The President of the AMBM and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Ivan Normandeau, issued the following statement following the presentation of the SERTi feasibility study by Eco-West Canada at a special meeting held in conjunction with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) Annual Fall Convention:
The Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) extends its warmest congratulations to its subsidiary, Eco-West Canada (EWC), on the long-awaited publication of its feasibility study for the SERTi (Southeast Regional Transport Initiative) project. The study, unveiled at a meeting of stakeholders and participating municipalities during the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) Annual Fall Convention on November 25th, 2024, embodies the exemplary expertise of our subsidiary.
Founded in 2008 by Manitoba’s bilingual municipal leadership, EWC has a pan-Canadian mandate. A true mobilizing force, EWC helps municipalities make a successful ecological transition and become increasingly resilient in their management of climate change.
Mobility in rural areas: an absolute priority
Rural transportation, the focus of the SERTi study, is an absolute priority for our communities. Not only does it represent an essential driver for improving residents’ quality of life, it is also a determining factor in successful economic and demographic growth.
A groundbreaking project, SERTi shows that it is possible to design innovative transportation solutions adapted to rural realities. The study provides in-depth analysis of current and future public transport challenges. It highlights practical strategies such as carpooling, carsharing, on-demand bus services, and even electric bike sharing. These options, based on rigorous data, offer economical and environmentally friendly solutions, while aiming to reduce costs for households and cut GHG emissions, by supporting local economic development.
By publishing this study, Eco-West Canada provides rural municipalities with valuable tools for accessing federal and provincial grants. As Mr. Dany Robidoux, Executive Director of Eco-West Canada, points out, “Projects like this one are catalysts for communities looking to innovate and invest in modern, sustainable transportation infrastructure.”
This initiative perfectly illustrates Eco-West Canada’s vision, which is to promote sustainable economic growth in small and medium-sized municipalities. The AMBM is honoured to support these efforts, which strengthen not only our local communities, but also our leadership in environmental sustainability.
Partnerships at the heart of the SERTi project
Our sincere thanks go to the EWC team who coordinated the project so effectively, and to the Rural Municipality of Piney, an AMBM member, for its determination in taking action. The municipality was able to mobilize stakeholders around the priority of sustainable mobility in rural areas. Local partners include 7 other bilingual rural municipalities (De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Ritchot, Sainte-Anne, Taché, Town of Sainte-Anne and Village of Saint-Pierre-Jolys), as well as the rural municipalities of Hanover, Reynolds and Stuartburn, the Buffalo Point First Nation, and the Steinbach Economic Development Corporation.
SERTi received financial support from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Manitoba Environment and Climate Change, Community Foundations of Canada, and participating municipalities.
Eco-West Canada: a key player for Manitoba and Canadian municipalities
Eco-West Canada stands out as a recognized and respected organization at the service of all municipalities in Manitoba and Canada. Thanks to its in-depth knowledge of the field and of community needs, EWC acts as a true key player, mobilizing the necessary resources so that municipalities can anticipate, prepare and maximize their opportunities. Its role as an implementation agency is essential to transforming ideas and projects into concrete actions, maximizing their spin-offs, as well as their upstream financing opportunities.
Seizing funding opportunities
SERTi’s success demonstrates the importance of close coordination between all orders of government—municipal, provincial and federal—to meet community needs.
Whether in terms of transportation or infrastructure in general, Manitoba and Canadian municipalities want to be able to count on the active collaboration of the provincial and federal governments to turn their ambitions into reality.
Thanks to EWC’s expertise and support, they are able to seize a maximum number of funding opportunities, and are ready to do more and go further.
For example, in 2023-2024, EWC implemented the Mobilizing Municipalities Program (MMP), which mobilized Manitoba municipalities and created unprecedented momentum. In particular, EWC’s support has enabled the development of several municipal climate action plans and the ongoing dissemination of information on funding opportunities to municipal governments, as well as facilitating the coordination of strategic climate-related priorities at the provincial level.
Municipalities appreciate programs like the MMP, which offer the predictability needed to support long-term structuring projects, encourage green investments in Manitoba and multiply concrete initiatives.
Eco-West Canada is a key player, mobilized to collaborate with solid, committed partners to maximize the impact of its actions. Its role in the implementation of Manitoba’s Affordable Energy Plan is central to paving the way towards achieving net zero by 2050. What’s more, his expertise is a valuable asset for all municipalities looking for innovative, sustainable solutions.
In short, Manitoba and Canadian municipalities are determined to do even more by optimizing their environmental impact, provided they can count on leading-edge expertise like that of EWC, as well as strong, ongoing partners, notably with the governments of Manitoba and Canada.
We invite municipalities interested in exploring or implementing solutions for successful green transition and climate change management to contact Eco-West Canada directly.
The AMBM is the voice of bilingual municipal leadership in the province of Manitoba. It represents 16 local governments committed to providing services in both official languages to their citizens. Together, these municipalities represent the majority of Manitoba’s population. Manitoba’s bilingual municipal leadership is also at the helm of the AMBM Group, a consortium of three complementary organizations: the AMBM, the Economic Development Council of 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. Complementary, these three organizations actively contribute to the development, vitality and sustainability of the province’s Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs).
Information: Office of the Chief Executive Officer (O-CEO), 204-289-4077, [email protected].
