"The ball is in their court... until then it's "no" to the Federal Carbon Tax."

That according to Morden-Winkler MLA Cameron Friesen. He explains the Provincial government is continuing to push back on the Federal Carbon Tax.

Instead, the Manitoba government is promoting a Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan that used to propose a flat, fixed tax rate that proponents say would've saved $260 million over five years. Those funds would've been returned to Manitobans in the form of tax reductions under the plan.

"We continue to call on the Federal Government to acknowledge Manitoba's plan," Friesen says

However, the plan hasn't yet swayed the Federal Government.

"The next step is up to the Prime Minister, he says he will impose a carbon tax on Manitobans starting soon," Morden/Winkler MLA Cameron Friesen says. "We continue to engage with the Federal Government... helping them see the error of this way."

Rather than tax Manitobans twice, once by the feds and again under the Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan, the Province has canceled it's own tax and will instead focus on four pillars of cleaner water, conservation of natural areas, effective steps to address climate change, and strengthening the economy.

Manitoba had planned to charge a continuous flat rate of $25 per tonne starting December 1. But the federal government has demanded the provinces charge a carbon tax on emissions starting at $10 per tonne by the end of the year, and raise it to $50 per tonne by 2022.

Friesen notes Manitoba's plan highlights the Province's significant investments in green energy. Together with the Keeyask generating station, Bi-Pole III and the Manitoba/Minnesota transmission line, Friesen says Manitoba has a 97 percent renewable energy source.

"The Federal Government doesn't see the value in that, we have to stand our ground."