Ontario is moving to phase out the sale of "inefficient" incandescent lightbulbs in favour of the new compact fluorescent type.
By 2012, the province plans to ban the old-style lightbulbs, which have been around since about the 1870s.
Ontario will not make it illegal to use incandescent bulbs, but after the deadline they will not be available on store shelves.
The phase-out is part of a provincial energy conservation program.
"On average, a CFL (compact fluorescent) bulb costs about $3 and can save up to $80 over its eight useful years of life," Energy Minister Dwight Duncan said Wednesday morning.
The government's lofty goal is to replace all 87 million incandescent bulbs in use in Ontario. They say the energy savings that achieved would be enough to power 600,000 homes.
Environment Minister Laurel Broten added that the change to CFL bulbs will boost the province's efforts to help the environment.
"One million tonnes of greenhouse gases will be eliminated by phasing out old fashioned, energy-inefficient lights," Broten said.
"That's really very remarkable. It's as simple as changing a lightbulb."
But opposition critics question the government's motives in the announcement, asking why the governing Liberals are choosing to wait for two elections to pass before the ban is fully in force.
Ontario is following the lead of other jurisdictions -- such as Australia, Cuba and Venezuela -- in the quest to eliminate energy-burning bulbs and save power.
Australia announced in February that it will eliminate old-style bulbs by 2010.
Several American states are said to be considering similar measures.
The European Union has proposed a ban on the manufacture of incandescent bulbs, but safety concerns and environmental questions surrounding mercury used in CFL bulbs have not yet been addressed.
In addition to Ontario's planned phase-out, the government also intends to hold discussions with officials in the U.S. and other countries about developing standards for lamps.
With a report from CTV's Paul Bliss and files from The Canadian Press
