{"id":4907,"date":"2025-03-20T09:00:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T14:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vvgut0abxs.wpdns.site\/?p=4907"},"modified":"2025-03-21T11:11:28","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T16:11:28","slug":"the-ambm-formalizes-a-landmark-multi-year-funding-agreement-with-the-manitoba-government-to-enhance-municipal-service-delivery-in-both-official-languages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ambm.ca\/en\/the-ambm-formalizes-a-landmark-multi-year-funding-agreement-with-the-manitoba-government-to-enhance-municipal-service-delivery-in-both-official-languages\/","title":{"rendered":"The AMBM formalizes a landmark multi-year funding agreement with the Manitoba government to enhance municipal service delivery in both official languages"},"content":{"rendered":"

On March 20th<\/sup>, 2025, the President of the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) and Reeve of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, Mr. Ivan Normandeau, highlighted the importance of a historic funding agreement between the AMBM and the Manitoba government. Valued at $885,000, this multi-year commitment aims to gradually implement the Municipal Maturity Model (3M), an innovative framework designed to bolster the capacity of municipalities to deliver services in both official languages. This marks a major milestone for Manitoba’s bilingual municipalities:<\/h1>\n

The Honourable Glen Simard, Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs, chose the International Day of La Francophonie<\/em> to reaffirm his support for Manitoba\u2019s bilingual municipalities through this multi-year, predictable, and stable funding agreement.<\/p>\n

On behalf of Manitoba\u2019s bilingual municipal leadership, I extend heartfelt thanks to Minister Simard for this substantial investment. It represents a significant step forward in providing municipal services in both official languages, ensuring essential predictability and allowing us to confidently implement the Municipal Maturity Model (3M). This strategic tool will strengthen the management of municipal services in both languages and ensure their sustainability.<\/p>\n

The phased implementation of the Municipal Maturity Model (3M) has already yielded positive outcomes. The initial group of bilingual municipalities has successfully completed their preliminary assessments and received action plans ready for adoption by their municipal councils. With this landmark agreement, we can now proceed with renewed confidence, supporting a new cohort and enhancing the municipalities’ capacity to deliver high-quality services in both official languages.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s provincial investment builds upon an initial funding of $165,000 for the period of 2023-2024, raising the total support for the AMBM to $1,050,000 over five years, spanning from 2023-2024 to 2027-2028. This initiative, facilitated through provincial funding combined with federal contributions under the Canada-Manitoba Agreement on French Language Services (CMAFLS) 2023-2028, will allocate $885,000 to the AMBM over four years. It represents a unified vision dedicated to the vitality and development of our Francophone and bilingual communities.<\/p>\n

This cooperation framework and these investments are in perfect alignment with the strategic direction outlined in the Notice on the 16 Strategic Priorities of Manitoba\u2019s Bilingual Municipal Leadership<\/a><\/em>. This crucial document directs the actions and priorities of our municipalities and concretizes the Manitoba government’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan under the Canada-Manitoba Agreement on French Language Services (CMAFLS).<\/p>\n

The AMBM and its members are fully committed to supporting the implementation of the Manitoba government\u2019s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan. This plan is a crucial instrument to enhance municipal engagement and bolster the provision of government services in both official languages.<\/p>\n

Our municipalities serve as the closest order of government to Manitoba\u2019s Francophonie<\/em>. For over three decades, they have been unwavering in their dedication to the development, prosperity, and vitality of our Francophone and bilingual communities.<\/p>\n

As per our assessments, Manitoba\u2019s bilingual rural municipalities allocate over one million dollars annually to provide municipal services in both official languages. The Municipal Maturity Model (3M) facilitates the measurement of their investments across three pivotal areas:<\/p>\n