The President of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Ivan Normandeau, and the President of the Economic Development Council of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba, or CDEM), Mr. Gab-Riel “Pit” Turenne, issued the following statement in response to the provincial government’s launch of public consultations on Manitoba’s economic development strategy:
The Minister of Business, Mining, Trade, and Job Creation, the Honourable Jamie Moses, has announced the start of a public consultation process for the next provincial economic development strategy, which will run until May 20th.
At a critical juncture where fostering investment, expanding market reach, diversifying supply chains, and establishing sustainable economic partnerships is paramount, the initiation of this provincial consultation is both timely and essential.
The AMBM and its subsidiary, the Economic Development Council of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (CDEM), affirm their commitment to working closely with the Manitoba government to strengthen a promising municipal-provincial partnership based on trust, complementarity, and shared ambition.
Through collaboration, Manitoba can be strategically positioned as a robust and dynamic economic player, attracting key investments, fostering local innovation, and establishing a competitive presence both nationally and internationally. This partnership serves as a vital catalyst for driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
The Manitoba government can also find clear and strategic resonance in the CDEM’s mission and its new strategic plan, which places these priorities at the heart of its actions.
Divided into five strategic areas, this plan is intended to provide concrete leverage to support the economic growth of Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities, strengthen their autonomy, and promote active participation in the provincial economy by promoting both official languages as a competitive advantage:
- Economic leadership grounded in the unique realities of Francophone and bilingual communities;
- Strategic programming designed to address local priorities, encourage entrepreneurship, foster economic development, attract bilingual talent, and capitalize on opportunities within Canadian and international Francophone markets through targeted collaboration;
- Streamlined synergies aimed at maximizing economic impact;
- Enhanced visibility to solidify its role as a driving force in economic development and reinforce its position as a leader in Francophone and bilingual economic advancement in Manitoba; and
- Organizational excellence focused on ensuring precision, accountability, and innovation.
Regional foundations
The CDEM draws its strength from its close relationship with Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities, acting as a trusted interlocutor and strategic partner for municipal governments in supporting local economic development.
This presence on the ground allows the CDEM to accurately identify the specific needs of each bilingual community and respond in a targeted, relevant, and sustainable manner.
Indeed, in its Notice on the 16 Strategic Priorities of Manitoba’s Bilingual Municipal Leadership, the AMBM clearly expresses the importance of Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities as engines of sustainable economic development.
As the order of government closest to residents, Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities are deeply committed to their prosperity. They aspire to equip themselves with the necessary means to achieve growth, particularly through targeted infrastructure investments, which are essential for stimulating long-term economic activity.
Developing a long-term approach
The CDEM acts as a catalyst for inclusive economic development, promoting the potential of both official languages as a lever for attractiveness and prosperity. This anchoring also facilitates the implementation of concrete projects that have a direct impact on the vitality of Francophone and bilingual communities, while ensuring consistency with provincial priorities.
To build a competitive, resilient and prosperous Manitoba, several levers need to be activated in a complementary manner. It is essential to invest in talent development, by strengthening access to training, specialized education and career paths that meet the evolving needs of the labour market. Equipping the current and future workforce also means recognizing the importance of lifelong learning and the development of bilingual skills as strategic assets.
Effective and sustainable planning must be based on the rigorous use of evidence-based data. This data not only enables informed decision-making, but also guides public policy with precision, evaluates the impact of economic initiatives, and adjusts actions based on actual results.
It is through this integrated approach that we will be able to address the concerns of our time and ensure meaningful economic development for present and future generations.
Recognizing bilingual leadership as an driver of economic development
In this regard, the CDEM plays a key role in actively supporting the economic growth of bilingual regions, particularly by promoting local entrepreneurship, attracting investment, and creating sustainable jobs. This grassroots work contributes directly to the economic vitality of communities, while strengthening their ability to adapt to current economic realities.
The AMBM underscores the critical importance of ensuring that Manitoba’s provincial economic strategy fully capitalizes on the strategic value of both official languages as a catalyst for growth, innovation, and competitiveness at local, national, and global levels.
In alignment with this vision, the present moment offers an opportune occasion to formally acknowledge the CDEM’s pivotal role as a leader in Francophone and bilingual economic development across Manitoba. Such recognition would not only enhance the organization’s capacity for leadership but also support the realization of a cohesive and ambitious developmental strategy that stands to benefit the province as a whole.
Such an approach would also make it possible to better leverage existing structures to promote Manitoba’s bilingual advantage at the local, provincial, national, and international levels. It would be a natural follow-up to two initiatives: the gradual rollout of the Municipal Maturity Model (3M), adopted by AMBM members in spring 2024, and the provincial government’s stated commitment to making Manitoba a truly bilingual province—a vision we fully support.
That is why we strongly encourage all stakeholders—whether from the municipal, business or community sectors—to take part in this public consultation. The success of this process depends on broad and inclusive participation that reflects the diversity of Manitoba’s economic realities. Everyone has a role to play in making their voice heard, sharing their expertise and helping to build an economic development strategy that fully reflects Manitoba’s strengths.
Together, the AMBM and the CDEM intend to actively contribute to engaging the full potential of both official languages as a lever for growth, innovation and economic attractiveness for all of Manitoba.
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].
