Environment

Ontario is a leader in clean, green growth in Canada and worldwide.

Since 2018, the Ford PC government has taken significant steps to protect our land, air and water, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure a safe, healthy, and clean environment now and for future generations.

Reducing Landfill Waste

Enhancing Blue Box Program by making producers of products and packaging fully responsible for managing the life-cycle of their products, expanding blue box services to more communities and public spaces, and standardizing the list of materials that can be recycled across the province. Diverting materials from landfills will result in cost savings for municipalities.
Provided $5 million to help food rescue organizations divert high-quality food out of landfills and those who need it.
Developed a roadmap to clarify and expand the types of food and organic materials that should be collected and composted. Encouraging innovation in processing this waste to phase out food and organic waste from landfills by 2030.
Continuing consultation on hazardous and special waste and electronics regulations to transition them to a full producer responsibility model.
Consulting on Industrial, Commercial and Institutional waste to improve diversion rates in this sector.
Continued to work with other municipalities, provinces, territories and the federal government to develop and implement a Canada-wide plastics strategy, including single-use plastic waste and compostable packaging.

Water

Completed an extensive review of the province’s water-taking policies, programs and science tools.
Finalized amendments to water-taking permits, including more significant input from municipalities and making water-taking data available to the public.
Provided $5.8 million for projects focused on improving water quality.
$1.9 million grant funding for projects with a positive environmental impact on the Great Lakes and their communities.
Invested $375,00 to collect plastic waste from marinas using innovative plastic-capture technology.
$5.75 million for farm research and monitoring project to enhance water quality, improve soil health and protect the environment.
Updating current policies to reduce levels of lead in drinking water.
$10 million to help 20 municipalities improve monitoring of sewage overflows and bypasses, including funding to the City of Thunder Bay.
$1.9 million to help communities protect and improve the health of the Great Lakes, including restoring stream banks and local waterfront cleanups and applying best management practices to protect aquatic habitat and water quality, including fertilizers and road salt. Provided $75,000 to The Friends of Chippewa Park to remove and reconfigure the breakwater for improved water flow to manage pollutants and reduce beach closures.

Air

Implemented an enhanced emissions testing program for commercial trucks and buses.
Near real-time public reporting on common air pollutants and published annual air quality reports confirming Ontario’s actions to reduce airborne pollutants have been working.

Protecting Natural Spaces and Species

$12 million in funding to support groups working to protect and recover species at risk.
Introduced legislation to improve the governance, oversight and accountability of Conservation Authorities while respecting taxpayer dollars by giving municipalities more say over the Conservation services they pay for.
Launched consultations on how to ensure the health benefits of nature are accessible to all Ontarians.
Honoured past and present Canadian Armed Forces members with free weekday use park passes.
Reduced the price of seasonal day-use permits by up to 36% and increased the number of permits borrowed from public libraries free of charge.
Provided $420,000 to Ducks Unlimited to help support wetland restoration and management.
Released a sustainable forestry growth plan with a commitment to develop and release a Forest Biomass Action plan.
$6 million to electrify more campsites and revitalize and expand the number of roofed accommodations in Ontario parks.
$20 million to partially match funding for purchasing new privately-owned protected areas and their management and restoration.

Addressing Climate Change

Finalized Ontario’s emissions performance standards to ensure large industrial emitters are held accountable and used funds from fines to support projects designed to repair environmental harm, such as tree planting, habitat restoration, wetland creation and rain gardens.
Matched a $295 million investment with the federal government to retool an assembly complex into a global electric vehicle battery production hub.
Created the Cleaner Transportation Fuels regulation to require that renewal content in gasoline (such as ethanol) be increased to 11% in 2025, 13% in 2028 and 15% in 2030.
Launched a $1 million pilot project to provide municipalities up to 15% above the estimated cost of rebuilding damaged public infrastructure to make it more resilient to future extreme climate events.
Established a youth climate advisory group to allow young Ontarians to share their insights and ideas on addressing climate change.
Expanded the use of administrative monetary penalties for polluters and created an online reporting tool for Ontarians to report and track instances of pollution.
Reviewing options to provide a new ultra-low overnight electricity rate to support electric vehicle adoption.
Building electric vehicle stations on major highways as part of a historic EV charger rollout.
$250,000 to support the development of two new battery production lines in Ontario.
$56.4 million investment in the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network to drive deals and secure production mandates for hybrid and electric vehicles, create a domestic battery ecosystem and strengthen Ontario’s position as a North America automotive and electric vehicle innovation hub.

“The Ford PC Government continues to make investments and encourage innovation in technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to ensure our future generations have clean air and water.” – Kevin Holland

#GetItDone