As the tariff dispute between Canada and the United States continues to create uncertainty for workers, businesses and communities on both sides of the border, the Mayors and Reeves of Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities are united in affirming a fundamental conviction: Canada’s official languages and the vitality of our Francophone and bilingual communities are not barriers to prosperity. They are among our greatest economic advantages.
We support the position expressed by the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, and the Premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew: Canada’s official languages, linguistic duality and the vitality of Francophone communities are not up for negotiation. They are an integral part of our identity, our economy and our collective future.
For Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities, our bilingual advantage is a powerful driver of economic growth, competitiveness and long-term prosperity.
Every day, our Francophone and bilingual communities demonstrate that the ability to live, work, serve, innovate and do business in both official languages helps attract investment, support entrepreneurship, strengthen business productivity, facilitate the recruitment of skilled workers, and contribute to the attraction and retention of newcomers. Our bilingual advantage also enables us to build lasting economic partnerships, strengthen connections with Francophone and bilingual markets, and access new business opportunities across Canada and around the world.
At a time when Manitoba and Canada are seeking to strengthen economic resilience, diversify markets and enhance competitiveness, it is more important than ever to build on the advantages that set us apart. Bilingualism is one of those advantages.
This reality is recognized in Manitoba’s Economic Development Strategy, which identifies the province’s bilingual advantage as a lever for trade, investment, innovation and the development of a productive and inclusive workforce.
It is also aligned with the vision of a truly bilingual Manitoba, where Francophone and bilingual communities contribute fully to the prosperity, economic growth and influence of our province.
Guided by the Prosperity Framework for Manitoba’s Bilingual Municipalities, our municipalities will continue to leverage our bilingual advantage to attract talent, support innovation, strengthen trade, build strategic partnerships and create new opportunities for economic growth throughout Manitoba.
Today, more than ever, we affirm that Canada’s official languages are not a constraint on economic development.
They are a strength.
They strengthen our communities, support our businesses, attract talent, open new markets and create opportunities in every region of our province.
Our bilingual advantage is not a trade barrier. It is one of the key drivers of Manitoba’s and Canada’s future prosperity.
Jointly signed by the Mayors and Reeves of Manitoba’s Bilingual Municipalities:
- Wayne Anderson, Reeve, Rural Municipality of Piney
- Les Barclay, Mayor, Town of Powerview-Pine Falls
- Jack Brisco, Mayor, Rural Municipality of Alexander
- Richard Chartrand, Reeve, Rural Municipality of Saint-Laurent
- Darrel Curé, Reeve, Rural Municipality of De Salaberry
- Chris Ewen, Mayor, Rural Municipality of Ritchot
- Scott Gillingham, Mayor, City of Winnipeg
- Paul Gilmore, Reeve, Rural Municipality of Montcalm
- Gail Johnson, Reeve, Rural Municipality ofGrey
- Barry Lowes, Reeve, Rural Municipality of Ellice-Archie
- Raymond Maynard, Mayor, Village of Saint-Pierre-Jolys
- Ivan Normandeau, Reeve, Rural Municipality of La Broquerie
- Aurel Pantel, Reeve, Rural Municipality of Lorne
- Richard Pelletier, Reeve, Rural Municipality of Sainte-Anne
- Armand Poirier, Mayor, Rural Municipality of Taché
- Yvan Vincent, Mayor, Town of Sainte-Anne
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 (OLMCs) and the province as a whole.
Information: Office of the Chief Executive Officer (O-CEO), 204-289-4077, bcdd-oceo@ambm.ca.
