Letter to Ontario MPP Peter Bethlenflavy Regarding Ontario’s Environment Plan

I sent a message to my MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy the other day, but got no response. So, I messaged him again just now, through the contact form on his website, asking questions about the Ontario PC plan for the environment.

For reference, the Ontario PC government, under premier Doug Ford, cancelled Ontario’s Cap & Trade program after they were elected, which opened the province to be included in the Federal Carbon Tax program. They knew it would happen.

Also, the provincial PCs have had many officials and MPPs post photos at gas pumps threatening Ontario’s that their gas prices were going to jump and to blame the federal government and the new tax. However, they have not made mention of the carbon tax rebate program, even though literature and websites explaining the program are very available to the public.

!!! CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE FEDERAL CARBON TAX REBATE !!!

Most recently, the Ford PCs also cancelled the Drive Clean program, citing it as putting money back in Ontarians pockets. Which it will, but there has been no announcement of a replacement program to serve the environment.

All of these things lead to my questions. And now we’ll see if he answers or if he doesn’t.

If he doesn’t answer, maybe we should be asking more MPPs the same questions?

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Good afternoon,

I sent a message a few days ago, but have yet to receive a reply, so I thought I would try again.

I have concerns about the Ontario PC government’s handling of environmental issues at this time, and in the future. And I’m hoping that you can provide some answers for me.

When the federal carbon tax was implemented in Ontario and three other provinces on Monday (and before that), your government started a massive blitz online and in the media, rallying against it as a job killing tax that was against the people. I would ask what alternative plan the PC government under Doug Ford has in mind, that wasn’t implemented in the time between the election and now (including at the time that the previous Cap & Trade program was cancelled, which directly resulted in the carbon tax being implemented). And I would follow that question with, what are you waiting for in introducing your alternative plan?

Unfortunately, I feel as though I must also include these questions – Does the Ontario PC government believe in climate change science? If yes, does the Ontario PC government believe that the environment isn’t their problem? If no, why isn’t your government showing Ontario that you have a plan, instead of attacking the federal plan, and the provincial plan that was cancelled?

I also wonder about the report in the Toronto Star, telling Ontario that the provincial government will be spending millions of tax payer dollars on anti-carbon tax ads, which will do nothing to remove the tax, but serve only (in my opinion, and I’m hoping that you can give your answer) to anger Ontarians against the federal Liberal party. Do you believe this is money well spent when we are also watching education cuts pass through your budget?

I also wonder why, in none of the messaging, tweets, media pieces, Facebook posts, etc., that I have seen from PC officials, the carbon tax rebate from the federal government has been mentioned. Is this an oversight by every single member of your government? An honest mistake? Or a deliberate attempt to show no benefits to Ontarians, and only paint the federal government as greedy and over-taxing?

I also wonder what the environmental advantage is to cancelling the Drive Clean program? Is there an advantage? Is there a replacement program coming that will protect the environment?

I understand that you are not the Environment Minister, but you are my MPP, and I hope that you will take the time to reply to these questions, and also ask your colleagues what their plan is, other than to save money for large corporations (since we both know the carbon tax rebate is there, you’re just not talking about it).

Thank you,