The President of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Ivan Normandeau, issued the following statement to reaffirm Manitoba’s bilingual character and its expression within the Legislative Assembly:
Following recent exchanges in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly regarding the use of both official languages in the House, the AMBM wishes to emphasize that this institution, a cornerstone of our democracy, plays a vital role as a unifying space where the constitutional rights that shape our Manitoban institutions are expressed and reflected.
The right of our Members of the Legislative Assembly to speak in the official language of their choice is not only protected, but essential to the quality of our democratic debates and to the representation of all our communities. This right reflects a living reality: bilingualism in Manitoba is deeply rooted and forms an integral part of who we are.
It is an asset that strengthens our social cohesion, our economic vitality, and our ability to shine—both here at home and across the country—while also contributing to Canadian unity by fostering dialogue and bringing communities closer together.
I have spoken with Mr. Konrad Narth, MLA for La Vérendrye and my representative in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, who remains attentive to the concerns of the bilingual residents he represents and responsive to the realities of our bilingual rural municipalities.
I have also had the opportunity to discuss these matters with the Premier, the Honourable Wab Kinew, which demonstrates the importance given to this issue at the highest level. We share the vision of a truly bilingual Manitoba—an ambition advanced by his government and fully supported by the AMBM.
The recognition and promotion of both official languages are key drivers in building a more inclusive, dynamic, and prosperous Manitoba. Our bilingual advantage is a collective strength that enables us to collaborate more effectively, innovate, and expand our reach at both the provincial and national levels.
The AMBM reaffirms the importance of fully promoting the use of English and French within our public institutions, in order to continue advancing a united and truly bilingual Manitoba.
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.
