Manitoba waiting on carbon retrofit cash clarification: Pallister

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This article was published 28/10/2018 (2153 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — Premier Brian Pallister says he still has no clarity from Ottawa about whether the federal Liberals will withhold a promised $67 million in carbon retrofits.

“We’re waiting for that,” the Manitoba premier told reporters Monday. “For us, it’s about fighting climate change, and it seems for Ottawa it’s about fighting over power.”

Last Thursday, the Free Press revealed federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna is pondering a review of Manitoba’s share of the Low Carbon Economy Fund, after multiple sources said they were told by McKenna’s officials the funding could be clawed back.

Pallister confirmed there are ongoing discussions with the feds on this issue “at various levels,” but he had not received clarification in the last few days on the $67 million. “We’re waiting for that,” he said.

“To threaten Manitoba with a loss of significant partnership funding from the federal government is just simply wrong. It’s an abuse of power and it shouldn’t be done — but they’re doing it.”

Manitoba ended a 14-month standoff with Ottawa in February in endorsing the Pan-Canadian Framework on climate change, the federal government confirmed the LCEF funding was contingent on the PCF and not administering its own carbon tax.

Earlier this month, Pallister cancelled the province’s carbon flat-tax, which will have Ottawa imposing its own, escalating tax on the province next year.

Pallister claimed he received “an agreement in writing” the funding was not contingent on agreeing to the federal tax.

The premier’s office refused to provide a copy of any such agreement.

Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr played down concerns Manitoba will lose its funding.

“I’ve said from Day 1: it’s my job to make sure that any kind of disagreements between our governments should not get in the way of making sure that Manitobans get a fair share of investment — and they have,” he told the Free Press, deferring questions to McKenna.

Manitoba officials were still in talks with Ottawa about funding more than a dozen specific projects, and haven’t signed a contribution agreement eight months after endorsing the PCF.

It took New Brunswick just four months to get its agreement inked, and the feds are also imposing the carbon-tax backstop on that province.

Pallister said he will also speak in “the next few days” about whether Manitoba will try suing Ottawa over the carbon tax.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca