A watershed moment — province funds Conservation Trust

The ink is now dry on Manitoba’s new Conservation Trust agreement, and groups looking to it to support new programs with it should submit letters of intent by January 15. The province signed its agreement December 11, putting in an initial $28-million contribution this month, towards making the $102-million trust it announced in last spring’s[...]




Manitoba’s consultations begin on pricing for carbon emissions

The provincial government has released a consultation document on devising a new output-based pricing system (OBPS) related to carbon emissions. The OBPS system, like a cap-and-trade program, will apply to large-scale industrial facilities with annual emissions of 50,000 tonnes or more of carbon dioxide equivalent, requiring these facilities to meet specific emission targets, or pay[...]


Healthy heat

Heard the one about the farmer who wouldn’t drink while he drove the combine? He refused water, or any other liquid, while trying to get the harvest done, figuring it would mean fewer stops to answer the call of nature. But it didn’t end well. He landed in hospital with dehydration complicating other pre-existing health[...]



Manitoba’s climate plan implementation delayed to fall

The provincial agricultural minister said he’s disappointed about the delays his government now faces implementing its made-in-Manitoba carbon tax. The Opposition on April 5 chose to push Bill 16 forward to fall, saying Manitobans should use the time to push the government to spend the revenues on green programming. Bill 16 will pass but this[...]

The high tunnel advantage

When Marilyn Firth and Bruce Berry bought 10 acres on the south edge of Winnipeg in 2007 they knew most vegetable farms that once ringed the city were gone. They also knew they’d be starting to farm at the age of most lifelong growers. But they were convinced more customers wanted food delivered across a[...]


New law aims to protect wetlands, lakes, rivers

The Manitoba government has adopted a carrot-and-stick approach to addressing an issue that has divided neighbours and cost the provincial economy billions due to flooding and reduced water quality. Fines for breaking the rules will rise sharply, but incentives for protecting key wetlands are being developed, and the approval process for low-impact drainage projects will be streamlined.

2,000 Hectares That’s how much wetland Manitoba loses every year to drainage. 
The new law specifies no net loss of “wetland benefits.” Source: Manitoba government $748 Million Protecting key wetlands would prevent 1,000 tonnes of P and 55,000 tonnes of N from entering lakes and waterways annually. The estimated saving on removal using existing technology:[...]

LAID WASTE: emerald ash borer a looming threat

A village council in Manitoba’s Interlake thinks it’s a good idea to prevent an invasive insect from destroying local trees. Dunnottar just doesn’t know what it would do if emerald ash borer (EAB) chews its way into town. “We’ve sort of been aware of it,” said Village of Dunnottar Mayor Rick Gamble. “But we’re not[...]