On December 3, a comprehensive plan to fight climate change and protect the environment, while creating green jobs and building a sustainable economy, was released by Premier Greg Selinger. Key highlights of the Climate Change and Green Economy Action Plan include:

• Manitoba will take immediate action to create a new demand side management agency, establish energy savings targets, work to lower utility bills by taking the existing Power Smart program to the next level and support adoption of green-heating alternatives to fossil fuels such as geothermal technology. 

• Manitoba will join Ontario and Quebec in introducing a cap-and-trade system for large emitters and will enter into consultations with other sectors on the potential to introduce carbon stewardship, a unique made-in-Manitoba solution for non-capped industries.
• Manitoba will also partner with the geothermal industry and community organizations, such as Aki Energy, to responsibly introduce more geothermal and biomass installations, creating green jobs and powering the green economy. 

• The province will continue to expand on nationally recognized green building standards.
• Manitoba will move to make government operations carbon neutral.

For more information on climate change in Manitoba, visit the Government of Manitoba website. The CPA will monitor the implementation of the plan and update members on additional details as they become available. Questions can be directed to Scott McFadyen, CPA Regional Manager, West at 403.543.6505 or scottmcfadyen@propane.ca.