The Manitoba NDP has released a new environmental plan ahead of the next provincial election, calling for the protection of northern mining and renewables while cutting subsidies for oil and gas.
The provincial party plans to protect northern mining jobs while ending subsidies for Manitoba’s oil and gas industries, confirming carbon and pollution pricing and “[making] Manitoba’s biggest polluters pay while keeping life affordable for regular families.”
“The cornerstone of our plan to combat climate change is to create thousands of good jobs for Manitobans in industries that reduce emissions,” said party leader Wab Kinew in an interview with The Reminder.
The target for the plan is to bring Manitoba into line with the Paris Agreement, a climate change accord signed by 195 states, including Canada. Part of that involves taking Manitoba Hydro full bore into renewable energy, reducing home heating emissions and promoting geothermal energy while expanding provincial broadband networks.
“Our target brings Manitoba in line with the most up-to-date and respected scientific findings from the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,” said Kinew.
“The fight against climate change is a fight for our future, the future of our province and for our kids.”
While the mining industry has historically been pollution-heavy, Kinew states that minerals found in the north, including copper and lithium, will be vital in green technology.
“We know minerals like lithium and copper will be valuable resources in a sustainable economy. Manitoba miners can produce those resources in a cleaner way with better labour standards,” Kinew said, adding the NDP plans on using Manitoba’s Mining Community Reserve Fund to provide northern assistance if needed.
The party plans to announce further plans later in the provincial campaign. A provincial election date was not set at press time, but a date in the early fall appears likely.
