Canada Federal Election Survey - 2006

1. Will your government encourage provinces and territories to put Renewable Portfolio Standards for new renewable energy in place (following the example of PEI, New Brunswick, Ontario and over 20 US states)? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
   
   
2. Will your government guarantee that energy projects, including transboundary projects with federal government funding, will be subject to all standards and guidelines under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) as part of the environmental assessment for the project? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
   
   
3. Will your government ensure that First Nation and Aboriginal rights will be respected and accommodated (as per consultation standards set by Canada's courts) as part of environmental assessments for energy projects? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____ Provide time table please.
   
   
4. Will your government ensure that the National Energy Board continues to take into account impacts on First Nations rights when reviewing permit applications? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
   
   
5. Will your government take steps to make sure that wind turbine projects that will ultimately provide more than 99 megawatts energy are subject to joint (federal-provincial) Environmental Assessment, based on publicly posted EA standards? YES_____ NO_____ Comment____
   
   
6. Will your government take the same steps regarding ethanol plants, given that no environmental standards are in place for these plants in Manitoba? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
   
   
7. Will your government commit to making any federal funding for the proposed East-West grid conditional on the public availability of all data, offsets and credits in carbon and emissions resulting from the construction and operations phases of sections of the grid? YES_____ NO_____ Comment______

8. Notwithstanding the proposed Offsets System Registry under the federal government's 2005 Climate Change Plan, will your government put in place a system of transparent, public inventory for GHGs, and carbon stocks for Canada (by province, sector, project and region)? YES_______ NO_____ Comment_________
   
   
9. Will your government commit to use this inventory for environmental assessments triggered by CEAA? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_________
   
   
10. Will your government commit to the creation of a system of carbon storage incentives for First Nations who wish to manage boreal forest ecosystems / traditional territories so that carbon is retained, and lands are protected? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_________
    
    
11. Will your government commit to making transparent, publicly posted, and accessible information regarding any credits or trades a requirement of any carbon market or carbon trading system in Canada? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_________
    
    
12. Will your government commit to making federal funding for any project that affects Canada's Kyoto commitments, conditional on the public availability of GHG and carbon data? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_________
    
    
13. Will your government initiate a national public education campaign and public dialogue on national emissions reductions targets for the post-2012 commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol within the 2006 calendar year? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_________

14. Will your government formally accept and act on the recommendations of the November 2005 Lake Winnipeg Implementation Committee report? YES_____ NO_____ Comment______
    
    
15. As a first step towards action on the recommendations of the Lake Winnipeg Implementation Committee report, will your government specifically commit to fulfilling the following (paraphrased from Recommendations 1 & 2):
    1. Sign and endorse a formal 5-year Federal/Provincial agreement that embodies terms of future cooperation on Lake Winnipeg? YES_____ NO_____ Comment______
       
    2. Commit to the suggested funding arrangement of $40 million over five years, sourced 2/3 by Canada and 1/3 by Manitoba? YES_____ NO_____ Comment______
    
    
16. Will your government provide technical support and make available federal scientific experts to assist in fulfilling the recommendations of the Lake Winnipeg Implementation Committee report? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
17. Will your government support notification, participation, and meaningful consultation with affected First Nations regarding actions to fulfill the recommendations of the Lake Winnipeg Implementation Committee report? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
18. Will your government ensure that all water quality monitoring data across Canada is made public on a timely basis, including through web site posting? YES_____ NO_____ Comment____
    
    
19. Will your government follow Manitoba's lead and introduce legislation that bans exports of bulk water and prohibit interbasin transfers of water? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
20. Will your government issue referrals for the involvement of the International Joint Commission in matters pertaining to the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 (e.g. Devils Lake, Garrison Diversion)? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____

21. Will your government make use of emergency and safety net provisions of the Species At Risk Act to safeguard Manitoba's Woodland Caribou, given the Government of Manitoba has not listed the Woodlands Caribou under the Manitoba Endangered Species Act (MESA)? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
22. Will your government make use of emergency and safety net provisions of the Species at Risk Act to safeguard species in Manitoba, for which COSEWIC may recommend emergency action and which the Government of Manitoba has not legally recognized as being at risk under MESA? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
23. Will your government make sure that equivalent measures are put in place in Manitoba for all SARA-listed species and their habitat (woodland caribou, lake sturgeon, etc.), regardless of whether or not such species are listed under MESA? YES_____ NO_____ Comment

24. Will your government take action to honour and fulfill the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Manitoba Government for a new national park in Manitoba's Interlake region)? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
25. Will your government abide by existing Manitoba protocols for consultation with First Nations about protected areas establishment, specifically the Manitoba First Nation Protected Areas MOU, in the process for the national park referred to above? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
26. Will your government undertake to provide support and build capacity for communities affected by the proposed new national park in Manitoba's Interlake region, especially to deal with Hydro legacy issues? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
27. Will your government enter into an agreement with the Government of Manitoba to protect the area around Wapusk National Park (currently designated as a Manitoba Wildlife Management Area)? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
28. Will your government cooperate with Manitoba to designate a Marine Protected Area adjacent to Wapusk national park, in Hudson Bay? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
29. Will your government cooperate with the Manitoba government to establish National Wildlife Refuges (under the National Wildlife Act) in Manitoba? YES_____ NO_____ Comment____
    
    
30. Will your government commit to cooperation (through the Department of National Defense) with the Manitoba Government to work towards designation of additional protected lands within the Shilo Defense Base? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
31. Will your government cooperate (through Agriculture Canada) with the Manitoba Government to work towards protection of community pastures in southern Manitoba? (Grazing rights protected also.) YES_____ NO_____ Comment______
    
    
32. Will your government work with the provinces to amend Canada's Heritage River System such that Heritage Rivers, where feasible, are legally protected from industrial development and any activities that significantly alter habitat? YES_____ NO_____ Comment______
    
    
33. Please provide an indication of support for the Atikaki/Woodland Caribou/Accord First Nations - Manitoba and Ontario World Heritage Site nomination (currently on "Canada's updated Tentative List for World Heritage Sites" (April 2004) http://manitobawildlands.org/lup_whs.htm YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
34. Will your government take an active role in the process to achieve World Heritage Site status for the Atikaki/Woodland Caribou/Accord First Nations - Manitoba and Ontario nomination by providing funding to communities for land-use planning and traditional use studies? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____

35. In consideration of the November 2005 announcement of an action plan to consolidate the federal environmental assessment process (http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/013/010/nr051123_e.htm), will your government;
    1. ensure that results in environmental assessments include an assessment of impacts respecting existing and proposed protected areas when the project includes federal responsibility under CEAA? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
       
    2. ensure that results in federal experts being available and encouraged to participate in any hearings regarding projects where the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act is triggered and/or the Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
       
    3. ensure that the obligation for consultations with Aboriginal Peoples outlined by the federal courts parties is safeguarded in environmental assessments where the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is involved? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
       
    4. ensure the review and assessment under the CEAA of the complete footprint of any energy project involving federal responsibilities (impacts on; listed species, Aboriginal rights, land use, water quality), and including new hydro transmission corridors, roads, and other transmission infrastructure associated with such projects? YES_____ NO_____ Comment______
    
    
36. Will your government honour the letter of agreement between the Manitoba government and Canada's Minister of the Environment regarding the Shellmouth Dam and Lake of the Prairies? YES_____ NO_____ Comment____
    
    
37. Will your government ensure that the environmental assessment regarding changes to the Shellmouth Dam and Lake of the Prairies is independent, thorough, in a publicly accessible process? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
38. Will your government enable an independent review and evaluation of the Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____

39. Does your government agree that conservation and community based land use plans for the East Side of Lake Winnipeg forest regions should be undertaken prior to decisions regarding land use? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_________
    
    
40. Will your government commit to providing funds to support conservation based planning for lands on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg in areas where there is federal responsibility? Specifically, will your government;
    1. commit funds to share the cost with the Manitoba government for a transportation system plan for the east side of Lake Winnipeg? YES_____ NO_____
       
    2. commit funds to support traditional use studies and community planning exercises initiated and directed by First Nation and Aboriginal communities on the East Side of Lake Winnipeg? YES_____ NO_____
       
    3. invest in independent climate change studies, specific to the East of Lake Winnipeg boreal forest regions? YES_____ NO_____
       
    4. make sure that a fully independent body administers these funds for community conservation based land use planning ? YES_____ NO_____
    
    
41. Will your government, as a party to the Manitoba Northern Flood Agreement (NFA),
    1. ensure that dams in Manitoba not currently subject to an agreement for compensation, in terms of long term land use and environmental impacts, be included in new agreements? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
       
    2. ensure that if funding and capacity for land use planning, as required under the terms of the NFA, have not being provided, that action will be taken to secure appropriate, funding and capacity? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
       
    3. expect Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro to settle all outstanding compensation, arbitration, and litigations stemming from the dams built in the 1960s and 1970s? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
42. Significant federal funding to assist communities in conservation based land use planning for the Mackenzie River Valley was announced in early 2005. Will your government enter into an agreement with the Manitoba government and affected First Nations to provide similar funding for land use planning and protected areas establishment, prior to energy developments, in Manitoba's north? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____
    
    
43. Will your government reinstate Resources Access Negotiation (RAN) program funding for Manitoba First Nations (natural resources access, economic development planning, land use options, etc)? YES_____ NO_____ Comment_____