ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA MUNICIPALITIES 2005 Annual Report SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 TO AUGUST 31, 2005 AMM MEMBERS Urban Centres Pinawa, LGD Clanwilliam Park Plum Coulee, Town Coldwell Pembina Altona, Town Portage la Prairie, City Cornwallis Piney Arborg, Town Powerview, Village Daly Pipestone Beausejour, Town Rapid City, Town Dauphin Portage la Prairie Benito, Village Rivers, Town De Salaberry Reynolds Binscarth, Village Riverton, Village Dufferin Rhineland Birtle, Town Roblin, Town East St. Paul Ritchot Boissevain, Town Rossburn, Town Edward Riverside Bowsman, Village Russell, Town Ellice Roblin Brandon, City Selkirk, City Elton Rockwood Carberry, Town Shoal Lake, Town Carman, Town Eriksdale Roland Snow Lake, Town Cartwright, Village Ethelbert Rosedale Somerset, Village Churchill, Town Fisher Rossburn Souris, Town Crystal City, Village Franklin Rosser St. Claude, Village Dauphin, City Gilbert Plains Russell St. Lazare, Village Deloraine, Town Gimli Saskatchewan St. Pierre-Jolys, Village Dunnottar, Village Glenella Shell River Ste. Anne, Town Elkhorn, Village Glenwood Shellmouth-Boulton Ste. Rose du Lac, Town Emerson, Town Grahamdale Shoal Lake Steinbach, City Erickson, Town Grandview Sifton Stonewall, Town Ethelbert, Village Grey Siglunes Swan River, Town Flin Flon, City Hamiota Silver Creek Teulon, Town Gilbert Plains, Town Hanover South Cypress The Pas, Town Gillam, Town Harrison South Norfolk Thompson, City Gladstone, Town Headingley Springfield Treherne, Town Glenboro, Village Hillsburg St. Andrews Virden, Town Grand Rapids, Town Kelsey St. Clements Waskada, Village Grandview, Town La Broquerie St. Francois Xavier Wawanesa, Village Gretna, Town Lac du Bonnet St. Laurent Winkler, City Hamiota, Town Lakeview Stanley Winnipeg Beach, Town Hartney, Town Langford Ste. Anne Winnipeg, City Killarney, Town Lansdowne Ste. Rose Winnipegosis, Village Lac du Bonnet, Town Lawrence Strathclair Lorne Strathcona Leaf Rapids, Town Rural Lynn Lake, Town Louise Stuartburn MacGregor, Village Municipalities Macdonald Swan River Manitou, Town Albert McCreary Tache McCreary, Village Alexander Miniota Thompson Melita, Town Alonsa Minitonas Turtle Mountain Minitonas, Town Archie Minto Victoria Minnedosa, Town Argyle Montcalm Victoria Beach Morden, Town Armstrong Morris Wallace Morris, Town Arthur Morton West St. Paul Mystery Lake, LGD Bifrost Mossey Westbourne Neepawa, Town Birtle Mountain Whitehead Niverville, Town Blanshard North Cypress Whitemouth Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Brenda North Norfolk Whitewater Village Brokenhead Oakland Winchester Oak Lake, Town Cameron Ochre River Woodlands Pilot Mound, Town Cartier Odanah Woodworth AMM ANNUAL REPORT — SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 TO AUGUST 31, 2005 2 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 Member Services ................................................................20 Events ............................................................20 Communications ............................................22 MTCML ..........................................................24 Financial Statement ............................................................26 MISSION STATEMENT THE ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA MUNICIPALITIES IDENTIFIES AND ADDRESSES THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF ITS MEMBERS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE STRONG AND EFFECTIVE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. AMM ANNUAL REPORT — SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 TO AUGUST 31, 2005 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE n behalf of the Board of Directors of the Association awaiting a provincial response and I anticipate some posi- Oof Manitoba Municipalities, I am pleased to present tive changes to the way disaster assistance is handled our 2004/2005 Annual Report. This report represents the in Manitoba. seventh year of the AMM and reflects the many activities I owe a great deal of thanks to the AMM Board of of our organization over the past year. Directors for their support over the past year. The AMM’s At our 2004 Annual Convention in Winnipeg, I had the successes could not be achieved without a strong, effective honour of being elected as President of the AMM. In Board of Directors and we are fortunate to have just that. I reflecting on the challenges of the past year I believe we, would like to thank the four outgoing directors – Steve as an organization representing Manitoba municipalities, Lupky, Albert Nabe, George Harbottle, and Harold Foster – have much to be proud of. for their commitment and dedication to the AMM during In terms of our policy and lobbying activities we made their tenure. At the same time, I welcome our four new significant progress on our number one issue, education directors – Alice Bourgouin, William Danylchuk, Robert taxation on property. We saw a total reduction of 50% in Misko, and Randy Sigurdson – for allowing their names to farmland property taxes, along with a continued reduction stand and taking on this increased responsibility. The posi- in the education support levy. While we had hoped for fur- tion of AMM Director is indeed a rewarding experience ther reductions, these are indeed positive steps that were and I am confident they will make a significant contribution only achieved due to a strong and united effort on the part to our Association. of our membership. We will continue to lobby for further Finally, and most important, I would like to thank you, reductions in the coming year. the membership of the AMM. Your support, encouragement It was also gratifying to see a number of important and advice throughout the year are appreciated, and we pieces of legislation come to pass over the past year, most salute all the good work you do to make your communities notably Bill 33: The Planning Act. The AMM is pleased better places to live. that our push to ensure that municipal councils maintain the Enjoy this annual report and the accomplishments we final say on land use planning decisions is reflected in have made together in 2004/2005. this Bill. With the interconnected Water Protection Act reg- ulations still being refined, the AMM promises Sincerely, to be ever vigilant to ensure local control over water man- agement planning, as well. Another very important issue for our members this year has been the impending Federal New Deal. As I write this Ron Bell report, we are very close to an agreement for Manitoba. President The New Deal will see $167.3 million in gas tax funds flow to Manitoba municipalities over the next five years. These funds will represent a very positive step toward addressing our infrastructure deficit and will certainly bring a measure of much needed relief to municipal bottom lines. The AMM broke some new ground this year, in the form of Lobby Days. Lobby Days were significant as they represented the first opportunity the AMM has had to take important municipal issues to all MLAs, not just the Provincial Cabinet. We were pleased to have the opportunity to share some of our most important issues, and furthermore to hear support for many of our positions. The AMM also initiated the Flooding and Wet Conditions in Manitoba regional meetings in late summer, and I would like to sincerely thank municipalities for their input and candour during these meetings. Your comments made us aware of some emerging issues and also pointed Manitoba Premier Gary Doer and AMM President out problems that we had already indicated existed. The Ron Bell at a recent infrastructure announcement. recommendations contained within the resulting report are AMM ANNUAL REPORT — SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 TO AUGUST 31, 2005 4 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE am pleased to provide the Executive Director’s municipalities. These are outlined in more detail in I message for the seventh annual report of the the President’s message and in the rest of the annual Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) report. On the financial side, the AMM and I would like to thank our Board of Directors for Municipalities Trading Company of Manitoba their support and guidance throughout the year, Limited (MTCML) continue to be strong, as shown including those Board members who are no longer in the financial statements in this report. The on our Board. MTCML increased its sales from $14 million to $16 To our staff at the AMM, I would sincerely like million this past year. As a result, the AMM was able to recognize the excellent work they do on behalf of to offer a rebate of $350,000 back to the membership. our Board and our membership. They are dedicated This brings the total rebates back to the membership and professional in the performance of their duties to $1.25 million over the past four years. We would and I could not do my job as Executive Director like to sincerely thank all municipalities for their without their support. continued use of our trading company. We would also like to express our appreciation and thanks to I would like to thank and acknowledge President our MTCML Official Suppliers. They offer our Val Turner and Executive Director Mel Nott of the membership excellent products and services at Manitoba Municipal Administrators’ Association