A Brief Commentary by Niagara At Large publisher Doug Draper
One of the first things I took note of – in a good way – when Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced her new cabinet late this June is that she named a rather progressive-minded person, former Winnipeg, Manitoba mayor Glen Murray, as her Minister of Environment, and that she had changed the name of the ministry from the Ministry of Environment to the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
This one ice storm alone, in December of 2013, did a recoord $3.2 billion dollars in damage to prperty and business in Ontario, according to insurance industry figures. And the severe weather hits just kept on coming.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change? Wow, and the possible significance of this name changehardly got anything more than a mere mention in the mainstream media.
This, in itself, suggests that this premier may want to take climate change and the possible impacts human activities are having on the earth’s climate more seriously than most other political leaders have across Canada up to now.
There are also these passages from Wynne’s July 3rd Throne Speech –
“Ontarians are proud to be leaders in the global fight against climate change. The closing of Ontario’s coal-fired electricity plants stands as North America’s most significant climate change initiative. Your government is encouraged by the United States’ newly announced restrictions on coal emissions, but Ontarians know there is more to be done here and around the world.
Climate change is an overarching concern for this province, as it is for this country and the world. That is why your government is giving responsibilities for climate change to a new Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.
Increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather hurts farmers, puts pressure on infrastructure, and at the worst of times, robs people of their homes and livelihoods. The new Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change will co-ordinate action across government to limit greenhouse gas emissions and will renew work with communities across Ontario on adaptation to the growing impacts of climate change.”
Let us hope, for the sake of present and future generations, that these are not just words. Let us hope that Wynne and her new Minister of Environment and Climate Change will translate these words into actions that truly make Ontario a global leader in addressing climate change.
(NOW IT IS YOUR TURN. Niagara At Large encourages you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.)
Niagara At Large 
That’s nice. Now I hope she takes the economy seriously too.
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I cannot remember ANY Canadian election, municipal, provincial OR federal, where the environment & climate change was barely mentioned let alone made anything like a priority.
Meanwhile, the greatest lease holder of crown lands in Alberta would be…. ta da! ….. the Koch Brothers from the US, the first family of Capitalism & Conservatism run amok. They have over 360,000 acres in the Peace River area alone.
I have little hope for conservation to be a priority of any government.
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Nobody is denying that Wynne knows how to talk the talk. Now — let’s see if it’s more than just talk. Let’s see Glen Murray stop the preparations for fracking in this province. Let’s see this government tell the likes of Enbridge and Trans Canada that Ontario does not permit them to send Alberta tar sands bitumen by pipeline across this province.
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No better way to ship it. As I’ve said before… This Confederation has always been a shaky alliance, with each region having their own initiatives, biases, and protectionism. We would do well to follow Quebec’s lead for a separation which would see the formation of 6 autonomous federations which could coexist as great trading partners. Gone would be the ridiculous and concessionary coast-to-coast bilingualism, which would be exclusive to Quebec. North, West, Central, Ontario, Québec, and Maritime self-governing states would do well in a Canadian Commonwealth, with each having the jurisdiction and power to say yes or no to whatever they wish. No more bailouts and equity handouts, no more less than or more than equal treatment, and accountability for all. Aboriginals can also play a vital part by maintaining or assimilating as they see fit. Man’s influence on climate change is minimal, but if there’s to be a concerted effort to minimize coal emissions, it has to start at the main sources, China and India, which is not too likely.
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