Ontario needs to do more to foster 21st-century jobs—green jobs in sustainable industries such as the manufacturing of fuel-efficient vehicles, wind turbines, public transit, sustainable agriculture and forestry, ecotourism, energy-efficient materials and construction. The opportunities are unlimited.

The Green Tax Shift plan is a good first step in creating the conditions for a prosperous and sustainable economy that produces green jobs. By shifting taxes from employment to the resource use, Ontario will receive a double dividend: improved environmental performance and more jobs.

The GPO’s Green Jobs Plan will increase employment, competitiveness and innovation, while establishing worker protection. By adjusting market signals to reflect environmental costs, the GPO’s plan will create markets for new, innovative green businesses, technologies and products. Greens realize that small businesses, coops and non-profit social enterprises are important engines of a vibrant green economy. The threats of climate change, pollution and energy shortages can create opportunities for green jobs and healthy communities.

To achieve these goals, the Green Party of Ontario will:

Shift the focus to sustainability

■ Establish a Product Stewardship Program that places responsibility for the entire life cycle of products with the manufacturer or importer. Producers, not taxpayers, should be responsible for all costs associated with manufacturing, distribution and disposal. This program will create jobs in businesses that incorporate repair and recycling of products at the design stage.

■ Create the conditions for a carbon market by establishing a cap and trade system for large final emitters. As part of this plan, the GPO will establish an Ontario Carbon Bank to encourage the purchase of local carbon offsets that will promote sustainable business development and green jobs in Ontario.

Create incentives and protection

■ Ensure that all government purchases and contracts with outside agencies require sustainable practices, local procurement, full-cost accounting and minimal environmental impact. Government should take the lead in buying locally produced green products, which will lead to more jobs in Ontario.

■ Introduce legislation and policies that reduce overtime. Excessive overtime is bad for the economy because it reduces the productivity and competitiveness of Ontario’s work force, increases unemployment and ultimately increases health costs.

■ Introduce legislation to establish six new provincial statutory holidays. These will include the first Monday in March to celebrate the birth of Ontario, Earth Day in April, the Friday preceding the first Monday in August, Remembrance Day in November, and polling days for municipal and provincial elections. Labour productivity is higher in countries that
provide workers with additional holidays.

■ Establish a review panel to examine existing government regulations to assess their effect on small farms and businesses with the goal of creating equal opportunities for small businesses. The era of one-size-fits-all regulations, which are usually oriented to large businesses, must end so that small businesses can thrive in a prosperous green economy.

■ Invest $11.5 million over four years to alleviate labour shortages, especially in the skilled trades by:
● Improving access to apprenticeship programs
● Easing immigration for qualified immigrants
● Providing assistance for the labour market integration

■ Introduce legislation to prohibit unpaid overtime

■ Create a $10 million program over four years to provide zero interest loans for worker’s coops and other democratic forms of workplace organization.

■ Introduce legislation giving government inspectors more powers to enforce labour laws.

■ Introduce legislation to strengthen protections for whistle blowers.