The federal government is preparing to release a template of what a Trudeau carbon tax plan would look like, if the provinces don't come up with their own strategy.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says they've been briefed on the federal template, but can't provide any details at the request of the federal government. He notes the template is set to be released next week.

Pallister wants farmers to know that the Manitoba government is in their corner.

"We want to assure Manitoba farm families, we stand firmly against the application of a direct carbon tax on the local producer," he said. "Farm families at the front gate are an absolute key contributor to our economy and they create tens of thousands of jobs and they feed the world, and they feed Manitobans in the process. I'm very concerned, our government's very concerned that this carbon pricing plan the federal government is putting out there does not negatively impact the ag sector."

Pallister says the Manitoba government has been working hard to come up with it's own plan that does not damage the provincial economy, but at the same time protects the environment.

He notes it's imperative that any carbon pricing strategy is designed with Manitoba in mind.

"We are price takers on most of our commodities, that being said, this would potentially, if done badly, put us at a real disadvantage with the people we must compete with around the world and Manitoba farm families deserve better than that and we're going to make sure that we fight for a better plan that works, that respects that great contribution of agriculture to the Manitoba economy."

When asked why Manitoba does not just flat out refuse a carbon tax, Pallister responded that the federal government would force a plan upon the province, and it would not have Manitobans best interests in mind.

The premier said that Manitoba will release its carbon pricing plan before late fall.