TORONTO — The Ontario budget's failure to directly address climate change represents a"gross abdication of responsibility" by the government, some critics argue, saying the province rapidly needs to do more to adapt to a changing climate.
As last summer's extreme heat and wildfires gave way to the warmest winter on record, threatening tourism sectors and melting winter roads to remote First Nations, critics say the government needs to show it's better prepared. Governments in Quebec and British Columbia, meanwhile, made climate change a feature of their recent budgets. Quebec's budget included a section on environment and climate change adaptation, paired with a $127.5-million investment over five years. The B.C. budget pledged $1 billion to climate-related initiatives, including bolstered wildfire response.
It comes as experts say climate change is intensifying wildfires and warn 2024 could rival last year's season.