Manitoba’s Premier says his government remains committed to the Made in Manitoba plan for greenhouse gas reduction.
The federal government’s insistence that the provinces implement a carbon pricing system or face the prospects of having one imposed was a key topic of discussion last week during the summer meeting of the Council of the Federation in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick.
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister told reporters during a conference call following the meeting Manitoba’s plan is based and has been developed on the assumption that the federal government would impose their plan in the absence of a provincial plan.
Our position is, as it has been, that we believe that Manitoba has the right and the obligation to defend our best interest with a made in Manitoba strategy and that’s exactly what we’ll continue to advocate for. No disrespect to any of the other premiers. They all have their perspectives on these issues but, if you just say no, you’re going to get Trudeau and I’m not prepared and our government’s not prepared to send a billion dollars to Ottawa and hope it comes back.
Our plan involves a flat, what will relatively in two or three years be low, frankly to other taxes on carbon imposed in other provinces, probably Canada’s lowest. The key thing with us is we don’t want to hurt our economy. We’re in a recovery mode so every single dollar plus of our levy is guaranteed to go back to Manitobans in the form of lower taxes. That’s our plan.
The federal government has said they don’t particularly like our plan in some respects but frankly that doesn’t matter to me. We’ve developed a plan that we believe will work best for Manitoba environmentally and economically and we’ll remain steadfast in bringing that plan forward.
~ Brian Pallister, Premier Manitoba
Pallister says Manitoba’s plan will work better for Manitoba’s economy and environment and his government is committed to making sure every dollar plus stays in Manitoba and goes back to Manitobans.
