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Hello!
As students head back to school, we’re excited to see the roll out of fare free transit for youth. This is good news, and we hope it will grow a new generation of transit riders! High school and junior high students can get their free transit pass at school, which is valid through August 2027.
In order to ensure these young people–and all transit riders–have a positive experience on the bus, we are continuing to advocate for better service through increased operating funding with our Next Stop 50-50 campaign. To support the campaign, we’ve launched a 50/50 raffle (we couldn’t resist…). You can buy tickets here before Sept 30. And you can help spread the word by sharing this post on Instagram and Facebook. The pot is currently at over $1,200 and the winner gets half!
Get Your 50/50 Tickets!
Manitoba municipal elections are coming up at the end of October, and next week we’re hosting a Municipal Election & Climate edition of our regular Feed the Movement dinner. Join us to get a run through of the Winnipeg People’s Climate Mandate from Climate Reality Canada, and take action together to call our candidates. We will also share which candidates have signed our municipal candidates transit pledge. Free dinner & a great way to meet new friends in the climate movement!
And our community-made zine is out in the world! In a limited-edition print we dropped off copies at local Winnipeg shops around the exchange, Corydon, Osborne Village and the West End. You can also print your own with this print-ready PDF.
Plus, keep an eye out for our bus ads on the community bus (as shown below). The bus doesn’t follow a particular route but can be seen all through the city. If you spot it, snap a photo and send it to us!
And lastly, hearings at the Public Utilities Board on their proposed energy plan have concluded. CAT’s James Wilt presented on our new research by energy modelling specialist Alexander Hogeveen Rutter showing that wind and batteries can meet Manitoba’s power needs at a lower cost than gas. You can watch his full presentation here.
Thanks for being here.
CAT Events
Feed the Movement: Municipal Election & Climate Edition
Sept 15, 5:30-7:30pm
There will be a short presentation from Climate Reality about the People’s Climate Mandate, and then we will take action together to let our municipal leaders and candidates know that we need climate action this election. There will also be time for informal chatting to build relationships and strengthen the connections that will power our movement.
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Join our 50-50 Transit Canvassing!
Every week we’re out talking to fellow transit riders about why we need more investment in transit. Join us! No experience is necessary, and there will be training, resources, and other experienced folks there to help you out. The location changes each week and you will receive a reminder text/email with the exact meeting place once you RSVP.
RSVP here to join us!
New CAT Publications
The Port of Churchill Plus, Redwashing, and the Fight for Real Consent
Guest Post by Lisa Currier, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Treaty 5
“Manitoba is being sold a story about the Port of Churchill Plus project. We are told it is about jobs, trade, national security, Arctic sovereignty, and ‘getting big things done.’ It is framed as vision, leadership, and economic opportunity.
But Indigenous people in northern Manitoba have heard this story before. Hydro, mining, flooding, and major development projects have all arrived with promises, paperwork, public relations, and pressure. Too often, our communities were left to live with the damage. So we are not confused.”
Churchill LNG: Lasting legacy or pining for a pipe dream?
By Laura Cameron
Instead of staking this government’s legacy on a pipeline to Churchill — a dream which past premiers also pursued and failed to secure — Premier Kinew should be vying for federal investment in projects that can and should actually be built in areas that drive innovation and leverage Manitoba’s clean energy advantage.
New Modelling: Wind and Batteries Meet Manitoba Power Needs at Lower Cost Than Gas
New modelling of Manitoba’s electricity options was undertaken by energy modelling specialist Alexander Hogeveen Rutter, who worked on Manitoba Hydro’s 2014 Needs For and Alternatives To (NFAT). It shows that Manitoba Hydro’s models underestimate the reliability of wind generation paired with battery storage, which can meet worst-case winter peaks at a lower cost than the proposed gas power plant.
Community Happenings
Sept. 12––Film: Everything We Need is Here
1:30pm-4:45pm at Millennium Library. This pre-municipal elections screening event will be a great opportunity for conversations about policies for a greener, more climate-resilient Winnipeg. More information here. And you can watch the trailer here.
Sept 14––ATU Local 1505 Mayoral Candidate Transit Debate
6pm-9pm (Doors open at 5pm) at Union Centre, Auditorium (2nd floor), 275 Broadway, Winnipeg. Register here.
Sept 24––Exploring the Potential of Wind, Solar and Battery Storage in Manitoba
7pm-8:30pm at Manitoba Museum Auditorium. Featuring James Wilt, CAT’s Policy Development Manager. Limited spots. Register: info@sciencefirst.ca
Endorse the People’s Climate Mandate!
The People’s Climate Mandate is a community-developed non-partisan platform for the 2026 Winnipeg election, consisting of 10 actions that City Council could take in its next term to build a more climate-friendly, green, liveable, equitable, and democratic city. Now individuals can endorse here.
Save the Shade: Vote Trees on Oct. 28
A Trees Please campaign. On October 28, 2026 Winnipeg holds its civic election. Find out who has taken our pledge to help support our urban tree canopy, and what you can do to advocate for trees here.
By Chris Kitching for Winnipeg Free Press
“James Wilt, policy development manager with Climate Action Team Manitoba, said the Kinew government should apply its approach to U.S. alcohol, which was pulled off Liquor Mart shelves, to the turbine proposal.
‘What we’re expecting is consistency between that position and the upcoming decision around what could ultimately be a $3-billion investment in U.S. technology manufactured deep in Trump country, and from a company that has donated to Trump’s inauguration itself,’ Wilt said of Massachusetts-based GE (General Electric) Vernova.”
By Christopher Gareau for CBC News
“”We want to make sure that we’re protecting our infrastructure. But mostly, we want to make sure we’re protecting the residents and their investment in our community,” [Mayor of Steinbach Earl] Funk.
By Bartley Kives for CBC News
“’We are opposed to it,’ Manto Sipi Chief Michael Yellowback said during the meeting, which was recorded and posted on Facebook. “Nobody speaks on our behalf, not even the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.'”
By Rylee Gerrard for Winnipeg Free Press
“‘Natural gas is 95 per cent methane, but it also has a number of noxious chemicals that are released when it’s burned, including nitrogen dioxide (and) sulfur dioxides,” [Dr. Scott] Blyth said. “If you’re exposed to nitrous dioxides, your risk of developing certain health issues goes way up.’
Blyth cited inflammatory responses that can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive lung disease and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia as reasons for concern. He also identified cancer-causing carcinogens and evidence linking exposure to cognitive disorders, such as dementia, as other risk factors.”
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