Ontario Hansard - 11-October2006

CLIMATE CHANGE

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): I rise today to express my concern for the misdirection and contradictions that Ontarians have been subject to by the McGuinty Liberals.

The Premier stated loud and clear that it's time for the federal government to come to the table about climate change. Yet when the federal government begins to work with the auto industry in their plan to reduce air emissions, he immediately is seen arm in arm with Buzz Hargrove, saying that the feds should back off on their plans.

This is a Premier who attacked the federal auto emission controls on the same day that Ontario's Environment Commissioner gave a scathing report, saying the McGuinty Liberals are neglecting their obligations to the environment. This is a Premier whose environment minister says she has a plan for Ontario with respect to climate change, but the Environment Commissioner's report says that after a search of ministry websites and contacting ministry staff, there is no formal plan for climate change.

This is a Premier whose energy minister says that coal-fired electricity needs to stop because of the air emissions, yet he purchases electricity at ridiculous prices from outside of Ontario, which is fired by -- you guessed it -- coal. This is a Premier who says he doesn't think it's right to get into jurisdictional battles when it comes to climate control, but immediately throws barbs at the province of Alberta, which actually has a plan for climate change.

Contradiction after contradiction; broken promise after broken promise. Say anything to get elected: That's the legacy of this government.