Manitoba election: NDP promises green jobs, lower utility bills

The New Democrats pledge to create more green jobs and lower Manitoba utility bills if elected this spring.

"The NDP is the only party that can be trusted to keep Manitoba Hydro public to benefit everyone, not just the wealthy few," leader Greg Selinger said in a statement Wednesday.

Selinger said under his watch, the NDP would boost Manitoba Hydro's energy-savingPowerSmart program and keep the Crown company from being sold off to the private sector.

"The Conservatives privatized MTS. Now they plan on cancellinghydro projects and cutting Manitoba Hydro into piecesthe classic first steps towards privatization," Selinger said in a statement.

The Progressive Conservatives have said they won't privatizeManitoba Hydro.

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The NDP would expandwater and energy efficiency subsidy programs and work with local businesses to retrofit Manitoba Housing propertiesand homes owned by low-income Manitobansto save energy and money on utility bills, he said.

PowerSmart loan interest rates would be decreased from 3.9 per cent to 2.9 per cent, Selinger said, and the NDP wouldlower those rates even more for small and commercial businesses, from 5.6 per cent to 2.9 per cent.They would also boostgeothermal and solar subsidies.

Manitobans head to the polls April 19.