Earlier this week, Mr. Ivan Normandeau, President of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Dany Robidoux, Executive Director of Eco-West Canada (EWC), and Mr. Justin Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the AMBM, met with the Honourable Mike Moyes, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss future collaboration between EWC and the Manitoba government to implement the provincial strategy, Manitoba’s Path to Net Zero:
During this productive meeting, EWC and the AMBM emphasized the key role that rural municipalities play in the transition to net zero—a point that was highlighted several times in the provincial strategy unveiled on October 6th, 2025.
Municipalities, which are responsible for a significant share of the emissions reductions needed to achieve provincial targets, are seeking practical support to turn this roadmap into concrete actions at the local level.
In a context where the southeastern region experienced a 12% population growth between 2016 and 2021, compared to 5% provincially, and where transportation needs are increasing, rural mobility remains a priority for both the provincial government and municipal partners. EWC stands as a key operational partner to support municipalities during this transition.
This discussion highlighted how the Southeast Regional Transportation Initiative (SERTi) feasibility study is an effective tool for implementing sustainable transit in rural areas. This method helps Manitoba identify local transportation needs and leverage federal programs like the Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF), increasing benefits for rural communities.
Additionally, through close collaboration with the Manitoba government and Efficiency Manitoba, EWC would be able to assist Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities in carrying out evidence-based renovations, designing infrastructure compatible with carbon neutrality, and adopting clean technologies, such as heat pumps.
EWC is the operational vector that can transform the provincial vision into concrete actions on the ground with municipalities. Its initiatives foster the creation of skilled local jobs, strengthen rural networks, and enhance community pride as they progress toward net zero by 2050.
EWC’s work would yield tangible short-term results, strengthen the implementation of the provincial strategy, maximize the use of available federal funds, position Manitoba as a leader in rural climate transition, and highlight the province’s bilingual advantage.
EWC’s initiatives align with the Prosperity Framework for Manitoba’s Bilingual Municipalities, actively contributing to the vitality and prosperity of the province’s Francophone and bilingual communities. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of close partnership between the Manitoba government and EWC to transform the vision of net zero into concrete and measurable actions in rural communities.
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].
