Is climate change having an impact on peoples livelihoods and culture in Manitoba?
We are already seeing an impact in Northern Manitoba, with the Port of Churchill. On the positive side the ice is melting earlier, but on the negative side we believe it will significantly impact on the polar bear population. People from the local community there tell us, and I believe them, that ice-melt and hunting patterns have changed considerably in the last ten years, and that the capacity to deal with this is limited. This is an early warning to all of us that the impact is real. What are the key steps being taken in Manitoba to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Our starting point was that we should support a national strategy for the support of Kyoto, prior to the Canadian Federal Government actually ratifying the Protocol. We were one of only two provinces that took that particular view. Not withstanding the position taken by the US, our major trading partner, we pressed for, and are still driving forward, strong, positive action. We also believe the Canadian national governmen
