As Manitoba moves into Phase 2 of opening up during the COVID 19 crisis, there is a solemn sense of
optimism in the province that we have been careful, made sacrifices and have come through this in a
way that makes Manitobans feel proud and strong. It is rare that society is asked to get on board with
any one vision and in the larger picture has such a strong and unifying front.
At the time this article was written, there have been 7326 deaths in Canada due to COVID 19 -- which
has tragic consequences that ripple across families and communities in this country. The COVID-19
crisis is far from over, and during the next months and years the hope is that we continue to show a
united front to combat this virus and ultimately keep ourselves, families and communities safe.
The hopeful, underlying message in the COVID 19 pandemic is that when there is a crisis which affects
our fellow citizens, we have the strength, ability and resolve to take the necessary steps needed to
make our country and ultimately our planet a safer and better place to inhabit.
COVID-19 has also shone a light on the impact that humans have on the environment as cities around
the world are seeing clear skies as they shelter-in-place. This is an important revelation that applies to
us as well. According to the 2017 Health Canada report on premature deaths, an estimated 14,400
Canadians die as a result of air pollution each year.
This is just one statistic that links the consequences of our continued reliance on fossil fuels and the
worsening effects of climate change. The Lancet Countdown, which tracks the effects air pollution on
health, states that “Canadians can expect to experience more allergies, heat stroke, respiratory
illnesses like asthma, vector-borne diseases like Lyme disease as well as cardiovascular impacts from
chronic air pollution.”
With all levels of government necessarily spending money to help people through the COVID crisis, it is
an important time to speak up and tell our elected officials that our taxpayer money they are using
should be spent in ways that have positive long term consequences for the health of all Canadians.
There has been a lot of talk about a green recovery from the COVID 19 crisis and this means taking
our tax dollars and spending them wisely on clean energy production, technology that reduces pollution,
increasing efficiency and protecting our environment and biodiversity. Renewable energy jobs are
growing at a rate that exceeds the national average and fossil fuel jobs are in decline. Using these
dollars wisely on a green recovery will put more Canadian back to work in jobs that have a future.
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| Canadian clean energy jobs are expected to grow 3.4 % per year as fossil fuel jobs will decline 0.5 % annually. |
This is a pivotal moment in history for governments who now have the impetus and need to fund large
infrastructure projects. Taking this moment and making our communities, provinces and country more
resilient and healthier seems like a clear path forward.
We have shown that we are able to tackle crises and make tough decisions and sacrifices that help us be
safer and healthier in future. Now is the time to think beyond the COVID crisis and to what kind of future
we envision when we inevitably make it through to the light at the end of the tunnel.
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