Video teases province’s made in Manitoba green plan

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This article was published 25/10/2017 (2961 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The provincial government’s “made in Manitoba green plan” being announced Friday is expected to address a broad range of issues, from greenhouse gas emissions and carbon pricing to land use, wildlife habitat and “clean technology.”

According to a promotional video posted Wednesday on the Progressive Conservative party’s website, the plan will be based on four pillars: climate, water, nature and jobs.

“It’s exciting. It’s ambitious. It’s made by Manitobans for Manitobans,” Premier Brian Pallister says in the two-minute, 48-second video. “It’s going to work better for our environment. It’s going to work better for our economy.”

While the video offers few details, it’s clear the province’s approach to carbon pricing will be set out as part of a much broader policy announcement.

Under the heading of climate, the video indicates the government will be setting out its strategy Friday regarding clean energy, carbon pricing, “sector emission reduction” and “adaptation.”

Under the category of water, the Tories plan to address issues related to agriculture and land use, wetlands and watersheds, floods and droughts and water quality, the video says.

Under nature, there will be policy statements about parks and protected areas, wild species and habitat, forests and natural areas and conservation.

And under jobs, innovation and clean technology, financing and investment, skills and training and “green infrastructure” will be addressed.

“Climate change is happening now,” and it will cause drought, flooding, forest fires and storms, according to the text accompanying a series of images in the video.

“But if we act now we can do something about it,” the video continues. “It starts with a vision and a clear direction.”

“Manitoba will be Canada’s cleanest, greenest and most climate-resilient province,” the video promises.

The federal government has said it will impose a carbon pricing plan on provinces that do not develop their own strategies by next year. After consulting a local legal expert, the provincial Conservative government said it would implement its own plan.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca