What Manitoba’s path to net zero means for our community

Riel

As your MLA and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, I want to share what Manitoba’s newly released Path to Net Zero Emissions by 2050 means, why it’s so important, and what steps are already taking place right here in our area. Climate change is no longer a distant concern; it’s impacting Manitobans today, and this government’s plan lays out how we intend to respond with both urgency and fairness.

The Path to Net Zero, which can be read online at www.manitoba.ca/netzero is Manitoba’s roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. The plan builds on provincial mandates that emphasize energy efficiency, heat pumps, renewable energy, and cleaner transportation. This will be done with a whole-of-government approach, bringing together government departments to work alongside each other, with communities, Indigenous Nations, industry, workers, and organizations on projects to achieve net-zero.

Deeply inspired by the teachings of Indigenous peoples, the Path to Net Zero emphasizes reciprocity and balance, values that are deeply rooted in Indigenous knowledge.

As we shift to cleaner heat sources (like geothermal heat pumps) and improve insulation and efficiency, households will save money through lower energy bills. Information relating to over 40 programs that enable Manitobans to save can be found on the Efficiency Manitoba website. This includes information on the Affordable Home Energy Program and other offers for homes and businesses.

One organization, right in our community, that has taken on the challenge of climate change, looked at its own impact, and made important changes, is the United Church in Meadowood. They installed and have been operating a geothermal system in their building since November 2024 and continue to be a shining example in our community of how organizations can operate in an environmentally conscious way.

The Path to Net Zero is ambitious, but it reflects what many of us in Riel already believe: that we can, and must, do better for our children, the environment, and our quality of life. It’s a chance to build safer and more affordable homes, have cleaner air, better local jobs in the low-carbon economy, and more resilient communities. I believe that together, we can make this vision a reality, and Riel will be stronger and greener as a result.

If you would like to talk about projects in our neighbourhood, whether it be geothermal heat pump rebates, building retrofits, or anything else, please contact the Riel constituency office by calling 204-421-4666 or by email to mike.moyes@yourmanitoba.ca. I am listening, and I want to make sure Riel is part of Manitoba’s clean energy future.