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The Province of Ontario

The Province of Ontario

Government Details

Government Name
The Province of Ontario
Population
13.2 million (2010)
GDP
C$578.2 billion (2009)
Sector
Province
Country
Canada

Overview

Ontario is Canada’s most populated province, home to the country’s largest city, Toronto, and its capital, Ottawa. With good transport links to the United States, the south of the province is the country’s manufacturing powerhouse, accounting for just over half of Canada’s exports. The far north of the province, by contrast, is one of the world’s largest wilderness areas, home to many endangered species and rare habitats.

The province released a climate change action plan in June 2007, pledging a 6% reduction in emissions by 2014, 15% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The Climate Change Secretariat was created in 2008 to drive results on the action plan and to produce its Annual Report. By 2009 the province had already reduced its carbon emission levels to approximately 1990 levels. 

In 2009, the Province put in place the legal framework for a carbon cap-and-trade system, and now requires organizations and facilities to report their carbon emissions. From 2012, this reporting must be externally accredited. 

The Province has attracted C$16 billion of private green investment by advancing low carbon policies and funding research and development in clean technology through the Ontario New Technology Fund and the Ontario Network of Excellence.

Ontario’s aim is to become a leading green economy of North America. It became the first jurisdiction in the continent to pledge to phase out coal-fired power generation (originally in 2009, now 2014). Alongside this, a far-sighted Green Energy Act will boost investment in renewable energy projects and promote conservation, creating green jobs and economic growth in the process.

Current activities

Energy efficiency

The Climate Action Plan aims to produce 7.1 gigawatts energy savings by 2030. The Green Energy Act imposed important efficiency standards for appliances, buildings and lighting. The government is providing subsidies for efficiency improvements and is collaborating with energy and gas companies to enhance efficiency programs.

The C$20 million Municipal Eco Challenge Fund grants money towards efficiency improvements of municipal buildings as well as training, tools and technical support. Alongside these grants, there is a C$200 million loan program for municipal carbon-saving projects. The C$122 million Home Energy Audit and Retrofit Program provides subsidies for accredited domestic energy efficiency improvements.

Renewable energy

Ontario offers North America’s most comprehensive feed-in tariff for medium-scale and domestic energy producers. This has prompted fast growth of renewable energy, helping the province reach its renewable portfolio target of 15.7 gigawatts by 2025.

The wind energy sector has already experienced rapid growth, with over 670 turbines coming online between 2003 and 2009, raising the overall wind capacity to over 1.5 gigawatts. This expansion will continue in the coming years.

Clean transport

Ontario’s low carbon transport strategy is embodied in its Driving Change program. A number of the resultant policies are outlined below.

Gasoline must now contain an average of 5% ethanol, and compulsory emissions standards now apply to all cars. Research is in progress into electric and hydrogen infrastructures and business models.

MoveOntario 2020 is a C$11.5 billion project to develop rapid transit in Greater Toronto and Hamilton. Similar developments are ongoing in Ottawa and the Waterloo region, and programs are underway to promote cycling.

A generous electric vehicle subsidy program and a C$5.5 million commercial grant scheme have helped deploy over 500 low carbon vehicles and retrofit existing vehicles with anti-idling technology.

Sustainable land use

The Far North Act in 2010 protects a vast region of northern boreal forest (over 225,000 square kilometers). The Act is part of a wider Far North Planning Initiative which enables the sensitive and sustainable development of a region with rich natural resources and a delicate ecosystem.

In Southern Ontario, 50 million trees will be planted on private and public lands by 2020 which will act as carbon sinks. The province has banned cosmetic pesticide use, and legislation promotes responsible nutrient management in soil.

Waste management

Ontario’s recycling programs now see five million people recycling every day. Since 2003, the population has doubled the amount of organic waste diverted from landfills.

Landfills are now required to capture methane, a potent greenhouse gas. It can either be burned off, reducing its greenhouse potency, or used to generate electricity.

International collaboration

Ontario participates in the Western Climate Initiative’s cap and trade scheme alongside other Canadian provinces and US states.

Smart cities

The provincial utility companies plan to roll out smart metering and intelligent load control systems for power grids.

In January 2011 the city of Stratford, Ontario was named the no. 7 smart city by the Intelligent Communities Forum, for its “commitment to innovation and continuous evolution as a leader in the knowledge economy”.