The Manitoba government is celebrating the successful conclusion of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) 2024 Fall Convention, which saw consultations, new policies to address public safety and the announcement of record funding for municipalities.

“It’s been an excellent year of our government working closely with AMM members to address the needs of municipalities,” said Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard. “We started the year by fulfilling our commitment to provide municipalities with stable, predictable long-term funding. Now our government is proud to finish 2024 by providing record funding for a new operating grant for municipalities and new funding that addresses public safety.”

In the past year, grant programs for municipalities have been added or strengthened, where municipalities can access funding for flood mitigation and emergency preparedness, rural public libraries, public transportation, municipal services, waste reduction and recycling support and community development, said the minister.

In the last year, Simard noted record provincial investments for municipalities include:

  • $221 million in unconditional funding to all municipalities including a two per cent escalator to the Municipal Operating Grant to help municipalities address rising cost pressures after years of funding freezes worth $4.4 million;
  • $62 million for the One Manitoba Growth Revenue Fund, a historic commitment to municipalities across the province;
  • $265,000 in funding to the Swan Valley General Investigation Section (GIS) pilot program as part of the provincial Public Safety Strategy;
  • $42 million for the new Manitoba Growth, Renewal and Opportunities for Municipalities (Manitoba GRO) program, which provides dedicated capital project funding for municipalities outside Winnipeg;
  • $4 million in additional funding to the Manitoba Water Services Board, which increases its funding to $24 million to support water and sewerage projects;
  • $500,000 to the Municipality of Virden to support the expansion and renovation of Virden Regional Airport;
  • $47 million to complete the rehabilitation of the Rivers Dam; and
  • $19.6 million for the Souris bridge crossing.

“Manitoba has never seen the type of funding stream that we announced this week at AMM,” added Simard. “Our commitment to municipalities is unwavering and we will continue to ensure that towns, cities and rural municipalities have the resources they need to ensure every Manitoban has the opportunity to be successful in life.”