Our government is moving forward with its Manitoba Climate and Green Plan, but without a provincial carbon tax. We are also standing up for Manitobans by opposing the federal government’s planned escalating carbon tax that would damage our province’s economy.
Our made-in-Manitoba plan had initially proposed a fixed carbon price of $25 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions to provide stability to consumers, business, industry and agriculture, and to support our government’s vision for a prosperous and growing green economy. All revenue collected under our plan would have been returned through tax relief to households in Thompson, as well as elsewhere in Northern Manitoba and across the province, while remaining in Manitoba to be used for our priorities.
As well, our flat carbon price would have achieved more emissions reductions in Manitoba than the federal carbon tax of $50 per tonne. However, the federal government has stated it would impose its carbon tax over and above the Manitoba levy. This would mean twice the tax in Manitoba, while threatening jobs and economic growth.
Our government is no longer proceeding with a carbon tax, and is fighting Ottawa on the federal carbon tax plan that would take money from Manitobans’ pockets. But our Climate and Green Plan will continue to encourage investments in renewable energy and a reduction in energy consumption. We are saying yes to our Manitoba Climate and Green Plan, and standing up for the interests of Manitobans by saying no to a carbon tax.
In other financial matters, our Manitoba government is working with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to come to a more realistic repayment plan for an $82-million loan arranged by the previous NDP government concerning the CFL team’s stadium, Investors Group Field. It’s not possible for the Winnipeg Football Club to repay the $82 million within the initial timeframe, and we are finding a solution that preserves the Blue Bombers’ long-term viability.
The NDP had devised a complex and confusing plan to mask expenses and apply property tax revenue from the team’s former stadium site toward the repayment of loans to construct Investors Group Field. We are cleaning up the mess that was covered up by the former government, and doing it in an open and transparent way.
