The Town of Niverville has consistently expressed concerns related to our forced involvement in the Winnipeg Metro Region and subsequently the proposed Plan 20-50.
The Town of Niverville Council does not support Plan 20-50 without significant amendments to protect the interests of Niverville.
While the Town continues to work and advocate for changes the following barriers remain:
- Forced Membership with no Exit Clause
As noted in multiple media stories and at multiple Council meetings over the past few years, the Town of Niverville had never been a legislated member of the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region and was the only non-active member added to the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region when Bill 37 was tabled and eventually passed by the Province. Town Council has advocated on multiple occasions that this forced inclusion by the Province into a region which we have not belonged is an error and needs to be corrected. The Town of Niverville has a unique spot in belonging to both the Metro Region and Southeast Manitoba and needs the flexibility to represent that. The Town continues to advocate for correction of this, or that Bill 37 be amended to provide a mechanism for a community to withdraw with sufficient notice from the Winnipeg Metro Region.
- Loss of Autonomy
Niverville Council is concerned that Bill 37 and Plan 20-50 will reduce the effectiveness of a locally elected Town Council to make land-use planning decisions for its residents. Plan 20-50 needs to be revised and further developed to ensure that final land-use planning decisions remain in the hands of locally elected officials at the community level.
- Financial Implications
Plan 20-50 does not define what financial contribution will be required if the plan is approved. Plan 20-50 proposes dozens of studies and reports to be completed over the next decades, some which may benefit Niverville and others which may be irrelevant. All of these reports and studies come at a cost – and that cost would need to be recouped through local level municipal taxation. Niverville is not prepared to enter into Plan 20-50 without absolute cost certainty over the additional costs being asked to be borne by our community. Therefore, we would like to see long-term legislated funding percentages from the Province of Manitoba be included in any amended Plan 20-50, and a sober second look be done with respect to the need for reports and studies so that affordability is assured in an amended Plan 20-50.
- Recognition of a Transition Zone
An amended Plan 20-50 needs to address the challenges a boundary community, such as Niverville, faces on the outskirts of the Winnipeg Metro Region. The current Plan will create further urban sprawl away from Winnipeg due to the discrepancy in costs to build outside the Winnipeg Metro Region, as opposed to inside the Winnipeg Metro Region.
Until such time that Niverville’s needs are addressed, Town Council is not prepared to extend support to Plan 20-50 in its current form. Council is advocating that the Province of Manitoba convene a meeting of all Councils of the Winnipeg Metro Region and present a plan on next steps to address the local level challenges and how they will be implemented in an improved Plan 2050, or have the legislation repealed.
Should residents of Niverville have questions about Plan 20-50 we recommend reaching out to the Winnipeg Metro Region (info@wmregion.ca).
Should residents of Niverville have questions about Bill 37 we would recommend contacting the Province of Manitoba’s Minister of Municipal Relations (minmnr@manitoba.ca) & Deputy Minister (dmmnr@manitoba.ca).