On August 29th, 2025, the President of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Ivan Normandeau, and the Chief Executive Officer of the AMBM, Mr. Justin Johnson, met with the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development. They were joined by Ms. Ginette Lavack, Member of Parliament for Saint-Boniface—Saint-Vital and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services. The meeting focused on the importance of strategic investments in rural infrastructure—particularly in water and wastewater treatment—to support the vitality and growth of Manitoba’s rural bilingual communities:
This productive exchange allowed the AMBM to present the strategic priorities of Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities. These investments are far from abstract. They translate into major projects such as the Red-Seine-Rat (RSR) Wastewater Cooperative. This project perfectly illustrates the vision of our bilingual municipalities: building modern infrastructure that tangibly improves residents’ quality of life while driving economic development and strengthening rural communities.
Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities are essential economic development partners for the federal government. Located along strategic trade and industrial corridors, they support national priorities such as rural development, housing, and economic growth.
Their population growth—outpacing the provincial average—demonstrates their vitality but also increases pressure on local infrastructure, particularly wastewater treatment. The provincial wastewater infrastructure deficit outside Winnipeg, estimated at $3 billion, is a major barrier to housing development, business investment, and economic prosperity.
In response, municipalities are not standing still. They are organizing and investing in regional solutions. The RSR Wastewater Cooperative, which includes four bilingual municipalities (De Salaberry, La Broquerie, Ritchot, and Taché), represents a significant investment with measurable economic benefits.
Beyond addressing urgent needs, this project serves as a lever for rural development—energizing communities, attracting new businesses, and strengthening the economic and social future of the entire region.
More than just infrastructure, Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities act as economic hubs and facilitators for industry. Through tax measures, proactive land-use planning, and their ability to coordinate regional projects, they provide a stable and attractive environment for strategic businesses. Whether in defense, manufacturing, or other innovative sectors, these municipalities create the conditions for industries to establish, grow, and generate local jobs—directly contributing to rural economic success.
With the support of the Government of Canada, they can tackle the infrastructure crisis and actively contribute to national prosperity by turning federal priorities into concrete actions on the ground.
The AMBM extends its sincere thanks to Ms. Ginette Lavack, an indispensable ally in advancing key initiatives and delivering transformative projects for our municipalities.
As the federal government prepares its next budget to build a stronger Canada, we encourage the adoption of a rural-focused approach for wastewater-related projects, as outlined in the Prosperity Framework for Manitoba’s Bilingual Municipalities. Applying this lens—along with measures that support Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs)—will better sustain our Francophone and bilingual communities by ensuring modern infrastructure that fosters vitality and growth.
The AMBM and its member municipalities reaffirm their full commitment to working with the federal government to support its rural development priorities. They pledge to turn these priorities into tangible initiatives that drive economic growth, housing development, and improved quality of life for residents. Together, we can build resilient, innovative, and sustainable communities that contribute fully to Canada’s growth and prosperity.
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.
