ford’s rush to pull out of the cap-and-trade system could stick taxpayers with the tab for billions in legal fees, penalties and other costs.
Schreiner’s warning comes days after the NDP issued a similar caution, saying the province could be on the hook to reimburse companies who have bought close to $3 billion in emissions credits, as well as any costs involved in tearing up the agreements Ontario has signed on carbon pricing with Quebec and California.
The NDP has also asked the province’s financial accountability officer to assess the costs in scrapping the program before the government makes its final decision.
Ford’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment but the Progressive Conservative leader has said dismantling cap-and-trade would be his first move once the legislature resumes.
The Tories, who won a majority earlier this month, were fierce critics of the Liberals’ decision to cancel gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga right before the 2011 election — a move that cost the province roughly $1 billion.
