Municipal representatives gather in Brandon for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities conference in late November.

Vet concerns head AMM resolutions

More resources, more priority for large animal vet hopefuls and Manitoba vet school among the issues raised

Manitoba’s municipalities want the province to consider a homegrown veterinary school. Western Canada’s veterinarian shortage, and a lack of large animal veterinarians in particular, was at the centre of several resolutions when Manitoba’s reeves, mayors and other municipal representatives met for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities conference in Brandon in late November. Why it matters: Agriculture and small

Municipalities tired of footing bill

Council reps say firefighter medical callouts misused

Manitoba’s municipalities want to stop sending their firefighters to move patients. Failing that, they want to charge the province for their services. Medical and lift assists were among the topics pushed by local council representatives during the recent Association of Manitoba Municipalities conference in Brandon. Two interconnected resolutions earned debate on the floor: one to


Provincial party leaders go head-to-head during a pre-election debate hosted by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities in April.

AMM puts heat on infrastructure as next week’s election looms

Municipal funding should be higher on the priority list, association says

Municipal leaders say all parties appear ready to provide steady funding for municipalities, but aren’t giving infrastructure enough airtime as the provincial election draws near. “We need to see more,” said Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett in a Sept. 20 news release. “Building and maintaining core infrastructure – from water and wastewater to broadband – is a

Provincial leaders at the Association of Manitoba Municipalities pre-election debate in April.

KAP, AMM set election priorities for rural Manitoba

Rural Manitoba could be key battleground in the upcoming election

With the provincial election less than two months away, rural Manitoba could become an important battleground. The rural/urban split falls roughly along party lines, so the provincial Tories must shore up support in their traditional strongholds of rural Manitoba if they want to remain in office. Their counterparts in the NDP will need to make

“We have heard deep-seated frustration from both farm families and non-farmers about the state of connectivity in rural Manitoba, and providers cannot continue to ask us to pay for a service that is subpar, at best.” – Jill Werwey, KAP.

AMM puts rural cell service in the hot seat

Only a third of rural Manitobans consider their cell service ‘fully reliable’

Rural connectivity remains an issue for Manitobans. That was one of the main takeaways from a recent poll commissioned by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. The poll, conducted by Probe Research, found that rural Manitobans are overwhelmingly concerned about mobile connectivity outside of the province’s cities. Why it matters: Unreliable cellular service can be a


Heather Stefanson, Manitoba NDP leader Wab Kinew and Manitoba Liberal leader Dougald Lamont at the AMM provincial leaders forum April 4.

Unofficial provincial election campaign kicks off

Association of Manitoba Municipalities hosts provincial leaders forum

The first blows leading up to Manitoba’s fall election landed as the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) hosted an April 4 forum featuring major party leaders. Candidates for Manitoba’s three main political parties sparred over which one best represents the interests of AMM members. Why it matters: Campaigns have not officially launched for the provincial

“Police officers should be out on the street and in the community, rather than behind a desk filling out repetitive paperwork...” – Kam Blight, AMM.

Municipal leaders concerned about lack of police presence

Survey data shows drug and property crime is perceived to be on the rise

Most municipal leaders are concerned about the lack of police presence in their community says a recent survey from the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM). “Our survey results reaffirm that increased police visibility may help deter crime and make community members feel safer,” said AMM president Kam Blight in an August 2 news release. “Municipal

Province announces rural internet deal with Xplornet

Province announces rural internet deal with Xplornet

Some rural residents less than pleased with the government’s choice of provider

The Association of Manitoba Municipalities has praised the Manitoba government’s deal with Xplornet Communications to improve rural internet and cellular coverage throughout the province. In a tweet May 13, the AMM thanked Central Services Minister Reg Helwer for signing a memo of understanding with the internet service provider. The province says the deal will bring


Manitoba’s new education tax system will be fairer, farm advocates say.

Education tax cut increases fairness, say KAP, AMM

The rollback has led to criticisms that it’s a tax cut for wealthy landowners at the expense of education funding, which could hurt rural communities

The Pallister government’s promised education property tax cuts are a step in the direction of fairness, but won’t be a huge windfall — at least not this year, said KAP president Bill Campbell. “Education funding needs to be equitable and equal for citizens of Manitoba and not necessarily based on some people’s assets. Not everybody’s

At left: Rosser residents (left to right) Florence McCoy, Brynn Kaplen and Val Gough were frustrated with the Municipal Board decision on Lilyfield Quarry. Top right: Rosser resident Dave Kaplen speaks on the second day of the hearing, in late July. Bottom right: Quarry site owner Colleen Munro speaks during the hearings in late July.

Quarry battle shows cracks in planning system

The Lilyfield Quarry decision was precedent setting in more ways than one

My key story of 2020 began with a small, embattled quarry project north of Winnipeg and ended up illustrating, in microcosm, what local governments might expect if proposed provincial law goes forward. Residents of the RM of Rosser contacted me about a quarry proposed to be built in their backyard. I met them in a house a few