Tories pledge $25M for energy efficient renos

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This article was published 17/08/2019 (2216 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Progressive Conservatives have promised to invest $25 million annually in energy efficient renovations to reduce emissions in the province if they’re re-elected when Manitobans head to the polls next month.

The energy efficient retrofits would be targeted at existing homes and commercial buildings in an effort to reduce Manitoba’s greenhouse gas emissions cumulatively by 135,000 tonnes during the next three years.

Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires, who made the announcement Saturday morning, said this would be the equivalent of taking 27,000 cars off the roads.

“A re-elected Progressive Conservative government will continue to reduce emissions under our climate and green plan,” Squires said.

“Retrofits will make our buildings more energy efficient, reduce emissions and create jobs for hard-working Manitoba tradespeople that will carry out these renovations.”

Squires also took a shot at the NDP’s support of a carbon tax, saying it would increase gas prices and make life more unaffordable for Manitobans.

The building retrofits were recommended by the province’s expert advisory council under the Tories climate and green plan. Under their plan, the Tories say Manitoba’s emissions will be reduced by one million tonnes by 2023.

The initiative announced Saturday will also contain a “rebate-style mechanism” that will help offset costs for insulation, efficient windows and doors, and modern appliances. Commercial buildings and private homes will both be eligible for this.

The program will be managed by Efficiency Manitoba, a new Crown corporation created to focus on energy efficiency.

“Today’s guarantee to Manitobans is that we will support them in making their homes more energy efficient. This initiative is good for the environment and good for the economy. It will help Manitobans save money, it will reduce emissions and it will create jobs,” Squires said.

The NDP held a press conference Saturday afternoon to respond to the PC’s announcement. Erin Selby, a former NDP MLA and health minister in the Selinger government, shot back at Premier Brian Pallister’s party.

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“It’s funny to me. Brian Pallister and tackling climate change, one of these things just doesn’t belong here. So far if we look at Brian Pallister’s record, he cut the advertising to the efficiency program that had been incredibly successful, and as a direct result we’ve seen 25,000 less Manitobans signing up for the program,” Selby said.

“My main concern from today’s announcement is Brian Pallister’s history on the environment. He left $15 million on the table from the federal government, something no other conservative government even did across Canada…and he’s cut our CO2 emission targets in half.”

Selby declined comment when asked how the NDP’s green plan would differ from what the Tories are promising, saying the party will release the details of its costed platform in the coming weeks.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe