The President of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Ivan Normandeau; the Reeve of the Rural Municipality of De Salaberry, Mr. Darrel Curé; the Mayor of the Rural Municipality of Ritchot, Mr. Chris Ewen; and the Mayor of the Rural Municipality of Taché, Mr. Armand Poirier, issued the following joint statement regarding the significant investment in the Red-Seine-Rat (RSR) Wastewater Treatment Cooperative, announced by the Premier of Manitoba, the Honourable Wab Kinew, at the Fall Annual Convention of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM):
The AMBM welcomes the Manitoba government’s major investment of $22 million to support the Red-Seine-Rat (RSR) Wastewater Treatment Cooperative. This commitment affirms the provincial government’s promise, as outlined in the 2025 Manitoba Speech from the Throne, to support essential infrastructure that drives economic growth, strengthens communities, and promotes sustainable development throughout the province.
A Strategic Partnership for Infrastructure Development in Manitoba
Bilingual municipalities play a crucial role in Manitoba’s development, and transformative investments like this one are concrete proof of their impact. Turnkey projects, such as the RSR Cooperative’s wastewater treatment plant, clearly demonstrate this potential. Bringing together six rural municipalities—including four bilingual rural municipalities (La Broquerie, De Salaberry, Ritchot, and Taché)—this initiative serves as a strategic lever for regional economic development.
Today’s announcement once again highlights the importance of strong partnerships between municipalities, the provincial government, and the federal government. The AMBM commends the Manitoba government for its responsiveness, collaboration, and leadership. Thanks to this support, the project remains on track to break ground soon, directly benefiting thousands of families, businesses, and rural and bilingual communities.
Tripartite Funding to Build Manitoba’s Future
The announced funding is the result of coordinated collaboration between the governments of Canada and Manitoba, through the provincial-territorial agreements component of the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF). This contribution consists of $10 million from the Province and $12 million from the federal government.
The project is currently under review within the CHIF, this time under the direct stream between municipalities and the federal government. This application remains under evaluation, and if fully approved, it would create the capacity for more than 20,000 new homes, generate 3,400 jobs, and yield economic benefits of $1.9 billion, while strengthening Manitoba’s industrial base and enhancing the prosperity of all Canadians.
We also acknowledge another significant advancement—$22 million for the Pembina Valley Water Cooperative, including the Rural Municipality of Grey and the Rural Municipality of Montcalm, for the expansion project in Letellier.
Supporting Rural Infrastructure Through Intergovernmental Collaboration
However, the need for infrastructure remains considerable across our province. Outside of Winnipeg alone, the demand for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure exceeds $3 billion.
Given these significant needs throughout Manitoba and within our bilingual municipalities, the AMBM stands ready to collaborate to maximize the impact of investments and optimize funding mechanisms, notably through the Manitoba Water Services Board (MWSB), to swiftly realize projects that will support the growth and resilience of our communities.
These investments are crucial to the future of our rural communities, which are at the heart of the province’s development and prosperity. Together, we are building a more sustainable, prosperous, and resilient rural Manitoba, ready to embrace the growth of tomorrow.
About the AMBM
The AMBM is the voice of bilingual municipal leadership in the province of Manitoba. It represents 16 municipal governments committed to offering services in both official languages to their residents. Together, these municipalities represent the majority of Manitoba’s population. Manitoba’s bilingual municipal leadership also leads the AMBM Group, a consortium of three organizations with complementary mandates: the AMBM, the Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba, or CDEM) and Eco-West Canada (EWC), which specializes in the green economy. Complementing each other, these three organizations actively contribute to the development, vitality and sustainability of the province’s Official Language Minority Communities (OLMC) and the province as a whole.
Information: Office of the Chief Executive Officer (O-CEO), 204-289-4077, [email protected].
