The President of the AMBM and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Ivan Normandeau, issued the following statement to mark the release of the Manitoba government’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan under the Canada-Manitoba Agreement on French Language Services (CMAFLS):
On behalf of Manitoba’s bilingual municipal leadership, I want to warmly congratulate the Manitoba government for publishing this strategic plan, which strongly reaffirms the importance of bilingual municipal services as an essential priority.
This strategic plan represents a significant step forward in strengthening the delivery of municipal services in both official languages. We are particularly pleased to see that the gradual deployment of the Municipal Maturity Model (3M) within Manitoba’s bilingual rural municipalities is a central element of this vision. The 3M will allow for a thorough assessment of our member municipalities’ capacity to provide services in French and strengthen their ability to meet the needs of their Francophone and bilingual residents.
We also highlight the Manitoba government’s willingness to gradually increase its support for the phased implementation of the 3M. This support confirms the Manitoba government’s determination to provide stable and predictable funding, one of the central axes also identified in the Notice on the 16 Strategic Priorities of Manitoba’s Bilingual Municipalities. This alignment of objectives between the AMBM and the Manitoba government, which includes the gradual implementation of the 3M and a strengthened municipal-provincial partnership, represents a solid foundation for the development of our rural communities.
The 2023-2028 Strategic Plan is structured around three main objectives:
- Internal support for administrative structures;
- Support for the development, planning, and delivery of public services in French; and
- Consultation, communication, and promotion.
The second objective notably involves targeting activities that will support essential French-language services for the vitality of Francophone and bilingual communities, such as municipal initiatives responding to emerging needs, which would complement the overall deployment of the 3M.
The ultimate ambition of the plan is to normalize the use of French throughout the provincial government and promote its use in the public space by strengthening government capacities accordingly. In this sense, we are encouraged to see that the plan recognizes the launch and implementation of the 3M as a concrete example of applying the Francophone and bilingual lens in government decision-making.
The concept of an active offer, as mentioned in the Chartier Report, is a fundamental principle of the French-Language Services Policy. This strategic plan aligns with this direction and demonstrates a willingness to strengthen access to services in both official languages throughout Manitoba, in line with the Francophone Community Enhancement and Support Act.
The standardization of French-language services outlined in this plan also resonates with the Strategic Plan for Manitoba’s Francophone Community of the Société de la francophonie manitobaine (SFM), which aims to normalize access to French-language services. The provincial government’s efforts to integrate this priority are a significant step towards an officially bilingual Manitoba, aligned with the aspirations of our bilingual communities.
Furthermore, the ongoing efforts of the AMBM and its members will contribute concretely to achieving the government’s commitment to an officially bilingual Manitoba.
The AMBM and its members are fully mobilized to support the implementation of the Manitoba government’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan under the CMAFLS, which represents an essential mechanism for recognizing municipal investment and improving municipal services in both official languages. To this end, we are committed to working closely with the Honourable Glen Simard and his entire team within the Department of Municipal and Northern Relations, as well as the Francophone Affairs Secretariat, under his leadership.
Finally, we want to reiterate the importance of a strengthened municipal-provincial partnership. Together, let’s continue to build attractive, prosperous, and resilient bilingual communities that make our province proud and contribute to its influence across Canada and beyond.
The AMBM is the voice of bilingual municipal leadership in the province of Manitoba. It represents 16 municipal 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, bcdd-oceo@ambm.ca.
