Doug Ford’s gas-fired power plan defies climate targets

In early June in Toronto, weeks before summer’s official start date, we’d already seen heat warnings and air quality alerts due to the blowing smoke from wildfires in Quebec and Ontario. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, these next few years are critical to addressing the climate crisis. To limit global warming to around 1.5 C, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced 43 per cent by the year 2030. This means we need to transition to clean energy now, but Doug Ford is moving in the opposite direction.

Ontario’s premier is pushing forward on his plan to increase gas-fired electricity production in the province despite the environmental, health and financial risks and the lack of public approval, setting Ontario on a collision course with provincial and federal climate targets.

The plan is to increase gas plant electricity production in six plants across the province, including the Portlands Gas Plant in Toronto’s east end. Under the plan, Ontario will experience the biggest increase in gas-fired power supply in more than a decade.

According to the provincial agency that manages the grid, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), only four per cent of Ontario’s power supply currently comes from gas- and oil-fired power. Under this plan, that will rise to nearly 27 per cent by 2043.

This plan poses a significant challenge to Ontario’s ability to meet its climate target of reducing emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, as well as achieving the federal goal to reach a zero-carbon electricity grid by 2035. The Ford government’s plan to increase gas-fired electricity production will, in fact, increase carbon emissions by a projected 600 per cent by 2040 compared to 2017.

Gas-fired electricity plants come with significant health risks — they produce damaging air pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter.

These pollutants are particularly harmful to the elderly, pregnant people, young children and those with underlying health conditions. Winds in Toronto predominantly come from the southwest, resulting in approximately 1,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxides blowing over Scarborough annually from the Portlands plant.

In addition to health risks, this plan comes with financial risks for Ontarians. The federal government is drafting the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER), a climate policy which seeks to achieve a zero-carbon electricity grid by 2035.

At the same time, Ford is finalizing expensive contracts with these gas plants. If the federal government ends up forcing the shutdown of these plants under the CER, Ontario taxpayers will be left on the hook to keep paying for the contracts, whether the plants continue to function or not.

As wildfire smoke pollutes the air we breathe, the answer is clear — we need to act now. Pushing back against Ford’s plan is possible by contacting our MPPs and, for those living in one of the areas affected by gas plant expansion, contact your city councillor.

An upcoming town hall on July 12 gives Toronto residents the opportunity to "Say No to the Expansion of Portlands Gas Plant."

We can hold our politicians accountable and fight for a healthy planet for future generations.

Mika Gang is an elementary school teacher with the Toronto District School Board.