Ontario's energy plan ignores provincial climate law, watchdog says

Ontario's environmental watchdog says the Liberal government's long-term energy plan ignores its own climate change law and more must be done to shift the province from fossil fuels to low-carbon sources.

Saxe says that the province's long-term energy plan, which was released last fall, predicts stable demand for electricity but doesn't spell out how it will reduce fossil fuel use.

She says that in order to meet that goal the province will need to shift away from fossil fuel used in some cars and trucks, and from home heating using fossil fuels to electricity.

Saxe praises the government's role in cleaning up Ontario's electricity system by ending coal-fired power, but the report acknowledges that it has resulted in an increase in costs for ratepayers.

Saxe says the move away from coal-fired power has helped reduce the number of smog days every year and the health impacts associated with air pollution.