Recently, the Ontario PC Party Leader, John Tory, realigned our critic portfolios in preparation for the fall session of the Ontario Legislature. I was asked to take on the challenge of the Environment portfolio. I look forward to the challenge this new opportunity will provide to learn more about environmental issues.

I enjoyed my time as critic for Training, Colleges and Universities. During that time, I was able to contribute in a tangible way to improving access to apprenticeship programs. My private members bill calling for the development of a Fuel Technician apprenticeship program was passed during the last legislative session. I am still very dedicated to the expansion of apprenticeship and postsecondary training and will work closely on this issue with our new critic.

The Ministry of the Environment acts as a watchdog ministry, protecting our province’s air, land and water. They manage a comprehensive legislative and regulatory system, as well as responding to environmental emergencies.

Every part of the province and every business and family is impacted in some way by the rules that the Ministry of the Environment enforces. The Ministry administers the Drive Clean program and sets rules governing drinking water quality, waste management and emissions. They also have a responsibility for administering the Environmental Assessment Act.

The Ministry of the Environment works closely with other ministries such as Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Our party will be watching the government closely because we want to be sure that they are making the decisions that are best for our province.

This past summer, the government found itself buying expensive power from the United States to meet our electrical power needs. Apart from the cost of that power, which was very expensive, there was an environmental cost to that decision as well. One of the major sources of air pollution in Ontario is the air pollution caused by U.S. coal plants. We added to the pollution in Ontario whenever we made those purchases. This is something that the PC Party will be closely monitoring.

If the McGuinty Liberal government moves forward on closing down coal plants before Ontario is able to meet its own power needs, they could be doing damage to our environment that could be avoided by moving at a more responsible pace.

In every facet of our lives, we make choices that have an impact on the environment, whether it is at work or at home or at play. We all have a duty to ensure that we leave our part of the planet fit for our children and their children to live in. There needs to be a balance that allows for businesses to operate, homes to be heated, farms to be operated and our tremendous natural heritage to be conserved.