This government has failed for ten years to develop even the most basic of plans to reduce emissions in the agriculture industry: Gerrard

 Winnipeg – Manitoba Liberal Leader and MLA for River Heights, Jon Gerrard today called on the Premier to clarify whether his government would adjust legislation to accommodate the NDPs failure to meet their own mandated Kyoto targets, which were set in 2007 by former Premier Gary Doer.  Gerrard said the NDP will have to explain to Manitobans why they haven’t been able to control emission outputs in key areas like agriculture. 

 Gerrard challenged Selinger’s claims that the NDP have a solid environmental track record within the agricultural sector.  “The NDP never had even the most basic long-term plan to see agriculture emissions reduced. Their lack of planning  and caused a 34% increase since 1990 in emissions from this specific industry,” he said.

 The Liberal Leader also indicated that the NDP aren’t serious about helping farmers and producers curb their emissions due to a proposed salary cutback in the NDPs latest budget.  “They are planning on reducing salaries within the Agri-Environment department by almost $200,000 for the 2010/2011 budget,” said Gerrard.  “Unless the NDP assist our agricultural industry in making changes to emissions rates, it’s unlikely that we’re going to see a reversal in the 34% increase from 1990 rates.”

 “With Gary Doer’s 2007 Kyoto targets looking more and more like a pipe dream, the NDP have shown Manitobans that they are all talk and no action on environmental issues.” 

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For more information, please contact: Michelle Nyhof, Communications Officer

Manitoba Liberal Caucus at (204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca