Janine Gibson stands as the Green Party’s candidate for Portage-Lisgar in the 45th federal election. In a recent Q&A session, Gibson discussed tariffs, agriculture, affordable housing, and more - underscoring the Green Party’s commitment to sustainable progress and responsible policy.
Tariffs and negotiation
Q: With tariffs now officially instated, there’s been much discussion about Canada’s approach. Do you believe that more retaliatory tariffs are the answer, or should Canada focus on negotiations with the U.S.?
A: “Yes, well, the Green Party is all about bridge building and knowing that when we work together, we work smarter. And so, we believe that we should be working more collegially between provinces to ensure that there are markets within Canada that negotiating with neighbors and friends, who are usually cooperative and who, for various reasons, have been not as cooperative. That negotiation is the way to go rather than hostile countermeasures. We want to be building on where we overlap, where we agree, and that's how we get strong negotiation from a green perspective is focusing on possibilities and potentials for win-win situations and I am confident that we can do that because agriculture plays such an important role in Manitoba. In Canada, we all [need to] eat, and we have been perhaps a little overly dependent on trade with neighbors. We need to be as independent and supportive of our needs [as we can] with what's available within Canada, and with those trading partners such as Europe and other areas where we have positive relationships.”
Agriculture and climate action
Q: Portage-Lisgar is a rural riding with a strong agricultural base. How will climate action policies balance environmental goals with the economic needs of local farmers, especially given extreme weather challenges?
A: “Yes, yes, we really need to be more skillfully listening to what our food growers need for sustainability, and that means supporting transition to more sustainable, more green production methods and being less dependent on, for example, expensive synthetic fertilizers that in their manufacturing have a large negative environmental impact, so that our growers have the opportunity to meet the soil building requirements that are crucial for a healthy agriculture in a manner that's financially possible for them and leaves the soil in better condition for future generations than we received it from our grandparents. So, I know that the food growers in Portage-Lisgar are very concerned about their financial stability, about their soil health and the continued opportunities for producing food for not just Canadians but the world.”
Affordable housing in rural communities
Q: The Green Party emphasizes affordable housing, yet rural areas face unique challenges such as limited infrastructure. What measures will you advocate to address housing shortages in Portage-Lisgar?
A: “Yes, I truly believe that there are many opportunities for developing housing in areas that are not food producing soils. You know, the fact that we are so often paving over some of our most fertile areas is a great opportunity for small towns and diversification of housing throughout rural Manitoba, throughout rural Portage-Lisgar and we can do that by the way we change our financing for housing, by changing some of the restrictions, the zoning, etc. You know, I think we could be really doing a lot of riparian management by allowing those people that want to live in rural areas to protect the riparian areas around our creeks and our rivers in a way that both is supportive for the people living there and gives them good access to what they need, but also preserve the bioregions that so many people want to enjoy in Manitoba… We also really need to be making funds available to retrofit existing housing so that it is more appropriate for our climate and for minimizing energy use.”
Progressive Politics in a conservative riding
Q: Portage-Lisgar has a long conservative history and recently showed support for a populist message. How would you convince voters to support the Green Party’s progressive policies, especially among communities skeptical of federal climate regulation?
A: “Well, I think what we really need is a diversity in our democracy, and so I encourage Portage-Lisgar voters to vote green to support a change in our democracy so that we bring more voices to the table. When you move away from the first past the post to proportional representation, then there are more voices at the table and the Green Party is not afraid of that; we think that all ideas should be discussed between people. We're all smarter together. We don't believe in marginalizing any groups, and that we should be talking about how we can work together and live together cooperatively, not only in Portage-Lisgar but across Canada.”
Green jobs for rural prosperity
Q: Many rural Manitobans struggle with job opportunities and access to services. How will your plan for lasting prosperity create green jobs in Portage Lisgar through renewable energy projects or sustainable agricultural initiatives?
A: “Yes, we need to be funding. In funding to ensure that all residents in Portage-Lisgar have excellent Internet access so there can be more opportunities for people to work from home and enjoy the beauties of the countryside while making a solid living. We're moving, more into an information economy and so ensuring that there are educational opportunities for people to transfer from perhaps existing or previous careers into ones where they can work from home and make contributions is important. So, there are opportunities in education there. There are opportunities in retraining. We need more green jobs. There's a lot of need for work that has to be done.”
Sustainable infrastructure and transportation
Q: Poor road maintenance and limited public transit hinder connectivity in rural areas. How would you advocate for infrastructure upgrades that align with the Green Party’s sustainability goals?
A: “Well, I think there's a lot of road building using materials that are not subject to as much heating and frost damage as we have here in Manitoba. When I drive during my work from Manitoba down into North Dakota immediately the road quality improves so much. We can see that there are methods of road building and road maintenance that we have in Canada that deal with our extreme weather, such as improving the drainage, so the areas are not so wet, so we don't have so much frost heavy areas. Sometimes it takes investing a little bit more upfront in the quality green materials that we need for real sustainable management of our roads and that has such an important impact on our communities.”
Adapting national policies for local needs
Q: The Green Party tends to emphasize MPs voting based on local priorities over strict party lines. Can you provide an example of a national green policy you would adapt to better serve Portage-Lisgar?
A: “I would need to consult with the Portage-Lisgar people. I really believe in greater consultation with the people. The approach of the Green Party, which is doing more needs assessment, means knowing what's happening on the ground and listening to the people, civic consultation, civic forums; involving people more directly in decision making process, that's what we would need to do. I couldn't give you an example that would apply to the riding, but our approach to the process I think is key and that is all of us are smarter than any one of us.”
Countering populist narratives
Q: With a growing populist narrative in the riding, how do you counter anti-establishment messages and present the Greens as a viable alternative for disillusioned voters?
A: “Yes. Well, they're disillusioned because of the first past the post system where their voices are silenced. When people feel their votes don't count, they get disillusioned with the whole electoral system. So that's where our green emphasis on proportional representation and making sure that there are more voices on the table. We're not frightened of diversity at the Green Party. We know that we can work together to ensure that we have a lot of overlapping values, a lot of overlapping rules. Sometimes we differ in the way we think; what we need to do to get to those goals.”
Disaster preparedness and water management
Q: Manitoba's frequent floods have hit rural areas hard. What solutions do you propose to improve disaster preparedness and water management systems in the riding?
A: “Specifically, I would be look to ensure that taxes are changed so that anyone that's retaining water, holding water, maintaining the wetlands, maintaining their riparian areas are given tax bonuses. They're not taxed on their wetlands because that's what's encouraged a lot of drainage in the area. We need to understand that the riparian areas really enrich the whole bioregion… Paying landowners to maintain their wetlands and maintain their riparian areas would actually save a lot. I also think we should have a lot of citizen training so that we have citizen green cores that can go out and pay people to support [those areas]. By doing an analysis of the various sort of mini bioregions, eco areas within Portage-Lisgar, it would get jobs for young people and help people transition out of more destructive jobs.”
Final thoughts
Q: Any final message for Portage-Lisgar voters as the election approaches?
A: “Certainly. Well, I'd like folks to know that the more if we want people to vote from their hearts and their guts and the more people that know we need to protect the wonderful nature around us, that we can do so with the Green Party policies in a way that not only improves our soil, but improves our bioregions but improves our pocketbooks as well. It's not an either or we can create win wins. So, I encourage folks to 'Think Green, Vote Janine.' On April 28.”
With a focus on sustainable policies and community consultation, Janine Gibson invites the voters of Portage Lisgar to consider a fresh, environmentally centered perspective. As the 45th federal election approaches, her commitment to bridge building, green jobs, and a more inclusive democracy offers Portage-Lisgar a vibrant alternative to traditional politics.