Manitoba introduces $25 per tonne Green Levy

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Published: March 5, 2020

This morning, Premier Brian Pallister introduced the carbon levy and took a swipe at the Liberal government in Ottawa. | Twitter/@MinSGuillemard photo

Starting July 1, Manitoba will have a $25 per tonne Green Levy.

This morning, Premier Brian Pallister introduced the carbon levy and took a swipe at the Liberal government in Ottawa.

“Unfortunately, the federal government ignored our request to work together as a true partner in tackling climate change, so we have no choice but to act now to protect Manitobans from the rising federal government carbon tax they are bringing in this year,” Pallister said in a news release.

Manitoba also announced a reduction in the Provincial Sales Tax. On July, 1 it will drop from seven percent to six.

Read Also

Research Officer Tuan Ha and summer lab student Shawn Neudorf at the University of Saskatchewan's booth at Ag in Motion 2025.

Field-by-field mapping could improve yield, productivity predictions

University of Saskatchewan researchers are using field border mapping to collect data on field variability, including problematic weeds, and to predict things like yields.

The $25 per tonne carbon tax will be flat, meaning it will not rise in future years.

The Manitoba approach is distinct from the federal government, which has introduced an escalating carbon tax. It will reach $50 per tonne in 2022.

“Unlike the federal government’s rising carbon tax, our flat made-in-Manitoba Green Levy will return all of the money and more to Manitobans with the second-lowest PST in Canada,” Pallister said.

For the last few months, Pallister and Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government have argued that Ottawa should “respect” the province’s massive investment in clean energy — mostly in the form of hydroelectric power.

Pallister went on a media campaign in January and February, making the case that Manitoba has committed billions to build new hydroelectric dams and power transmission lines. Those projects should be included in a carbon plan that applies to Manitoba.

“Ottawa has provided special exceptions and exemptions to many other provinces but refused to consider Manitoba’s significant clean hydro investments,” Pallister said. “Together with our hydro investments, the highest clean fuel standards in the country announced in January, plus additional measures we are taking, Manitoba’s carbon emissions will be reduced by more than any previous government.”


In January, Manitoba unveiled a plan to increase the biodiesel content in diesel to five percent, up from two percent. As well, the required ethanol content will jump from 8.5 to 10 percent.

Manitoba proposed a flat levy on carbon in the Made-in-Manitoba Green Plan, which Pallister proposed a couple of years ago.

The federal government rejected that plan because it opposed a flat levy on carbon.

Last year it imposed the escalating federal carbon tax on Manitobans.

The $25 Green Levy will replace the federal government’s carbon tax, Pallister said.

The Manitoba government had previously said its carbon tax will not apply to grain drying and fuel costs for farm production.

Contact robert.arnason@producer.com

About the author

Robert Arnason

Robert Arnason

Reporter

Robert Arnason is a reporter with The Western Producer and Glacier Farm Media. Since 2008, he has authored nearly 5,000 articles on anything and everything related to Canadian agriculture. He didn’t grow up on a farm, but Robert spent hundreds of days on his uncle’s cattle and grain farm in Manitoba. Robert started his journalism career in Winnipeg as a freelancer, then worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Nipawin, Saskatchewan and Fernie, BC. Robert has a degree in civil engineering from the University of Manitoba and a diploma in LSJF – Long Suffering Jets’ Fan.

explore

Stories from our other publications