Manitoba Climate Change Task Force - International Institute for ...

The initiation of the Manitoba Climate Change Task Force demonstrated your government’s
far-sighted approach to address this important issue. Several presenters noted that this task force
has been one of the few tangible efforts recently undertaken in Canada that has dealt with both
improving public understanding and developing public policy on this subject that is critical to our
future.
It has been a privilege to work with my task force colleagues Christine Hamblin, Jack Dubois,
David Runnalls, Elaine Cowan, Michael Spence, Maureen Hancharyk, Jim Carr and Terry Duguid.
We are grateful for the cooperation of provincial government officials, community and aboriginal
groups, non-governmental organizations, the business community and the many individuals
across the province who contributed to our deliberations. Our work on this project during the past
five months has provided all members of the task force with a sense of the significance of climate
change to Manitoba’s environmental, economic and social future.
The task force report was just being completed as the new international agreement on climate
change was reached in Bonn. That accord demonstrates the importance being placed on climate
change around the world, and it highlights the need for governments across Canada to begin to
live up to the letter and spirit of what was agreed upon. Manitoba can and should play a pivotal
role in leading the process of recasting the new federal and provincial government partnership
that is now essential in the light of this renewal of international cooperation. Our letter of July 25
explained what we consider to be the essence of that task.
The effort we make now as Manitobans and Canadians is creating, in one form or another, the
environmental and economic legacy for future generations. If we act prudently and expeditiously
on climate change, the actions we take today will be a wise investment in our province’s future.
Lloyd Axworthy
Chair