The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
As part of a plan to cut greenhouse-gas emissions, the Manitoba government is implementing a ban on petroleum coke and coal heating as well as emission taxes on both those products for other industrial uses. It will be North America's first petroleum coke (petcoke) heating ban. The ban, along with a new petcoke emissions tax for other industrial uses, will take effect June 30, 2014. The NDP is also phasing in North America's first coal heating ban Jan. 1, 2014, with a grace period up to JulyÊ1,Ê2017, if an approved conversion plan is filed by June 30, 2014. The province will spend $500,000 from coal and petcoke tax revenues to help coal users convert to biomass. The NDP is further developing mandatory reporting for emissions greater than 10,000 tonnes. And it is implementing Canada's first law to mandate maximum fuel efficiency in government vehicles. Also getting greener will be government buildings, with a law for 33 per cent greater energy efficiency for all new or renovated buildings, including leased buildings. The province will also assess climate change risks on the province's programs and services, and continue efforts to build resiliency in the agriculture sector to severe weather events resulting from climate change. The emissions tax on coal was announced in 2011 along with the pending ban on coal heating. Since that time, many small coal users have switched to alternatives or have plans to do so. To help the province develop an updated climate and green economy plan, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) will lead targeted public meetings with Manitobans beginning this fall. This new plan will be designed to address public concerns about the need to reduce emissions and plan for climate impacts.
