Robert-Falcon Ouellette (HANDOUT)
Robert-Falcon Ouellette pitched a greener, more eco-conscious Winnipeg on Friday as part of his mayoral platform.
The candidate said he would increase the levies placed on disposable drink containers, raising the return rate to 10 cents with a five cent refundable deposit.
Ouellette said Winnipeggers consumed 400 million drinks in containers in 2013, meaning the levy could potentially generate $7 million to $12 million a year, while also encouraging citizens to recycle more.
“If Winnipeg is going to be a city of a million people by 2030, we need to learn to tread more lightly on the earth,” said Ouellette. “A sustainable city is about making the most of scarce resources: ultimately, our goal should be to be as environmentally efficient as we can.”
Funds generated from the levies would go to the Environmental Project Fund, dedicated to paying for environmental programs. He said the city would also sell “Save Lake Winnipeg” bonds to complete the north and south end waste water treatment plants.
