Environmental levy on cosmetic fertilizer

This morning on the bank of the Assiniboine River I announced that Manitoba Liberals would implement an environmental levy on cosmetic fertilizers. Cosmetic fertilizers include those that are used for lawn care and golf courses. The use of surface fertilizers for cosmetic, non-agricultural purposes carries with it a major downside in terms of environmental damage. The cost of repairing that damage has to be incorporated into the price we pay to use fertilizers for cosmetic purposes.

The levy would be applied to those fertilizers containing significant phosphorous levels. Manitoba Liberals have discussed a complete ban on phosphorous in cosmetic fertilizers, however we believe it would be more difficult to implement. The environmental levy we are proposing would have the advantages of raising public awareness and generating a stream of revenue that would go to funding other efforts to remove phosphorus from Manitoba waterways.

The phosphorous in products like cosmetic fertilizers add to the algal problems we have in Lake Winnipeg. It is important that we all do our part to stop the phosphorous loading in Lake Winnipeg. This is one of several measures that I have talked about on my blog that can make an immediate impact in saving our lakes and rivers.

I’ve attached a short video from the announcement this morning. Simply click on the play button to view.

Liberals would screen and treat youth offenders for FASD

On Tuesday Kevin Lamoureux and I announced our screen and treat plan for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) for young offenders. Part of our plan would include screening all youth convicted of a crime in Manitoba be screened and treated for FASD.

Car theft has long been a problem in Winnipeg and we have the dubious honour of being the car theft capital of Canada. Our on-going car theft problem was highlighted once again when youths driving a stolen vehicle hit a jogger on Wellington Crescent. We now know that at least one of the youths involved had issues with FASD that may have contributed to the crime.

It is important to understand that people with FASD have brains that are wired differently from birth and they have difficulty understanding consequences. Unsupervised and unassisted these individuals can get into serious trouble with the law. Upon diagnosis it is possible to give the support necessary to help those with FASD stay out of trouble.

A few years ago Winnipeg had a major problem with arson. The Winnipeg Arson Task Force recognized the link between FASD and the recurring acts of arson. The task force ensured 24-hour inter-agency supervision was available for those who were committing the crimes. With the program in place the task force was able to substantially decrease arson rates.

The same program should be used to deal with car theft in Manitoba. A Manitoba Liberal government would implement the following six-point plan upon election to government:

Manitoba Liberal Six-Point Plan to Address FASD

Best current estimates are that 1 in 100 children in Manitoba are born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Each child born with FASD is currently estimated to have a lifetime cost of $1.5 million as a result of this condition. With approximately 110,000 births over the last eight years of NDP government, this means a total cost of $1.7 billion because of NDP inaction to address FASD.

To deal with the issue of FASD, a Manitoba Liberal government would:

1)Immediately reinstate funding for the Manitoba Health registry for FASD and other fetal anomalies.

2)Immediately implement a comprehensive province-wide screening program for FASD for all new births in Manitoba.

3)Pass Liberal Bill 203 The Liquor Control Amendment Act (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention) to require mandatory warning labeling of alcoholic beverages sold in Manitoba to increase awareness and prevention of FASD.

4)Introduce improved in-school learning for children with FASD province-wide.

5)Introduce mandatory assessment of youth for FASD at the time of conviction for a broad range of crimes including auto-theft, arson and break and enter.

6)Implement an interagency program for FASD children, similar to the one previously developed during the Arson Task Force, to assist FASD youth in managing their behaviour and decrease their involvement in criminal activity.