THE ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA MUNICIPALITIES September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006 AMM Annual Report • September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006 AMM Members Financial Statement Urban Centres Pinawa, LGD Clanwilliam Park Altona, Town Arborg, Town Plum Coulee, Town Coldwell Pembina Beausejour, Town Portage la Prairie, City Cornwallis Piney Benito, Village Powerview, Village Daly Pipestone Binscarth, Village Rapid City, Town Dauphin Portage la Prairie Birtle, Town Rivers, Town De Salaberry Reynolds Boissevain, Town Riverton, Village Dufferin Rhineland Bowsman, Village Roblin, Town East St. Paul Ritchot Brandon, City Rossburn, Town Edward Riverside Carberry, Town Russell, Town Ellice Roblin Carman, Town Selkirk, City Elton Rockwood Cartwright, Village Shoal Lake, Town Eriksdale Roland Churchill, Town Snow Lake, Town Ethelbert Rosedale Crystal City, Village Somerset, Village Fisher Rossburn Dauphin, City Souris, Town Franklin Rosser Deloraine, Town St. Claude, Village Gilbert Plains Russell Dunnottar, Village St. Lazare, Village Gimli Saskatchewan Elkhorn, Village St. Pierre-Jolys, Village Glenella Shell River Emerson, Town Ste. Anne, Town Glenwood Shellmouth-Boulton Erickson, Town Ste. Rose du Lac, Town Grahamdale Shoal Lake Ethelbert, Village Steinbach, City Grandview Sifton Flin Flon, City Stonewall, Town Grey Siglunes Gilbert Plains, Town Swan River, Town Hamiota Silver Creek Gillam, Town Teulon, Town Hanover South Cypress Gladstone, Town The Pas, Town Harrison South Norfolk Mission Statement Thompson, City Headingley Springfield Glenboro, Village Grand Rapids, Town Treherne, Town Hillsburg St. Andrews Grandview, Town Virden, Town Kelsey St. Clements The Association of Manitoba Waskada, Village La Broquerie St. Francois Xavier Gretna, Town Municipalities identifies and addresses Hamiota, Town Wawanesa, Village Lac du Bonnet St. Laurent Hartney, Town Winkler, City Lakeview Stanley the needs and concerns of its members Killarney, Town Winnipeg Beach, Town Langford Ste. Anne Lac du Bonnet, Town Winnipeg, City Lansdowne Ste. Rose in order to achieve strong and effective Leaf Rapids, Town Winnipegosis, Village Lawrence Strathclair Lynn Lake, Town Lorne Strathcona municipal government Rural Louise Stuartburn MacGregor, Village Municipalities Manitou, Town Macdonald Swan River Albert McCreary, Village McCreary Tache Alexander Melita, Town Miniota Thompson Alonsa Minitonas, Town Minitonas Turtle Mountain Archie Minnedosa, Town Minto Victoria Argyle Morden, Town Montcalm Victoria Beach Armstrong Morris, Town Morris Wallace Arthur Mystery Lake, LGD Morton West St. Paul Bifrost Neepawa, Town Mossey Westbourne Birtle Niverville, Town Mountain Whitehead Blanshard Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, North Cypress Whitemouth Village Brenda North Norfolk Whitewater Oak Lake, Town Brokenhead Oakland Winchester Pilot Mound, Town Cameron Ochre River Woodlands Cartier Odanah Woodworth AMM Annual Report • September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006 2 AMM Annual Report • September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006 39 Financial Statement Table of Contents President’s Message 4 Executive Director’s Message 5 AMM Board of Directors 6 AMM Executive and Staff 7 AMM External Committees 8 Policy & Lobbying 9 Legislative Overview 9 Lobbying Highlights 11 Special Events & Announcements 20 Member Services 22 Events 22 Communications 24 MTCML 26 Financial Statement 28 AMM Executive Director Joe Masi and AMM President Ron Bell (Photo courtesy of Portage la Prairie Daily Graphic) AMM Annual Report • September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006 38 AMM Annual Report • September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006 3 President’s Message Financial Statement n behalf of the Board of Directors of every dollar going to municipal governments O of the Association of Manitoba Mu- in Canada, greater revenue sources are nicipalities, I am pleased to present the needed. While appreciated, one-time grants 2005/2006 Annual Report. The past and transfers are not enough to make a mean- year, the eighth in AMM history, was ingful impact on the serious infrastructure is- exciting, productive and even ground- sues facing our communities and do not allow breaking in some cases. community leaders to make long-term plans. Only through this examination will we be able One of the most significant events of the to meet the needs and expectations of all Mani- year for the AMM and our members took tobans. place on November 18, 2005. That is the day that the Province of Manitoba and the These developments with respect to infrastruc- Government of Canada signed the Canada- ture are the result of strong lobbying by the Manitoba Gas Tax Agreement, representing AMM and other organizations, and by you – $167.3 million in gas tax revenues to be invested municipal governments who face this deficit in cities and communities across Manitoba over every day. Our lobbying efforts have had an five years. All municipalities have now signed additional key result – an increase in public funding agreements and received their first pay- awareness around the infrastructure deficit. In ments. fact, recent media reports and polls strongly suggest that infrastructure renewal is now a top While the share of federal gas tax revenues priority for the public. Hopefully, with public municipalities now receive is appreciated and opinion driving the issue to the forefront of de- needed, we recognize that municipalities are fac- cision-making at both the Provincial and Fed- ing a much larger obstacle in the form of an ever eral levels, we will see increased financial re- increasing infrastructure deficit. Municipalities’ sources make their way into municipal budgets. main source of revenue is property taxes, yet municipal responsibilities span so much more An election year always means a changing of than basic property services today that it is diffi- the guardguard atat thethe AMM,AMM, andand wewe havehave seenseen some cult to keep pace with the added demands. The boardsome boardmembers members depart depart to take to on take other on chal- other result of this inequity is that municipalities cannot lenges.challenges. I’d like I’d liketo take to thank this opportunity Garry Wasylowski, to firstly afford to maintain their rapidly deteriorating infra- thankRural Vice-President,Garry Wasylowski, and AMM Lorne Rural Boguski, Vice Urban structure. President,Vice-President, for his for years their ofyears dedication of dedication to munici- to palmunicipal government government and the and AMM. the GarryAMM. and Lorne, I The federal government has acknowledged that haveGarry worked and I worked side by side-by-side side for a number for several of years a fiscal imbalance exists in Canada between all andyears, his and vast their knowledge knowledge of municipal of municipal issues issues three orders of government, and all three orders andwill besense greatly of humour missed willat our be greatlyboard table. missed I also at of government agree that the current financial ourbid farewellboard table. to Stan I would Ward, also Karen like toCaldwell, bid farewell Rick arrangement is not sustainable. The current mis- toMartel Stan and Ward, Jae Karen Eadie. Caldwell, These board and ???. members These match of revenues and responsibilities is not pro- boardlogged members many hours logged on behalf many longof the hours AMM on and I ductive and the time has come for a change. behalfwish them of the all AMM the best and in we their wish future them endeavors. all the More is needed than a simple one time transfer of bestThanks in their also future to the endeavors.rest of the boardI also thankfor their the surplus revenues, and all orders of government restcontinued of the dedicationboard for their and continuedcontribution dedication to the need to work toward the implementation of a sus- andAMM. contribution You are all to true the professionals AMM. You are whose all true work tainable plan to address the challenges facing professionalson behalf of our whose members work onis important behalf of ourand Canadian communities. membersappreciated. is important and appreciated. By the same token, we have been advocating for In closing, I must reserve my greatest thanks to a serious examination of the roles, responsibili- you, the members of the AMM. While we have ties and resources of all orders of government faced many trials, we have also gained much here in Manitoba. There is little doubt that our and I believe that over the past year we have most communities need help, and with only eight cents certainly achieved that most important milestone: AMM Annual Report • September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006 4 AMM Annual Report • September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006 37 Financial Statement Executive Director’s Message strong and effective municipal government. On the communications side of the AMM, our We have much yet to do in addressing our magazine and bulletins continue to improve and infrastructure deficit, but working with the Federal keep our membership informed on various and Provincial Governments over the coming initiatives of the AMM. As well, visits to the year, we can make significant progress in AMM website at www.amm.mb.ca has doubled addressing this key municipal issue. over the past two years. We attribute this I hope you enjoy this annual report and the increase to the website being easy to use, accomplishments we have made together in always up to date and offering a wealth of 2005/2006. resources to our membership. Our policy and lobbying activities continue to make good progress on the major issues facing Ron Bell, AMM President municipalities. These are outlined