Rural families see green under Pallister’s carbon tax
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- Published on Wednesday, October 10, 2018
By Wab Kinew
Leader of MB NDP
Saturday, Sept. 1 was supposed to be the first day of Brian Pallister’s carbon tax on rural families and businesses. It’s not being implemented yet, because my NDP colleagues and I stopped him, at least for a few months.
I know some of you may be thinking “the NDP giving us a tax break? What, is it going to snow today too?” We did it because it was the right thing to do, and there were lots of reasons to do it. One of the most important was that it saved Manitobans $60 million in taxes between now and December.
I want Manitoba families to have the support they need to make green choices, keep life affordable and protect our environment. But we won’t get any of those things with Pallister’s carbon tax grab - life will get less affordable without programs to help the average family reduce their carbon footprint or help the environment. That’s why the Manitoba NDP used our power as the Official Opposition to delay Pallister’s carbon tax and as a result, save Manitoba families $60 million.
Brian Pallister first promised a carbon tax in the 2016 election. He had two years to come up with a plan that would keep life affordable for families. Instead, he’s taking money from your pocket and giving big business a free pass for a year. His ‘Green Plan’ is nothing more than a cash grab.
I know the average rural family cares about the future of our environment. You depend on the land and water. You often feel the effects of climate change first, more than some urban families do. But rural families also have to spend more on gas and heat. You want to fight climate change; you just don’t want to break the bank doing it.
That’s why it makes no sense that the Premier would bring in a plan that actually makes it harder for rural families to protect the environment. His plan doesn’t invest in green programs that help families reduce emissions, like using less gas, investing an energy efficient furnace, or using solar power. Instead, he’s taking more money out of your pocket - leaving you with less cash to spend on green alternatives.
The first question to ask of any green plan is whether every dollar made by the tax helps rural families and business owners protect the environment while making life more affordable. Pallister’s plan fails that basic test. Our party delayed his tax so that Manitobans can have the chance to have their say on the Premier’s plan.
I want to hear your thoughts about Pallister’s carbon tax, and how it will impact your family. Send me an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make your voice heard.
