Ontario debates cap-and-trade scheme

Cap-and-trade legislation introduced this week by the Government of Ontario, Canada proposed a 6% cut in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 1990 levels by 2014.

The Government said discussions on the likely shape of the scheme would continue over the summer and it could be in place by 2012.

The proposal called for a 6% reduction in GHG emissions below 1990 levels by 2014 and a 15% cut by 2020. The province-wide scheme is likely to cover the electricity, natural gas, petroleum, base metals, steel, cement, chemicals, lime, and pulp and paper industries. These sectors represent about 40% of Ontario's total 2007 emissions.

John Gerretsen, minister of the