Policies - Housing

Energy and Housing — Foundational Policy — Homelessness

Housing – Energy and Housing

Approved: 28 May 2023

Whereas:

  • Numerous events have shown that macro power grid systems are not 100% reliable and are prone to catastrophic outages, recently October 11, 2019, April 24, 2022;
  • Micro grid technologies are well established and affordable. Under micro power systems each house is an independent power producer, and a power-thrifty home owner will never have to purchase power from a utility provider;
  • Micro power systems are available “off-the-shelf”, extremely reliable, and in most cases allow for a reliable supply of power to the building if a catastrophic macro grid power outage should occur;
  • Fossil fuel furnaces, typically natural gas supplied by Manitoba Hydro, heat the majority of houses. Estimated consumption is two thirds of the two billion cubic metres supplied by Hydro to Manitoba1, resulting in 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 (2/3 x 2B m3 x 1.86 kg per m3). Manitoba Hydro indicates that natural gas heating is more affordable2 than electric heat;
  • Leakage from the natural gas distribution system was about 0.002, in 1997. Centra Gas Manitoba stopped reporting this metric. Manitoba Hydro (which purchased Centra Gas) also does not report this metric so no current data exists. Assuming that leakage is unchanged, 4 million m3 of natural gas leaks into our atmosphere (2B m3 x 0.002), resulting in 7.4 million kg of natural gas leaked, which equals 186,000 tonnes CO2e(equivalent);  and
  • 70% savings of the energy and cost is possible using geothermal heating3;

 

Be it resolved:

The Green Party of Manitoba:

  • Encourages requirements that building permits for new residential housing units include the installation of at least 10 KW capacity micro power system based on renewable energy sources, wind, solar and alternative power sources;
  • Encourages the installation of micro power systems based on renewable energy sources for building permits on existing residential housing;
  • Encourages changing the building code to ban natural gas heating in new construction in favour of use geothermal, heat pumps, solar heating and other sustainable methods; and
  • Encourages Manitoba Hydro to promote geothermal and heat pumps as an affordable heating option and discontinue the promotion of natural gas heating.

References

  1. Manitoba Hydro: Facilities and Operations
  2. Manitoba Hydro: Heating Systems
  3. Wondering about your energy options for space heating?
Housing – Foundational Policy

Approved: 28 May 2023

Whereas:

  • Canada has ratified many international human rights instruments recognizing the right to housing as one of the most fundamental human rights and the responsibility to use maximum available resources to address this human right;
  • Government policy plays a key role in addressing housing inequalities impacting Manitobans’ health, with the inequity gap recently increasing;
  • The climate emergency will have a significant impact on housing, especially for those most vulnerable and less able to afford housing;
  • Healthy, affordable homes promote good physical and mental health1. Good health depends on having homes that are safe and free from physical including financial hazards. In contrast, poor quality, inadequate and unaffordable housing contributes to health challenges such as chronic diseases and injuries, and can have harmful effects on childhood development as well as financial pressures on food and other basic expenses2;
  • Present available housing is not meeting the needs of many urban and rural Manitobans as well as newcomer Manitobans, perpetuating inequities, and
  • Retrofitting Canada’s existing stock of housing for energy conservation is critical for efficient energy use addressing the climate crisis in conjunction with updated building codes for new housing development;
  • Intergovernmental collaboration on housing policy and investment makes sound economic sense in the prevention of health care costs as it helps to create inclusive and more resilient communities3, stimulates the local economy and generates jobs and tax revenues4; and
  • Investing in cooperative and non profit housing will help address the growing gap between rich and poor Manitobans;

Be It Resolved:

The Green Party of Manitoba advocates for 

  • Collaboration and leadership between all levels of government on housing policy and  investment in non-profit and cooperative housing.

References

  1. Social Determinants of Health: A Canadian Perspective – Dennis Rafael
  2. Housing & Income as Social Determinants of Women’s Health in Canadian Cities – Tabas Bryant
  3. Federation of Canadian Municipalities (2015) Built to Last:Strengthening the Foundations of Housing in Canada
  4. Housing, Economic Change and the Governance of Metropolitan Areas – Maclennan 2008
Housing – Homelessness

Approved: 2019

Whereas:

  • Homelessness is on the rise across the industrialized world and is a growing concern in Manitoba; significant community efforts are being made by organizations in Manitoba (and across Canada) such as End Homelessness Winnipeg to end homelessness;
  • Unlike most other European countries, Finland has significantly reduced homelessness through its Housing First national policy;
  • The economic cost of homelessness its high due to related public spending on health, social and judicial services; and
  • Homelessness is the antithesis of what a caring and inclusive community is about;

Be It Resolved:

The Green Party of Manitoba supports:

  • The federal government’s commitment to a national policy to prevent, reduce and end homelessness; 
  • Working with community members and organizations to mitigate and ultimately end homelessness in Manitoba; and
  • Developing a comprehensive strategy to end homelessness in Manitoba by 2025, based on research regarding what has worked elsewhere and on consultation with community members and social service workers in Manitoba.