The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) identified its key priorities today for the province’s 137 municipalities in advance of the 2023 provincial election.
AMM President Kam Blight, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, Thompson Mayor Colleen Smook, and East St. Paul Mayor Carla Devlin outlined four priority pillars in a media release today. The group called upon all Manitoba political parties to enshrine the association’s priorities into their respective election platforms.
Municipal Priorities for 2023:
1. Fair and Predictable Municipal Funding
– Work with municipalities to establish a simplified, predictable funding model with an annual escalator;
– Rebate the PST paid by municipalities, similarly to the federal GST rebate;
– Streamline existing tax tools and grant greater flexibility and financial autonomy to municipal governments.
2. Invest in Core Infrastructure
– Increase Manitoba Water Services Board funding for water and wastewater infrastructure, and commit to a permanent federal and provincial infrastructure fund;
– Amend Bill 37 to enshrine the primacy of elected municipal councils over the unelected Municipal Board;
– Improve coordination between economic development offices and agencies for efficiencies, synergies and responsiveness to municipal economic development needs;
– Comprehensive rural broadband and cell service as essential infrastructure for economic growth, public safety, education and health care.
3. Invest in People
– Accelerate a comprehensive provincial strategy to recruit health care professionals and paramedics throughout Manitoba;
– Implement recommendations from the Immigration Advisory Committee to increase regional settlement incentives for foreign-trained doctors and other professionals;
– Training opportunities for licensed professionals closer to home;
– Care closer to home – a plan to keep paramedics, doctors and other health professionals working in all our regions.
4. Public Safety
– Press the federal government for bail and conditional release reform;
– Refuse downloading of policing reform costs;
– Predictable police resourcing and flexibility to move certain enforcement and social service functions from police to separate provincially-funded authorities;
– Increase police funding to combat crime and drug trafficking;
– Expand municipal Community Safety and Well-Being plans.
The Association of Manitoba Municipalities is comprised of the mayors, reeves, and councillors that represent Manitoba’s 137 incorporated municipalities.
They say their mission is to identify and address the needs and concerns of its members to achieve strong and effective municipal government – the order of government closest to the people.
