Northern Manitoba Member of Parliament Niki Ashton has introduced a private members bill that she says will put public interest ahead of the profits of the ultra-rich by allowing Canada to leverage public investment and public ownership in the fight against climate change.  In a release she explains specifically this bill removes the part of the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s mandate that allows it to seek out private investment in the interest of rich CEOs and encourages the federal government to fund public projects that foster climate change mitigation and adaption.  She adds furthermore the bill will ensure Indigenous and Northern communities participate on the Infrastructure Bank’s Board while requiring greater transparency by the provision of regular reports on how it’s fulfilling its mandate.

Ashton notes we know that Indigenous and Northern communities are some of the hardest hit by the effects of climate change and this bill will ensure the federal government provides communities at the forefront of the fight against climate change the tools they need to face this crisis.