Petition for a Green New Deal

We, the undersigned, call on Premier Brian Pallister and Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government to stop making cuts to the public service and invest in a Green New Deal as a pathway for recovery from COVID-19. We need a recovery plan that prioritizes communities and the environment above industry and private profit, and strengthens our ability to address the climate crisis.

As the climate crisis worsens, compounded by looming economic downturn and global COVID-19 pandemic, it is more apparent than ever that our governments need to take drastic action to strengthen our public services, implement bold policies that work towards climate justice, and create a more equitable society for all. To that end we are calling on Premier Brian Pallister and Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government to stop making cuts to the public service and invest in a Green New Deal as a pathway for recovery from COVID-19. We need a recovery plan that prioritizes communities and the environment above industry and private profit, and strengthens our ability to address the climate crisis. Taken from Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition's Green New Deal for Manitoba (link below) with inspiration from Justice for Black Lives Winnipeg and the National Farmers Union, we call on the Government of Manitoba to immediately begin to implement the following:

1. BOLD EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETS:

Legislate greenhouse gas emission reductions of 65% of 2005 levels by 2030, reaching net zero emissions by 2040.

Manitoba Calls to Action:

Manitoba must legislate greenhouse gas emissions, with reduction targets of 65% of 2005 levels by 2030 and 100% by 2040 for all sectors. This includes emissions from agricultural equipment and vehicles.
Manitoba must help fund these emission reduction goals via a moving, progressive carbon tax.
Manitoba must (re)fund rural, and inter-community mass transit, as well as municipal public transit.
Manitoba must take action to enhance carbon sinks (e.g. ecosystems, agricultural practices) and mandate the introduction of universal municipal composting.
Manitoba must halt expansion of natural gas infrastructure for all new buildings, thereby using only green new heat immediately, and must support the retrofitting of existing fossil-fuelled buildings.

2. SEPARATION OF OIL AND STATE:

Reject all new fossil fuel infrastructure development while expanding renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure, eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, and Manitoba Hydro must be made more accountable to the public and Indigenous populations.

Manitoba Calls to Action:

Manitoba must implement recommendations in the 2018 report by Conflict of Interest Commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor, in the interest of modernizing Manitoba’s conflict-of-interest legislation; must eliminate all union and corporate campaign donations.
Manitobans must identify and make public all forms of subsidies - direct and indirect - to the fossil fuel sector.
Manitoba must reject fossil fuel infrastructure development while expanding renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure.
Manitoba must expand its democracy to feature proportional representation, and citizen assemblies.
Manitoba Hydro must be kept public, stop the augmented flow program, and be made more accountable to the public and Indigenous populations.

3. A JUST TRANSITION:

Transition to renewable energy and sustainable transportation and agriculture infrastructure, while guaranteeing opportunity for fossil fuel workers in the new economy.

Manitoba Calls to Action:

Manitoba must support the transition of the local agricultural sector and workers from an ecologically destructive practice to a sustainable, regenerative practice.
Manitoba must create high skilled, living wage, low carbon jobs, with equity in employment for all Manitobans, and ensuring training and employment for workers in fossil fuel industries.
Manitoba must use local workers to decarbonize industries (transportation, agriculture, architecture).
Manitoba must guarantee union representation and cooperative business ownership.
Manitoba must increase investments in social enterprises and non-profits which improve conditions for workers and citizens affected by the green transition.
Manitoba must support sustainable and resilient food systems that, for example, reduce food waste, promote local food economies and encourage regenerative agriculture.
Support community planning and invest in strategies that increase resilience and protect communities in the event of floods, droughts, heatwaves, forest fires and other disasters that may increase as a result of climate change.
Manitoba must remove all provincial funding to RCMP and municipal police services and reinvest those funds in community based, non-violent, harm-reduction based systems of justice

4. ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS:

Implement enabling legislation and regulation to uphold the Manitoba Environmental Rights Act, and call on the federal government to expand the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to include the right to a healthy environment.

Manitoba Calls to Action:

Manitoba must implement enabling legislation and regulation to uphold the Manitoba Environmental Rights Act.
Manitoba must create a legislative body who advocates for the right to a healthy environment.
Manitoba must call on the federal government to expand the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to include the right to a healthy environment.
Manitoba must follow the Precautionary Principle when approving agricultural inputs.
Manitoba must provide Manitobans with accurate information to fight environmental injustices and conflicts over environmental decision-making.
Manitoba needs to consistently ensure that meaningful, transparent, and fair environmental assessments of proposed resource-development projects are undertaken – specifically when Free, Prior and Informed Consent in Indigenous territory/communities is not upheld.
Manitoba must use peer-reviewed scientific findings to support their policies, and commit to funding further research.

5. INDIGENOUS RIGHTS:

The Province of Manitoba must fully implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples immediately.

Manitoba Calls to Action:

Manitoba must support Indigenous initiatives, especially sovereignty, environment, language, culture, and nationhood.
Manitoba must build relationships between Indigenous nations and non-Indigenous individuals, non-profits, government organizations, etc.
Manitoba must support learning and growth of Indigenous youth within Indigenous frameworks.
Manitoba must protect Indigenous land and respect Indigenous sovereignty
- Meaningfully and thoroughly implement UNDRIP, and FPIC and consultation.
- Eliminate large-scale Hydro projects that harm Indigenous communities. Diversify the grid through community-owned small-scale projects such as run-of-river hydro, solar, wind, or geo-thermal.
Current systems that involve Indigenous communities including CFS, education, health care, housing, food security, life skills, etc. must be improved and/or given over to Indigenous communities, in accordance with the wishes of Indigenous communities
Manitoba must act on the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, 2 Spirit, Non-Binary, and Gender Fluid Indigenous individuals.

6. CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY:

Maintain and protect old growth forests, restore cut blocks, reduce habitat fragmentation and strengthen the protection of at-risk species

Manitoba Calls to Action:

Manitoba must prioritize the conservation of boreal forests as carbon sinks and as filters for healthy lake water.
Manitoba must restore and protect wetlands, related habitats, and vulnerable species such as polar bears, caribou, and insect populations.
Manitoba must implement an effective waste elimination policy, and eliminate toxic runoff through wastewater treatment, sustainable agricultural water stewardship, and monitoring of waterways to trace and eliminate pollutants.
Manitoba must limit resource extraction, urban sprawl and protect wild and agricultural lands.
Manitoba must ban privatization of water.
Manitoba must promote sustainable agriculture through systems such as agroecology, permaculture, local food systems, all with the aim of regenerative practices.
Manitoba must continue to invest in smart policies, conservation efforts, and innovative green technologies that create sustainable systems for future generations.

7. PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE GROUPS:

Recognize Manitoba and Canada’s disproportionate role on the global stage in the climate crisis and our subsequent responsibility for the protection of the most vulnerable.

Manitoba Calls to Action:

Manitoba must listen to and implement the demands of Justice for Black Lives Winnipeg and other groups advocating for racial justice
Manitoba must provide climate aid to rural and Northern Manitoba, which disproportionately experience the impacts of the climate crisis and have less resources for mitigation and adaptation.
Manitoba must guarantee disability accessibility and fully implement the Accessibility for Manitobans Act and support the upgrading of existing, non-compliant buildings.
Manitoba needs a comprehensive poverty elimination strategy with clear targets and timelines.
Manitoba must implement a $15 per hour minimum wage, indexed to inflation.
With a fundamental belief in the right to housing, Manitoba must invest build a minimum of 300 new sustainable, quality social housing units per year, using social enterprises where appropriate, and increase investment in affordable rental housing.
Manitoba must prioritize community-based mental health support.
Manitoba must implement an addictions support strategy, including safe consumption sites, more mental-health supports, withdrawal care, build detox, treatment and transitional housing beds, hire additional addictions counsellors, and create additional treatment spots.
Manitoba must provide a Livable Basic Needs Benefit to replace Employment and Income Assistance, as well as a dignified income for adult Manitobans with severe and prolonged disabilities.
Manitoba must provide universal, public childcare.
Manitoba must support newcomer programming, specifically that which aids newcomers in transitioning to a new and changing climate, and supporting a potential increase in refugees due to the global climate crisis.
Manitoba must support community-led development approaches, particularly within inner city, rural, or marginalized populations and communities, that trust local residents as the leaders of their own development.
Manitoba must transform our current justice system towards culturally-based restorative justice as the primary means to achieve an equitable and effective resolution to conflict in our communities, courts, and corrections, while ensuring that healing occurs for those harmed and our society is safer through the prevention of recidivism.