The President of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Ivan Normandeau, issued the following statement on the occasion of the formation of Canada’s new Cabinet:
On behalf of Manitoba’s bilingual municipal leadership, I extend sincere congratulations to the Right Honourable Mark Carney, the 24th Prime Minister of Canada, on the appointment of his new Cabinet, announced on May 13th, 2025. This new Cabinet represents a valuable opportunity to build a stronger Canada—together—through intergovernmental collaboration and by harnessing the strengths of our Francophone and bilingual communities.
The AMBM particularly welcomes the appointment of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault as Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. This portfolio is of strategic importance to Francophone and bilingual communities. Official languages are not only a cornerstone of our national identity but also a catalyst for economic growth—broadening networks, attracting talent and investment, and positioning our communities as strategic hubs within the Canadian economy.
We are also pleased with the appointments of the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski as Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCAN), and the Honourable Gregor Robertson as Minister of Housing and Infrastructure. Both will play key roles in advancing priority issues for our municipalities.
We also welcome the appointment of the Honourable Patty Hajdu as Minister of Jobs and Families. Mobilizing a skilled bilingual workforce is essential to ensuring the vitality of our bilingual municipalities and strengthening their contribution to the national economy.
We are equally pleased with the appointments of the Honourable Tim Hodgson as Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Honourable Julie Dabrusin as Minister of Environment and Climate Change. These appointments reflect a shared commitment to advancing sustainable development in Manitoba’s municipalities.
From Manitoba, we congratulate the Honourable Rebecca Chartrand on her appointment as Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency—a key role in today’s economic context, where northern and rural regions play a strategic role in Canada’s economic resilience and sovereignty.
The AMBM, through its leadership of the AMBM Group—a unique consortium comprising 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)—continues to leverage collective expertise to support the prosperity of Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities and enhance the vitality of Official Language Minority Communities (OLMC) across the province.
Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities: ready to lead
As this new chapter begins, the AMBM reaffirms its commitment to working in close partnership with the federal government to build a prosperous and sustainable future. Our five strategic priorities are:
- Modern, community-responsive infrastructure for Francophone and bilingual communities;
- A skilled, bilingual workforce to meet evolving economic demands;
- Local economic development that reflects community strengths;
- Sustainable development and climate resilience; and
- Effective intergovernmental coordination to ensure access to bilingual government services.
These priorities are designed to amplify the bilingual advantage of AMBM member municipalities and support their development as key contributors to a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous Canada. As the order of government closest to citizens, Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities are uniquely positioned to mobilize local actors, implement practical solutions, and translate national priorities into tangible outcomes.
We look forward to initiating a constructive dialogue with the new Cabinet to implement targeted solutions that benefit our communities. Collaboration remains central to our vision.
In this spirit, the AMBM anticipates the upcoming parliamentary session on May 26th, 2025, as a strategic opportunity to begin addressing the priorities of Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities.
Furthermore, the AMBM and several of our municipal leaders will participate in the 2025 Annual Conference and Trade Show of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) from May 29th to June 1st, 2025, in Ottawa. This event presents an ideal platform to strengthen partnerships and advance shared goals.
Together, let’s move Canada forward by investing in the vitality of Manitoba’s Francophone and bilingual communities—key drivers of national prosperity.
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, bcdd-oceo@ambm.ca.
