The province recently released the recommendations of the Planning, Zoning and Permitting Review in Manitoba, which outline ways in which processes can be improved to enable the Manitoba economy to flourish.
“I would like to thank everyone who provided their input and feedback into the review which informed the development of these recommendations,” said Municipal Relations Minister Jeff Wharton. “In particular, we were very pleased at the collaborative feedback received from the City of Winnipeg. We look forward to ongoing dialogue as we work to develop better, more evidence-based processes that help to improve economic opportunities in Manitoba.”
This release follows the province soliciting feedback from all Manitobans on the draft findings including a constructive response from the City of Winnipeg providing input on the city’s desired recommendations.
The recommendations outline the need for a co-ordinated approach to development across the entire province including the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, enhanced provincial processes and better collaboration with the City of Winnipeg in respect of matters of joint interest.
Recommendation highlights include:
- establish a working group that includes representatives from the municipalities, metropolitan region, province and the private sector;
- establish an independent quasi-judicial board staffed by professionals for standardized appeals across Manitoba;
- establish consistent provincewide statutory service standards for permitting timelines;
- centralize professional accreditation of inspections;
- enhance self-regulatory frameworks for engineers and architects;
- support Manitoba’s commitments through the Regulatory Co-operation and Reconciliation Table (RCT) under the Canada Free Trade Agreement and adopt current national building codes and reduce the need for Manitoba-only customizations to the code;
- align Manitoba Hydro’s activities to the province’s economic development objectives;
- clarify the role of the Office of the Fire Commissioner;
- remove of backlog for elevator and boiler permits;
- review the Public Utilities Board model to ensure the regulation of all utilities, including Manitoba Hydro and Winnipeg Water and Waste, are aligned to provincial economic development objectives; and
- collaborate with the City of Winnipeg on shared priorities including a joint exploration of the City of Winnipeg’s desired recommendations.
“Based on the findings of the review, the overall goal is to establish a provincewide framework using these recommendations that outlines roles and responsibilities to help reduce duplication and unnecessary delays. With a clear, transparent, consistent and efficient framework in place, we will ensure due diligence and safety requirements are met, and create a culture that embraces development opportunities,” said Wharton.
On May 28, Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) had released its report titled Planning, Zoning and Permitting in Manitoba – Findings. This review included an analysis of cross-jurisdictional best practices, provincial legislation, municipal bylaws and policies, planning districts and economic development organizations, service delivery standards and metrics, and economic and statistical data, and the development of economic models. TBS then undertook additional information gathering through the creation of a dedicated email account, which further corroborated the reported findings. In particular, a very constructive response was received from Michael Ruta, the City of Winnipeg’s interim chief administrative officer, whose suggestions have been incorporated into the recommendations.
The final 12 recommendations as submitted by TBS, have been posted online proactively and are available at gov.mb.ca.
“Improved efficiency of permitting and inspection processes will enhance economic growth opportunities and reflects a continuation of the government’s work on reducing red tape, in order to ensure Manitoba remains competitive and attractive for business and job growth, ” added Wharton.
