A Green and Growing Economy

“Under Doer, sustainable development has become an economic linchpin in the Canadian province of Manitoba.” Business Week 2 December 2005

The Manitoba government is partnering with businesses and communities to fuel economic growth that will capitalize on our clean energy and natural environment advantages. It’s building on the growing realization that measures to promote environmental sustainability can contribute to economic growth, and that enlightened economic growth can in turn contribute to environmental sustainability.

Hydropowering the economy

• Manitoba Hydro’s environmentally responsible and renewable Hydro resources can meet more of North America’s electrical energy needs and, in so doing, further reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.



• Manitoba can double its current generating capacity of more than 5,000 megawatts, triggering over $10 billion in new investments.



• Partnerships with Manitoba Hydro will enable First Nations to share in the profits, training, and employment opportunities arising from future Hydro developments in the North. Hydro has partnered with the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation on the 200 megawatt Wuskwatim project on the Burntwood River. We will be proceeding with the construction of the 1,250 megawatt Conawapa project on the Nelson River, which was mothballed by the previous government. The dams will have minimal impact on the local environment, flooding less than one-half a square kilometre and 5 square kilometres of land respectively.

Going underground for energy

• Our province has become a national leader in promoting geothermal (ground source) heat energy pumps for heating and cooling buildings in an economical and environmentally friendly way. Manitobans installed 40 per cent more geothermal heat pumps in 2007 than in the previous year.

Hydrogen, the ultimate fuel

• Hydrogen is the ultimate fuel of the future. Manitoba was the first province in Canada to devise a detailed hydrogen development plan and test a hydrogen transit bus. And it is targeted to be the first jurisdiction on the continent able to produce hydrogen economically thanks to its abundant supplies of water and hydroelectricity. The Winnipeg-based New Flyer Industries has won the contract to build the first commercial fleet of hydrogen-fueled buses in North America, worth up to $624 million.

Harvesting the wind

• Our government has committed to developing 1,000 megawatts of wind-generated power to its system over the next decade. This will enable greenhouse gas reduction of more than 3.5 mega tonnes annually and stimulate $2 billion in new investments as well as ongoing, sustainable jobs. The St. Leon wind farm, one of Canada’s largest, is already turning out 99 megawatts.

Planting our fuel

• We’re helping Manitoba farmers and processors to surge ahead in the new bio-economy where trees and crops will yield fuels that have traditionally come from non-renewable resources. A mandated 8.5% of the pool average of gasoline sold in Manitoba be ethanol will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 135,000 tonnes per year, equivalent to taking 10,000 vehicles off the road. During the 2007 election we promised to mandate biodiesel at 5% blends by 2010. The Biofuels Act, which enables the creation of a biodiesel mandate, was reintroduced this session. In Budget 2006 we made biodiesel exempt from road taxes for 5 years. Our world class biodiesel testing facility in Selkirk is now up and running. Successful biodiesel demonstration projects are underway with the Manitoba Hydro fleet, trucking companies and Winnipeg School Division #1.



• In addition to the environmental benefits, the biofuels benefit Manitoba economically by helping to reduce gasoline imports, stabilize farm incomes, create alternative markets for agricultural products and stimulate sustainable economic development and create jobs in rural areas.

“Environmental sustainability requires the promotion of economic activity that is ecologically efficient, raises the level of society’s economic welfare, and can be maintained over the long term.”

Provincial Sustainability Report for Manitoba, 2005

Manitoba Conservation

Figures are current as of October, 2008

Adobe Acrobat version.