Data confirming the vitality and growth potential of Manitoba’s bilingual rural communities

A new survey conducted by Probe Research on behalf of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) confirms that Manitoba’s bilingual rural municipalities play a strategic role in advancing federal and provincial priorities related to economic prosperity, community vitality, and sustainable demographic growth.

Conducted in spring 2026 among residents of 15 AMBM member municipalities, the survey reveals that bilingual rural communities demonstrate a high quality of life, a strong capacity to welcome new families, and broad support for both official languages. At the same time, it underscores the need for tailored financial support to maintain and strengthen municipal services in a context of growing pressures—aligning with the recommendations set out in the Prosperity Framework for Manitoba’s Bilingual Municipalities. Bilingual rural municipalities thus emerge as places where demographic growth is being shaped collaboratively, in service of their residents.

“The results clearly show that bilingual rural municipalities are strong, attractive, and resilient living environments that contribute directly to national and provincial objectives for economic prosperity, and where our bilingual advantage stands out,” said Ivan Normandeau, Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie and President of the AMBM. “To fully realize this potential, it is essential that government funding frameworks recognize the unique realities of rural communities that are expected to support growth while maintaining high-quality services.”

Key findings include:

• Nearly nine in ten residents rate their quality of life as good or excellent;
• A large majority view their community as welcoming, including toward newcomers;
• Bilingual services and communications are well recognized and valued at the municipal level;
• Nearly seven in ten residents support the idea of Manitoba becoming a truly bilingual province;
• A strong proportion of respondents believe rural municipalities will need increased support from provincial and federal governments to continue meeting residents’ needs.

Beyond these indicators, the survey highlights a fundamental element: residents’ confidence in the future of their community. Fifty-seven per cent believe the best days of their community are still ahead—a strong signal of shared optimism and deep attachment to rural life.

Communities where residents feel heard, valued, and engaged are better positioned to attract new families, support local economies, and ensure long-term sustainable development. To translate this potential into lasting outcomes, municipalities must have access to the necessary resources, tools—such as the Municipal Maturity Model (3M)—flexibility, and autonomy to plan and manage growth responsibly.

“Municipalities are on the front lines of community growth—housing, services, infrastructure, and quality of life fall directly within municipal responsibilities,” said Raymond Maynard, Mayor of the Village of Saint-Pierre-Jolys and Vice-President of the AMBM. “To succeed, they must be properly equipped to manage population growth, attract and integrate skilled bilingual economic immigrants, strengthen their economic attractiveness, and ensure positive benefits for the entire community.”

For the AMBM, these results confirm the importance of a coordinated approach among all orders of government, particularly through targeted investments in infrastructure, municipal services, and the capacity to welcome new families. In light of these findings and the needs expressed by residents, the AMBM looks forward to the Spring Economic Update, which it views as a key opportunity to fully activate the potential of municipalities.

“Our municipalities are demonstrating that they are ready to do their part to support growth that benefits the economy and to fully leverage our bilingual advantage,” emphasized Justin Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the AMBM. “A strong, intergovernmental collaboration that is responsive to rural realities will be crucial to turning this commitment into lasting economic and social outcomes.”

In conclusion, the survey results show that the prosperity of bilingual rural municipalities rests on their residents—their confidence in the future and their commitment to their communities. This human capital, essential to an order of government of proximity, must be supported by policies and investments commensurate with their contribution.

The full report is available by clicking here.

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].