Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says his government's Climate and Green Plan is better for the environment than the one proposed by Ottawa and will save Manitobans more money. 

The Premier spoke at the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre today about the plan, which includes a carbon tax that is half of what the federal government wants to impose on all the provinces. 

The federal carbon pricing plan would see a cost of $50 per tonne by 2022 whereas Manitoba's plan would set the price at $25 per tonne. Ottawa's plan would be phased in at $10 per tonne in the first year and would eventually rise to $50, whereas the provincial plan would see a consistent $25 per tonne cost every year over the five year period. 

Pallister says in the long run this will save more money for Manitobans and is more beneficial to the specific needs of Manitoba's economy. 

The province also says their plan is expected to reduce emissions in Manitoba by 1.07 megatonnes as opposed to 0.99 under the federal plan. 

Pallister's government is asking for public opinion online, and he's hopeful residents will back a localized plan. 

"I'm appealing to people from around the province to have a look at our plan and to comment on it," Pallister said. "If they're favourable to our plan it will be difficult for Ottawa to impose theirs on our province. I clearly want to see Manitobans get behind this plan and I'm very open to believing that in the world of politics public opinion matters." 

Pallister would not say if he would go to court to challenge Ottawa should they decide to impose their carbon pricing plan regardless of how Manitobans feel. 

"I would much prefer not to," Pallister said. "We have a good relationship with Ottawa and want to continue that relationship on these files. I don't think they'll win in court but I'd prefer that in the court of public opinion it will be made clear to Ottawa that this is a better plan for Manitobans." 

Other major aspects in the province's climate plan include: 

  • Agricultural exemptions, which means farm operations will be exempt from the application of a carbon levy for fuel use for their farming operations and agricultural emissions will not be targeted for direct sector reductions
  • Creating Efficiency MB, a new stand-alone agency aiming to reduce electricity and natural gas consumption in the province though green-friendly products and programs
  • Establishing an organics diversion target of 100,000 tonnes
  • Phasing out Manitoba's last remaining coal unit 
  • Replacing 100 diesel city buses with electric buses
  • Operating a low carbon government by adopting measures to reduce emissions in government-run buildings, transportation and waste streams
  • Switching 200 homes in Churchill from propane heating to electric heating
  • and implementing performance-based carbon pricing for Manitoba's six largest emitters, meaning if they meet or surpass climate targets they recieve a credit but will have to pay the tax if they don't

The province claims with these additional steps, their plan will almost double the reduction of greenhouse gases than what is proposed in the federal plan.

Pallister told reporters that the province also plans to set up an "expert advisory commission" to determine how these goals can be met and to review the plan's progress. He also said the carbon tax would not come into effect until the budget in 2018.

A full review of the plan will be completed in 2022.

The plan still needs to go through the Legislature but is expected to pass with the Progressive Conservatives holding a majority. 

Public consultations on how the government should use the approximately $260 million raised by the carbon tax are now open. They can be found on the Manitoba Government's website.