Leading up to the provincial election, Manitoba's municipalities have four critical asks.
Municipal Funding
Funding Fairness & Predictability
Government needs to:
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. It’s not fair for one level of government to tax another for providing service to residents
Streamline existing tax tools; grant greater tax flexibility and autonomy to municipalities
Physical Infrastructure
Invest in Core Infrastructure
Government needs to:
Increase Manitoba Water Services Board funding for water and wastewater infrastructure, and commit to advocate for 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
Commit to comprehensive rural broadband and cell service – essential infrastructure for economic growth, public safety, education, and health care
Social Infrastructure
Invest in People
Government needs to:
Accelerate a comprehensive provincial strategy to recruit health care professionals and paramedics throughout Manitoba
Implement recommendations from the Immigration Advisory Council to increase regional settlement incentives for foreign-trained doctors and other professionals
Implement training opportunities for licensed professionals closer to home, and keep government services locally in our communities
Care closer to home – a plan to keep paramedics, doctors and other health professionals working in all our regions
Safe Communities
Public Safety
Government needs to:
Press the federal government for bail and conditional release reform to be tougher on repeat offenders, while also prioritizing social spending on crime reducing programs
Refuse downloading of policing reform costs (RCMP collective bargaining, body cameras, etc.)
Expedite the provincial policing review to provide predictability on local police resourcing, and flexibility to move some enforcement and social service functions from RCMP to other funded authorities (transit, mental health, etc.)
Increase funding for policing to combat rising rates of crime and drug trafficking
Expand municipal Community Safety and Well-Being plans
April 4, 2023
Provincial Leaders' Forum
The AMM secured the first Provincial Leaders’ Forum leading up to the election. Media coverage: