James Beddome said a Manitoba Green Party government would implement a carbon tax and a guaranteed income program that would cut the poverty rate in half.

The party leader sat down with CTV political reporter Jeff Keele Monday in the first of four one-on-one interviews with Manitoba party leaders ahead of next month’s provincial election.

“We’re 10 years ahead of the curve, and it’s time that we put new parties in the Legislature, particularly Greens in the Legislature,” Beddome said.

Although Beddome was critical of the NDP’s decision to hike the provincial sales tax in 2013, he said if elected, his party wouldn’t adjust the PST rate.

He said revenues from the tax would go towards paying down the provincial deficit.

“When you have a government in deficit, it’s kind of a moot point if you’re talking about what you’re going to do with the revenues when you’re looking at trying to get the budget back in order,” he said adding that PST revenues would also target green infrastructure.

Beddome also pledged a $50 per tonne carbon tax on key fossil fuels like diesel, gasoline and natural gas.

He said the new tax would raise about $500 million, with the majority earmarked to decrease the lowest tax bracket from 10.8 per cent to 9.5 per cent.

$166 million of that pot would also go towards green infrastructure, and another $60 million would be used to reduce the payroll tax, Beddome said.

The Manitoba Greens also promised to introduce a guaranteed income plan aimed at slashing poverty rates in half.

The benefit amount would be based on family size. Under the plan, the 12 per cent of Manitoba families currently below the low income cut off would see their income rise about 22 per cent.

The $1.4 billion program would be paid for by reallocating existing tax credits.

“One of the problems with these tax credits is they benefit everyone equally. They apply just as much to someone making $1 million to someone making $10,000,” he said.

“By removing those tax credits, rolling them into a single tax benefit, they would be targeted at lower income individuals. We think we can cut poverty nearly in half.”

Keele will interview the Liberal, NDP and Progressive Conservative leaders this week on CTV Morning Live. Tune in Tuesday to see Rana Bokhari outline the Liberals’ platform, Wednesday to hear the NDP’s plans from leader Greg Selinger and Thursday for a one-on-one with Tory leader Brian Pallister.