Climate Action Network Canada board member Gaile Whelan-Enns noted the consultation were inadequate, "it appears there's no public meetings, no presentations, nor is there a public registry."

Cap-and-trade analyst Matt Horne of the Pembina Institute agreed that thorough consultation on the topic is vital, "there's a bunch of nuts and bolt issues that really do matter. The devil is in the details."

Cap-and-trade is a market-based approach to cutting greenhouse gases that uses economic incentives to force industrial polluters to meet an overall emissions reduction target. Polluters get emission allowances equal to government pollution cap. If a plant's pollution exceeds the target or cap, it must purchase emission allowances from facilities that have reduced more than their share or pay fines.

Manitoba's system would integrate with the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), a regional cap-and-trade program. Current WCI members include B.C., Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, California and six other western U.S. states. No government press release has been issued.