Municipalities object to amalgamation decree

Association of Manitoba Municipalities head says amalgamation is a complex process that can’t be rushed

The province has told municipalities to get on with amalgamation, rejecting their plea for more time for orderly planning. “It’s an expedited process,” said Doug Dobrowolski, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. “We’re very concerned that the public is not going to have an opportunity to voice their concern here.” But that argument didn’t

Province wants municipalities to amalgamate

Fewer and larger rural municipalities are on the horizon with last week’s throne speech calling for mandatory amalgamation of the province’s smallest local governments. Ninety-two of Manitoba’s 197 municipalities no longer meet the Municipal Act’s population threshold of 1,000. Many of these now have fewer than 500 constituents and some even less than 200. Yet,


It pays to live in Pipestone

It pays to live in Pipestone — literally. Any renter or homeowner who has lived in the rural municipality for a year or more will pocket $500 this fall, thanks to a grant program created by the RM. It’s the second year in a row the local municipal government has decided to share its oil

Tory caucus shift

Staff / Newly elected Manitoba Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Pallister wasted no time shuffling his shadow cabinet. Among the changes is a shift for Lakeside MLA Ralph Eichler into the critic’s role for Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives. Former ag critic Midland MLA Blaine Pedersen becomes the critic for Local Government. Larry Maguire, MLA


More transparency in local governance

The provincial government has proposed some rule changes it says will strengthen accountability and transparency in local government decision-making. The proposed legislation follows discussions the province has held with the Office of the Auditor General, said Minister for Local Government Ron Lemieux. Bill 23 proposes a series of amendments that, among other things, would require

Legal Protection For Councillors Sought

“The fact that these lawsuits can occur goes against what municipal councillors are there for.” – STU BRIESE, MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Should municipal councillors, reeves and mayors have legal protection if someone tries to sue for something said during council meetings? Last fall at the Association of Manitoba Municipal convention a resolution passed


Province Announces Provincial Land Use Policy Review

The provincial government announced last week a full public review of provincial land policies will begin later this month. This will be the first review of provincial land use policies (PLUPs) since 1994 with public input to be sought through workshops around the province and meetings with key stakeholders. Proposed changes to the PLUPs were

AMM launches With One Voice: A History of Municipal Governance in Manitoba at 2008 convention New book commemorates 100 years of municipal leadership

To save gas during WWII, farm trucks weren’t permitted to operate further than 35 miles from the farm and farmers had to paint the address on the sides of their trucks as proof. The town of Neepawa was the first municipality in North America to own its own telephone system. An early Municipal Act stipulated