Canadian Nature Federation - Manitoba Wildlands
Manitoba Election Survey 2003

Voting Box
This election survey has been sent to all four political parties in Manitoba. (Election day is June 3, 2003.) For details on public policy regarding Manitoba’s lands and waters, 1999 election environment commitments, policy and protected areas mapping, go to manitobawildlands.org. Each question has been posed to the political parties based on their campaign to form government in Manitoba. The survey requests either a Yes or No answer to each question, with comments optional. Please Note: responses from the political parties have not been altered in any way. When a party did not answer a question with a definite Yes or No, " — " was entered.

Protected Areas Questions    Manitoba Hydro Questions
East Side Lake Winnipeg - Planning Initiative Questions    Climate Change Questions   


Climate Change

Q1 Will your government participate in Canada’s Climate Change Voluntary Challenge Registry? www.vcr-mvr.ca

  YES NO Comment
NDP — — We will give consideration to participation in Canada’s climate Change Voluntary Challenge Registry.
PC    
Green Party    
Liberal    



Q2 Will your government report publicly on action in respect to the recommendations of the September 2001 Report of the Climate Change Task Force? (especially pg. 33 & pg.34)

  YES NO Comment
NDP — — We reported on a number of actions in the 2002 report “Kyoto and Beyond” including actions already taken and actions yet to come. Since that time, a number of new actions have been publicly announced including a legislated ethanol mandate, wind monitoring, hydrogen research and building retrofits including the use of solar panels. Updated reports will be needed in the coming years to assist the federal government in their carbon accounting and will also be a very useful tool in measuring Manitoba’s progress in implementing actions to reduce Green House Gas emissions.
PC    
Green Party    
Liberal    



Q3 Will your government establish a carbon inventory and budget for developments in Manitoba?

  YES NO Comment
NDP — — We are already measuring CO2 emissions in Manitoba and will continue to do so.
PC    
Green Party    
Liberal    



Q4 Will your government make public all calculations for net greenhouse gas emissions as listed in “Kyoto and Beyond” (both June 2001 and Sept. 2001 versions)?

  YES NO Comment
NDP — — We will provide an updated report on Green House Gas emissions in addition to the calculations provided in the “Kyoto and Beyond” document.
PC    
Green Party    
Liberal    
Context: “Kyoto and Beyond” (June 2001 and September 2001 editions) contains net projected figures only.


Q5a Does your party agree that protected areas are significant carbon reserves (sinks)?

  YES NO Comment
NDP — — While the science on carbon sequestration is still relatively new, parks and protected areas, enhanced riparian areas, sustainable agricultural practices and appropriate land use planning all provide important opportunities to sequester carbon.
PC    
Green Party   Especially boglands now subject to continuing "harvest".
Liberal — — Protected areas, depending on their nature, may have potential as carbon sinks and carbon reserves and this needs to be recognized. We see the calculations with respect to carbon reserves and carbon sequestration are not always as simple as may appear initially.  



Q5b Does your party agree that networks of protected areas can provide species with critical habitat and corridors in the face of climate change?

  YES NO Comment
NDP — — The effects of climate change on Manitoba’s wildlife will be unpredictable, but clearly parks and protected areas, enhanced riparian areas, and, as noted above, appropriate land use planning will all be an important part of ensuring that protecting wildlife habitat is part and parcel of Manitoba’s response to climate change.
PC    
Green Party   The networks' value is increased by being contiguous with one another.
Liberal   Networks of protected areas can provide species with critical habitat and corridors in the face of climate change.