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 mark National Francophone Immigration Week, held from November 2nd to November 8th, 2025:
Francophone and bilingual economic immigration is a key driver for strengthening the vitality and prosperity of Francophone and bilingual communities across Canada.
As the order of government closest to residents, municipalities play a central role in welcoming, integrating, and retaining newcomers. To fulfill this mission effectively, they must have access to adequate resources to ensure sustainable and balanced growth.
Strong intergovernmental collaboration that fully recognizes the role of municipalities is essential. Initiatives such as the Saint-Pierre-Jolys Local Immigration Partnership (LIP-SPJ) and the Francophone Communities Immigration Pilot Program (FCIP) clearly demonstrate the importance of approaches rooted in local and regional economic realities.
To maximize the benefits of Francophone and bilingual economic immigration, it is crucial to rely on evidence-based data and invest in strengthening local and regional capacity. Together—municipalities, governments, and communities—we can build welcoming, vibrant, and prosperous environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and contribute fully.
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.
