August 21, 2024
Selkirk, Manitoba – After five years of advocating for changes to the formation of the Capital Planning Region (operating as the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region) that would remove Selkirk from the region, the Kinew government announced on Tuesday that it would introduce legislation to make inclusion in the region voluntary.
“This fall, when the legislature returns, we’re going to bring in a bill that we’re calling a Freedom Bill, to give municipalities the freedom to leave the Metro Region and to make being a member of that voluntary,” said Premier Wab Kinew.
Local governments should have choice
Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson said Selkirk Council are pleased with the announcement and applaud Premier Kinew and the government for listening to concerns of Selkirk and other municipal leaders, who were concerned with the undemocratic creation of the Capital Planning Region and the sweeping powers it was provided to control development and municipal services in the region.
“We thank Premier Kinew for his announcement and for the government’s efforts to restore our city’s authority to make its own choice. In our efforts to correct the forced and inappropriate inclusion of Selkirk into the region, we have emphasized that local governments should have the choice to join or not. At election time we are given a mandate to lead our community, and Bill 37 took that away in many ways,” Johannson said.
“Not only will this new legislation create that opportunity, it also demonstrates respect for local governments. We are very thankful for this decision, and for Premier Kinew’s leadership.”
Our region is the Triple S region – St. Andrews, St. Clements, and Selkirk
Councillor John Buffie, who was appointed to sit as a Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) board member, said that while Selkirk doesn’t belong in the WMR, Selkirk is still committed to demonstrating excellence in urban planning, infrastructure asset management, and regional thinking.
“Our region is the Triple S region – St. Andrews, St. Clements, and Selkirk, and our extended region includes the Interlake and Eastern Manitoba. That’s what the data tells us. The majority of Selkirk’s working residents work right here in Selkirk. According to Statistics Canada, 30% of St. Andrews residents work in Selkirk, and 23% of St. Clements residents do too. Our downtown sees 2.7 million visits per year, but only 29% of those visits are from Selkirk residents. The majority of those visits are regional visits. People from outside of Selkirk, coming into downtown to shop, work, and access services,” Buffie said.
“Getting out of the Winnipeg Metro Region will allow us to focus on our true region. Being a regional service hub is part of our community strategic plan, and we’ve demonstrated that we can work with our neighbouring municipalities to deliver for our shared citizens.”
Kinew Government passing freedom bill this fall
Premier Kinew indicated that the new legislation would be tabled this fall. Johannson said Selkirk council will consider the decision to leave the Capital Planning Region once the legislation has passed and the process has been set out by the Manitoba Government.
Together, we can build a sustainable and thriving future that honors our distinct identity and priorities.
“We’ve worked very hard to make our case and we are excited by the opportunity to move past this error. Once the formal process is in place, Selkirk council will consider the matter. We’re looking forward to working closely with the provincial government, local stakeholders, and our community to explore the best path forward for Selkirk. Together, we can build a sustainable and thriving future that honors our distinct identity and priorities,” Johannson said.
Johannson also expressed his appreciation for those who have worked hard to make their concerns about the impacts of Bill 37 known.
“We are thankful for the efforts of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities for their leadership on Bill 37. Premier Kinew’s announcement is a significant improvement, and there is more work to do. We support AMM’s efforts to restore the authority of local governments to make land-use decisions that reflect the needs and vision of their own communities. We are also thankful for the other WMR municipalities who have shared their concerns. Selkirk council is also thankful for the work of Coun. John Buffie and his leadership on this file. As always, he’s been a strong voice for the people of Selkirk.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Vanessa Figus
Manager of Citizen Engagement
204-485-3385
[email protected]
