A proposal that has come through the town hall to look at retrofitting public buildings to avoid the extra cost of a carbon tax is a smart one. Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), who introduced the proposal, wants the city to study how much it would pay in carbon taxes and then provide a list of up to 15 sites and/or $80 million in redevelopment costs. This is one way to save taxpayers money in the long run as the carbon tax rises every year. Plus, it would make the buildings more sustainable for the future, which is a plus, but of course, many are concerned about the cost. Although the city does not have a historical amount of how much it has paid in carbon taxes, a spokesperson said this week that Winnipeg can expect to pay up to $2.7 million related to natural gas use. It may seem like a trickle, but it adds up over time. Mayes said in an interview this week that if the city were to spend $50 million on carbon taxes, for example, it should work to make buildings more energy efficient. "In that sense, the tax is well-designed, it affects our behavior," Mayes said Monday, adding that there are also moral and environmental reasons to upgrade buildings.

(by Ryan Stelter)