The Association of Manitoba Municipalities kicked off a comprehensive campaign designed to send a strong message to all parties in the days leading up to the October 4 provincial election: It is time to Put Communities First.
“This campaign has been months in the making, starting with discussions we had with Manitobans from across the Province,” explained President Doug Dobrowolski. “They told us the public infrastructure in their communities is a great concern to them and they recognize municipalities need help. That is the message we will deliver to all parties as the election approaches – we need a solution to this problem.”
AMM Winnipeg director, Councillor Russ Wyatt, and RM of St. Andrews Reeve Don Forfar, who is also a director on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, joined Dobrowolski at this morning’s launch. According to Wyatt, the solution is straightforward. “Manitoba municipalities need one cent of the existing Provincial Sales Tax over and above what we receive now. This would put roughly $239 million into provincial coffers annually and would go a long, long way toward eradicating that infrastructure deficit.”
Smaller measures can be effective too, says Forfar. “Starting immediately, the Province of Manitoba could support a PST rebate for municipalities. This relatively easy change could be implemented very quickly and would put several million dollars in municipal hands immediately.”
The AMM begins their annual District Meetings today as well, where they will rally their 197 member municipalities to build support within their communities to further amplify and spread the AMM’s message. “The Putting Communities First campaign is really about the power of one voice amplified 200-fold,” said Dobrowolski.
