Letters & Submissions

RE: ERO 019-9299 Enabling the Development of Commercial Scale Geologic Carbon Storage in Ontario: The Geologic Carbon Storage Act

Dear Ministry,

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) is an Accredited Farm Organization representing the interests of over 4,000 farm families in Ontario who are called to the vocation of farming. CFFO policy promotes economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable farming, advocating that farmers receive fair return for their production and stewardship efforts.

The proposal to allow carbon capture and storage in Ontario follows attempts in other jurisdictions to use this technology as a solution to meet emissions targets, usually by large emitters. This technology has proven to be high cost, discouraging adoption by private enterprise without significant public subsidies. It has also proven to be unreliable, with leaks undermining the purpose of the technology, and posing public risk. By far the best solution is to reduce emissions at the source, rather than capture and store emissions in perpetuity.

The CFFO objects to proposals to allow geologic carbon storage in Ontario. This proposal would result in significant risks and costs to the public, with little or no public benefit. These include that geologic carbon storage:

• Is high risk, including risks of:
  • surface leaks
  • damage to water supply
  • induced seismicity, and
  • impediments to other resource extraction.
• Is high cost for little benefit compared to other solutions.
• Will be costly over the long term—leaving the public with ongoing costs to monitor and maintain public safety.
• Removes landowner rights for the benefit of project proponents.

This technology should not be permitted in Ontario. Thank you for your consideration of our comments and concerns.

Sincerely,

Ed Scharringa, President
Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario