The President of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Ivan Normandeau, issued this statement following the appointment of the Honourable Louise Arbour as Canada’s 31st Governor General:
We warmly welcome the appointment of the former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Honourable Louise Arbour, whose distinguished career reflects an unwavering commitment to justice, human rights, and public service, both in Canada and internationally.
Her exceptional track record and respected reputation, at home and around the world, make Mrs. Arbour an outstanding choice to represent Canada with rigour, credibility, and distinction. Her experience as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights commands deep respect.
In her address, delivered in both of Canada’s official languages, Mrs. Louise Arbour noted that “the strength of our country rests on stable institutions, guided by sound judgment and sustained attention to our collective well-being and that of the entire planet.” At the AMBM, we fully share this vision.
Every day, we work to build strong, thriving communities by strengthening municipal autonomy, enabling us to meet today’s needs while preparing for those of tomorrow, and contributing to a healthy, inclusive democracy.
For Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities, the new Governor General’s fluency in both of Canada’s official languages is a powerful example of our bilingual advantage in action. This strategic asset enhances Canada’s ability to engage in dialogue, represent its values internationally, and build inclusive institutions that reflect the realities and aspirations of our bilingual communities.
We also wish to extend our sincere thanks to Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon for her dedication and service throughout her tenure as Governor General of Canada.
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, bcdd-oceo@ambm.ca.
