The battle lines over Canada’s climate strategy have deepened as Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government issued a formal challenge to Ottawa’s environmental policies, claiming the federal approach is creating economic hardship without delivering promised emissions reductions. In a strongly-worded letter obtained by CO24 News, Ontario Environment Minister Andrea Khanjin accused the federal government of failing to meet its own climate targets while imposing costly carbon pricing measures on provinces.
“The federal government’s own data shows Canada will miss its 2030 emissions targets by a substantial margin,” Khanjin wrote to federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. “Meanwhile, Ontarians continue bearing the financial burden of federal climate policies that aren’t producing results.”
The letter, sent Tuesday, represents a significant escalation in the ongoing federal-provincial climate policy dispute that has characterized intergovernmental relations for years. Ontario officials point to recent Environment and Climate Change Canada projections suggesting the country will fall approximately 30 megatonnes short of its 2030 emissions reduction targets, despite implementing carbon pricing nationwide.
Premier Ford, speaking at an unrelated event in Mississauga, reinforced his government’s position. “We’ve always supported environmental protection, but we won’t support policies that make life unaffordable for families and businesses,” Ford told reporters. “Our approach delivers real environmental benefits without punishing everyday Ontarians.”
The Ontario government’s criticism centers particularly on the federal carbon pricing system, which currently stands at $80 per tonne of emissions and is scheduled to rise to $170 per tonne by 2030. Provincial officials argue this approach disproportionately impacts northern and rural communities while failing to deliver on its environmental promises.
Environmental policy experts offer mixed assessments of Ontario’s claims. Dr. Kathryn Harrison, professor of political science at the University of British Columbia, acknowledges implementation challenges but defends carbon pricing’s theoretical effectiveness.
“The evidence supporting carbon pricing as an emissions reduction tool remains strong,” Harrison told CO24 in an interview. “The issue isn’t the mechanism itself but rather ensuring comprehensive application and avoiding exemptions that undermine its effectiveness.”
Ontario’s letter highlights its own climate initiatives, including investments in public transit, electric vehicle manufacturing, and clean steel production. The province maintains it has reduced emissions by 15 percent since 2005 while growing its economy.
Federal Environment Minister Guilbeault responded sharply to Ontario’s challenge, defending Ottawa’s approach. “The science is clear that carbon pricing works, and the rebates ensure most families receive more money back than they pay,” Guilbeault said in a statement provided to CO24 Politics. “We welcome constructive provincial engagement but remain committed to our national emissions reduction strategy.”
The timing of Ontario’s challenge coincides with growing public concern over affordability issues nationwide. Recent polling suggests increasing skepticism about carbon pricing, with 58 percent of Canadians now expressing concerns about its economic impact—up from 42 percent just two years ago, according to research from the Angus Reid Institute.
Business leaders in Ontario have largely supported the provincial government’s position. Catherine Swift, former president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, praised the Ford government’s approach. “Small businesses have been crushed by rising costs, and federal climate policies are a significant contributor,” Swift noted. “We need environmental policies that work without destroying livelihoods.”
Environmental advocates, however, warn against abandoning carbon pricing. “Without a price on pollution, we lose the most efficient tool for reducing emissions,” said Keith Brooks, programs director at Environmental Defence. “The solution isn’t abandoning carbon pricing but strengthening complementary policies and closing loopholes.”
As this federal-provincial disagreement intensifies, the fundamental question remains: can Canada develop a climate strategy that effectively reduces emissions while maintaining economic competitiveness and addressing regional concerns? The answer may determine not only the country’s environmental future but also the sustainability of its federation.
