The Association of Manitoba Municipalities City Caucus met yesterday in Portage la Prairie. Chair and Mayor of Brandon Rick Chrest outlines one of the top items on the list of discussions.

"Certainly the Building Canada Fund, which is the federal, provincial funding sources available to municipalities," says Chrest. "Needless to say, it's programming that allows municipalities to renew a lot of infrastructure that is obviously badly needed in every municipality in the province."

Chrest says AMM advocates for municipalities to get their fair share. He notes Manitoba is entitled to a significant share of funding from the federal government, and they're doing their best to ensure municipalities get their part. Chrest says a 40% federal funding for projects, along with 40% from the province, leaving 20% for the municipalities, is the process they're advocating.

 

He notes they also discussed the issue of the legalization of cannabis in Canada, adding municipalities are always on the bottom rung of the ladder of groups involved in such legislation. Chrest says the federal government's still working on that, which will then cascade down to the provinces and then finally to the municipalities. He says they're concerned they'll be last to know, and much of the considerations will occur at the municipal level in respect to policing and zoning, etc. 

AMM President Chris Goertzen says it's great for leaders across the province to meet together, noting mayors and council members all have one thing in common - infrastructure challenges. He explains they're looking for partnerships with the other levels of government in order to gain better infrastructure for their citizens.