News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

March 15, 2018

Province Unveils Made-in-Manitoba Environmental Vision

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The Climate and Green Plan Implementation Act Introduced



Manitoba will become a cleaner, greener, more climate-resilient province thanks to new legislation introduced today, Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires announced.

“Our goal is to reduce carbon emissions, keep jobs here and stimulate innovation in clean energy, our economy and workforce,” Squires said.  “We’re providing a blueprint for Manitoba to build a prosperous green economy, preserve natural and healthy ecosystems, and protect our water.  Our government is moving forward with a comprehensive, realistic and workable climate and green plan with a bold new vision for a clean, green Manitoba.”

The climate and green plan implementation act includes five separate acts that would cover a variety of specific environment and economic areas:

  • a new climate and green plan act that would replace The Climate Change and Emissions Reduction Act and The Sustainable Development Act,
  • a new industrial greenhouse-gas emissions control and reporting act, and
  • amendments to The Water Protection Act, The Income Tax Act and The Fuel Tax Act.

These proposed changes would allow for the implementation of the made-in-Manitoba carbon pricing system that balances Manitoba’s unique environmental and economic realities, and would create new initiatives such as:

  • a $40-million climate and green fund available for projects in Manitoba dedicated to help reduce emissions and adapt to climate change, such as public and active transportation, natural restoration such as wetland restoration, energy efficiency for buildings, and waste and recycling programming;
  • a transparent reporting process for greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions reduction;
  • a low-carbon government office to reduce the carbon footprint of government operations; and
  • the formation of a new expert advisory council that would provide advice and guidance to reduce emissions in Manitoba and help the province adapt to climate change.

The proposed legislation would establish GHG emissions limits for regulated industrial facilities and hold operators accountable if they exceed their established limits.  The Fuel Tax Amendment Act would implement the $25-per-tonne carbon tax on fuel products, and would be administered through the existing fuel tax system for collection and administration.

The province will return all revenue collected from the carbon tax to Manitobans over the next four years through various measures, which include personal income tax relief, small business tax reductions, and rolling back the retail sales tax to seven per cent by 2020.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED




Backgrounder
Background Information - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2018/03/BG-Climate_and_Green_Plan-SD.doc