Climate change takes centre stage in candidate debate

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/08/2023 (802 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BETWEEN political jabs, rebuttals and spirited discussion, Manitoba’s leading political parties made a slate of promises to protect the environment, solidify the green economy and make climate action more affordable during one of the first leadership debates of the election season — though not all party leaders were present.

Progressive Conservative Environment Minister Kevin Klein and former NDP environment critic Lisa Naylor stood in for their respective party leaders (NDP Leader Wab Kinew backed out of the event Tuesday morning) at an environment and climate change forum at the University of Winnipeg Tuesday night.

The event was hosted by the Manitoba Climate Action team, the group behind the Consider Climate Manitoba campaign, along with 25 other local organizations concerned about climate policy.

With the reality of environmental disasters, including wildfires, floods, droughts and heat waves, becoming commonplace across the country, 200 people gathered to hear candidates describe the immediate steps they would take to make the climate crisis a priority in all policy decisions. Candidates were asked to outline policies to establish a net-zero energy grid by 2035, support the agricultural industry in reducing emissions and meeting international biodiversity targets, and transition to a robust green economy supported by well-paying jobs.

“Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time,” Naylor said in her first remarks of the evening, before promising her party would commit to helping Manitoba reach net-zero emissions by 2050, expanding the renewable power grid and increasing protected lands across the province.

Naylor traded blows with Klein throughout the evening, criticizing the Tories record on climate policies including funding cuts to community environmental groups, rising greenhouse gas emissions, and expensive legal challenges over the federal carbon tax.

For his part, Klein claimed his party would be committed to safeguarding the environment, “not by making promises” but by supporting private sector innovation to make Manitoba a leader in green energy.

When it came to plans for cutting Manitoba’s greenhouse gas emissions and developing a robust energy policy — Manitoba and Alberta are the only provinces in Canada emitting more carbon dioxide pollution today than they were in 2005 — Lamont touted a $300 million green fund his party has proposed to pay for home energy retrofits, support active and public transportation infrastructure and other clean energy programs. He also stressed the need for a “hands off” approach to Manitoba Hydro, keeping the public utility independent.

With transportation representing 40 per cent of Manitoba’s emissions, candidates were asked how they plan to green the province’s transportation network, including strategies to support active transportation and low or no-carbon transportation modes. Klein outlined existing funding commitments to increase electric vehicle infrastructure while Naylor stressed her party’s earlier commitment to provide incentives for Manitobans to purchase new and used electric vehicles. Several parties also introduced new commitments to better funding public transit in Manitoba municipalities — including dollars earmarked for transit electrification.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Head Start

Weekday Mornings

A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day.

Sign up for Head Start

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Plans to modernize Manitoba’s environmental approvals process — which provides environmental licenses to major developments like mines — were met with interest from the engaged crowds as parties debated the need for more stringent sustainable development policies.

“Our environment is not being protected,” Green Party Leader Janine Gibson said, referencing “huge gaps” in environmental licensing policy.

The approvals process has come into focus as conflict continues over a controversial proposal to license a silica sand mine in the Springfield-area drinking water aquifer. The mine, proposed by Calgary-based Sio Silica, has not yet been approved; a clean environment commission hearing recommended further review and testing be completed before licensing the mine. Parties were asked their position on the controversial project. Gibson, whose own well draws water from the aquifer in question, reiterated her strong opposition and Lamont also took an opposing stance. Both Naylor and Klein declined to offer a strong stance for or against the project.

In a rapid fire yes-or-no question series towards the end of the evening, all parties committed to expanding funding for active transportation, tree planting and waste diversion, reducing emissions to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, updating Efficiency Manitoba’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and commissioning a feasibility study for rail relocation. Klein was the only representative to answer no on several points, including a ban on peat mining (to which Naylor also answered no), a ban on pesticides, more stringent water protection regulations and legislation to protect the public from corporate lawsuits designed to deter public participation.

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

Julia-Simone Rutgers
Reporter

Julia-Simone Rutgers is the Manitoba environment reporter for the Free Press and The Narwhal. She joined the Free Press in 2020, after completing a journalism degree at the University of King’s College in Halifax, and took on the environment beat in 2022. Read more about Julia-Simone.

Julia-Simone’s role is part of a partnership with The Narwhal, funded by the Winnipeg Foundation. Every piece of reporting Julia-Simone produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.