Manitoba makes millions available for municipalities, but some say it’s not enough

For some municipalities, it’s a thimble when they need a bucket.

It’s being called an “escalator increase” for municipalities by Premier Wab Kinew, as he announced new cash flowing to the municipalities on top of the usual operating grants.

And while an injection of cash is welcome, some say the dose is far too low.

“At a time when we’re all putting our budgets together, I think this is positive news,” Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham told reporters.

Gillingham stressed that while the $62 million over five years shows dialogue between the province and municipalities, more money is needed.

“It does not solve our longer-term structural issues within our budgets as municipalities, and I don’t think it’s the growth framework we were looking for,” he said. “So I think that the conversations need to continue to happen.”

The cash can be used for priorities as identified by local leadership, and Gillingham said he and many municipal leaders are eager to hear the details about the cash flowing from the province.

Called the One Manitoba Growth Revenue Fund, leaders only learned of the plan on Tuesday when it was announced at the Manitoba Association of Municipalities Annual Convention.

“Of course, we could all utilize more money,” said Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett. “Everybody knows that. We have all of this infrastructure deficit, we have all sorts of things we need to do right now.”

Echoing Mayor Gillingham in saying the positive is that the cash will flow as municipalities work through their current budgets, Fawcett stressed there must be more discussions, as “we do need a lot more.”

‘Predictability’

Asked why the province didn’t offer more cash for municipalities in Manitoba, Premier Kinew said the development of the fund is a Manitoba first and stressed it is the start of this work, not the end.

“As we roll out the details of this One Manitoba Growth Revenue Fund, I think municipal leaders, as well as the average person like you out there, are going to see the details and are going to say: ‘Yeah. This is something that makes sense’,” said Kinew. “It’s predictability over the next five years at least for municipal leaders to be able to plan.”

Premier Kinew also said what he hopes the cash shows is a willingness to work together between the varying levels of government, saying the days of inter-governmental fighting, be it between the government or the municipalities, are over.

“Those days are behind us. When there are local needs that are being identified, we want to respond,” he said.

Kinew also said he’d be willing to speak with the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Rebecca Bligh, to have some conversations around funding structures and fiscal reform for municipalities, adding he hopes the FCM sees the province as a leader after Monday’s announcement.

“We’ve created a new dedicated funding stream with no strings attached,” Kinew said. “But again, it’s not about saying we’re leading the nation, really what it’s about saying is we’re working together for you.

“We’re listening to the local leaders who have been talking about the need for more resources, so if there is that national conversation, we’re happy to be a part of it.”