Ford government silent on climate change plan as experts predict more torrential rain, floods

As crews in Toronto continue toclean up from Tuesday's massive rain storm, climate change scientists say we should brace for more frequent and more intense storms than the one that battered the city.

In the span of just a few hours on Tuesday night, between 50 and 100 millimetres of rain fell on the city.

"The bottom line is: flooding is the manifestation of climate change that is the most problematic in Canada," saidDr. BlairFeltmate, the head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo.

Felmate said Tuesday's storm is a sign of what's to come.

"The increase in the frequency and the overall prevalence or magnitude of floods is consistent with what we would predict based on based on climate change."

Since being sworn in, Ontario's Progressive Conservative government has yet to introduce any plan to address climate change. While it says the plan is forthcoming, some expertswarn the government is moving in the opposite direction.

Government to set targets

In late July, the PC government introduced the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act or Bill 4 which, if passed, would pull the province of Ontario out of the cap-and-trade market. The government claims Ontario families will save money through energy and fuel costs as well as "indirect costs" that were a result of cap-and-trade.

Cap-and-trade wasbrought in by the previousLiberal government tocreate incentives for industry to reduce their carbon footprint by putting limits on the amount of acceptable emissions.

"We're doing that becausewe don't think it was effective and, also, we think that's what's good for the economy, that's what's good for individualfamilies," said Environment Minister Rod Phillips on Wednesday.

Bill 4 would also require the province to set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and release a plan to fight climate change, though both could be revised down the line. Phillips wouldn't say what those targets or plan would look like.

"When we bring the plan forward, we'll obviously talk about it in details. It'll obviously have targets, and therequirementas well for the government to report on that plan."

Earlier in July, the government also cancelled758 renewable energy contracts, in what it said wasan effort to reduce electricity bills in the province.

"Thisgovernmenthas completely stopped climate action ... if it wanted to bring in another climate plan, it could have continued with the previous until it had a new one in place. Irresponsiblythey decided to stop all action,"said NDPenergy, environment and climate changecritic PeterTabuns.

"What I've seen so far is a complete dereliction of duty."

Toronto storm a 'wake-up call'

Climate change experts say the Ontario government's move to pull out of cap-and-trade and the carbon tax, and cancel green energy contracts will have long-term effects on the environment beyond their tenure in power.

Floods debilitate Toronto after massive downpour

6 years ago

Duration 1:03

Deluge causes power outages, washed-out underpasses and submerged vehicles

"It's more than a drop in the bucket. It's quite threatening," said York University professor Dr. CarlaLipsig-Mumme.

"It undermines the whole country. The causesof climate change don't stop at the borders of provinces or countries."

Lipsig-Mummesaid Tuesday's storm is a "wake-up call" thatprovinces need to be more proactive on slowing the creationof greenhouse gases.

"What is happening to us now was caused a while ago, but we dohave realthings we can do now," saidLipsig-Mumme.

"It's still very valuable to get moving and to get moving now."