On November 4th, 2025, the President of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Ivan Normandeau, met with the Honourable Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba, for a productive dialogue showcasing the tangible results of the partnership between Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities and the provincial government:
This strategic meeting provided a clear and positive picture of the municipal-provincial partnership’s impact throughout 2025, actively contributing to vibrant and prosperous bilingual communities in Manitoba. Together, both parties highlighted progress made and identified shared priorities to keep building on this momentum for the direct benefit of Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities.
A partnership that delivers
The dialogue between the AMBM and the provincial government reflects a dynamic and productive partnership. Together, we do more than collaborate: we are building a truly bilingual Manitoba, starting with the order of government closest to bilingual communities—the municipal order.
With this spirit of co-construction, we are multiplying concrete solutions to serve a bilingual and inclusive future.
Historic investments in municipal services in both official languages
Manitoba has reached a milestone with an unprecedented investment of more than $2.4 million over three years to support the delivery of municipal services in both official languages, notably through the phased implementation of the Municipal Maturity Model (3M) regulatory framework.
This provincial commitment aligns with the ongoing annual investment—estimated at over $1 million—by Manitoba’s bilingual rural municipalities, clearly demonstrating shared leadership. Together, we recognize that high-quality bilingual municipal services are essential to the vitality of our communities and to Manitoba’s profile. Improving bilingual government services, whether municipal or provincial, is a common goal and a shared priority with the Manitoba government.
The AMBM intends to continue working with the province to secure stable and predictable funding, which is vital for the long-term vitality of Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities.
Essential infrastructure to activate Manitoba’s bilingual advantage
The issue of the Hôpital Sainte-Anne Hospital was raised during our discussions. We are pleased to contribute to the implementation of the dedicated task force and commend the provincial government’s efforts to support a facility that plays a central role in the growth, health and development of our communities, meeting the needs of a rapidly expanding region.
Provincial investments—whether operational or infrastructural—are far more than engineering projects: they modernize and revitalize our communities while fully activating our bilingual advantage. The Manitoba government is investing directly in the operations and capital of bilingual municipalities, recognizing their driving role in Manitoba’s economy. For example, in 2024, building permits in these municipalities alone represent more than $2.7 billion in value, a testament to their dynamism and growth potential. By targeting strategic infrastructure at the heart of Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities, we are concretely strengthening a bilingual, strong, and prosperous Manitoba. The Taché Community Centre and the Le Rendez-Vous campus in Saint-Pierre-Jolys—community, cultural, and recreational—are tangible examples that support the flourishing of our communities.
High-quality community, cultural, and educational infrastructure is the cornerstone for any community looking to build for the future. Education remains a key indicator of vitality in our Francophone and bilingual communities. For these projects to take root and thrive, they must be closely tied to municipalities—the true foundations of our communities and indispensable partners.
Transportation and mobility in rural areas remain essential to connect these communities, improve access to services, and stimulate regional economic development.
Our municipalities, located along strategic economic corridors, need basic infrastructure to sustainably support and plan their development. Transformative projects like the Red-Seine-Rat (RSR) Wastewater Cooperative illustrate this vision. This project will enable the construction of 20,000 homes, create 3,400 jobs, and generate economic benefits estimated at $1.9 billion across seven Manitoba municipalities, including four bilingual rural municipalities (De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Ritchot, and Taché). These foundational infrastructures will allow bilingual municipalities—partners in Manitoba’s prosperity—to help implement Manitoba’s Economic Development Strategy, which recognizes our bilingual advantage.
The federal government also acknowledges, in its latest budget, that essential infrastructure directly boosts Canada’s productivity and trade opportunities while playing a key role in addressing housing shortages and creating more homes for Canadians, with $51 billion invested toward this goal.
Public safety: a major concern
The issue of public safety and the protection of our municipal leaders was also raised. As the AMBM stated in its recent statement, we strongly condemn any form of intimidation toward municipal leaders. Our municipal representatives must be able to carry out their duties in a safe and respectful environment, free from threats or harassment. Likewise, our communities deserve to live in a climate of security and trust, where dialogue and collaboration can thrive. This concern remains a priority that we aim to address in partnership with the Manitoba government.
Successful intergovernmental collaboration
We wish to highlight the key role of the Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs, the Honourable Glen Simard, in maintaining a strong and constructive municipal-provincial partnership. His attentive listening and commitment to our concerns greatly contribute to the success of our collaboration.
This meeting confirmed the strength and relevance of the partnership between the AMBM and the Manitoba government. Together, we are laying the foundation for a future where Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities are fully equipped to serve their residents in both official languages while remaining strong and prosperous. Our collaboration continues to generate tangible results that benefit all our communities and help make Manitoba a truly bilingual province.
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, bcdd-oceo@ambm.ca.
