The Manitoba government has introduced the Climate and Green Plan Implementation Act.

The act includes five separate acts including a new Climate and Green Plan Act, a new Industrial Greenhouse-Gas Emissions Control and Reporting Act and amendments to the Water Protection Act, the Income Tax Act and the Fuel Tax Act.

“Our goal is to reduce carbon emissions, keep jobs here and stimulate innovation in clean energy, our economy and workforce,” said Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires.  “We’re providing a blueprint for Manitoba to build a prosperous green economy, preserve natural and healthy ecosystems, and protect our water.  Our government is moving forward with a comprehensive, realistic and workable climate and green plan with a bold new vision for a clean, green Manitoba.”

These proposed changes would allow for the implementation of the made-in-Manitoba carbon pricing system which would create new initiatives such as:
- a $40-million climate and green fund;
- a transparent reporting process for greenhouse-gas emissions reduction;
- a low-carbon government office to reduce the carbon footprint of government operations;
- the formation of a new expert advisory council that would provide advice and guidance to reduce emissions in Manitoba and help the province adapt to climate change.

The proposed legislation would establish greenhouse-gas emissions limits for regulated industrial facilities and hold operators accountable if they exceed their established limits.

The Fuel Tax Amendment act would implement the $25-per-tonne carbon tax on fuel products, which farmers would be exempt from on marked fuels. Farmers are also exempt from emissions from livestock and crop production.

The province will return all revenue collected from the carbon tax to Manitobans over the next four years through various measures, which include personal income tax relief, small business tax reductions, and rolling back the retail sales tax to seven per cent by 2020.