2013 Annual Report September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013 The Association of Manitoba Municipalities identifies and addresses the needs and concerns of its members in order to achieve strong and effective municipal government. Table of Contents Map of Municipalities 4 AMM Members 5 President’s Message 6 Executive Director’s Message 7 Board of Directors 8 Executive 9 Staff 9 Top Issues for 2012/13 10 Working with Cities 13 Lobbying Highlights – Federal 14 Lobbying Highlights – Successes 15 Lobbying Highlights – Provincial 18 Legislative Update 26 Meeting with Provincial Cabinet 28 Communications 30 Special Events 32 Membership Events 34 MTCML 36 Financial Statements 38 Cover photo courtesy Travel Manitoba. 3 Map of Municipalities 4 AMM Members URBAN CENTRES Pinawa, LGD Clanwilliam Odanah Plum Coulee, Town Coldwell Park Altona, Town Portage la Prairie, City Cornwallis Pembina Arborg, Town Powerview-Pine Falls, Village Daly Piney Beausejour, Town Rapid City, Town Dauphin Pipestone Benito, Village Rivers, Town De Salaberry Portage la Prairie Binscarth, Village Riverton, Village Dufferin Reynolds Birtle, Town Roblin, Town East St. Paul Rhineland Boissevain, Town Rossburn, Town Edward Ritchot Bowsman, Village Russell, Town Ellice Riverside Brandon, City Selkirk, City Elton Roblin Carberry, Town Snow Lake, Town Eriksdale Rockwood Carman, Town Somerset, Village Ethelbert Roland Cartwright, Village Souris, Town Fisher Rosedale Churchill, Town St. Claude, Village Franklin Rossburn Crystal City, Village St. Lazare, Village Gilbert Plains Rosser Dauphin, City St. Pierre-Jolys, Village Gimli Russell Deloraine, Town Ste. Anne, Town Glenella Saskatchewan Dunnottar, Village Ste. Rose du Lac, Town Glenwood Shell River Elkhorn, Village Steinbach, City Grahamdale Shellmouth-Boulton Emerson, Town Stonewall, Town Grandview Shoal Lake Erickson, Town Swan River, Town Grey Sifton Ethelbert, Village Teulon, Town Hamiota Siglunes Flin Flon, City The Pas, Town Hanover Silver Creek Gilbert Plains, Town Thompson, City Harrison South Cypress Gillam, Town Treherne, Town Headingley South Norfolk Gladstone, Town Virden, Town Hillsburg Springfi eld Glenboro, Village Waskada, Village Kelsey St. Andrews Grand Rapids, Town Wawanesa, Village Killarney-Turtle Mountain St. Clements Grandview, Town Winkler, City La Broquerie St. Francois Xavier Gretna, Town Winnipeg Beach, Town Lac du Bonnet St. Laurent Hamiota, Town Winnipeg, City Lakeview Stanley Hartney, Town Winnipegosis, Village Langford Ste. Anne Lac du Bonnet, Town Lansdowne Ste. Rose Leaf Rapids, Town RURAL Lawrence Strathclair Lynn Lake, Town MUNICIPALITIES Lorne Strathcona MacGregor, Village Louise Stuartburn Manitou, Town Albert Macdonald Swan River McCreary, Village Alexander McCreary Taché Melita, Town Alonsa Miniota Thompson Minitonas, Town Archie Minitonas Victoria Minnedosa, Town Argyle Minto Victoria Beach Morden, City Armstrong Montcalm Wallace Morris, Town Arthur Morris West St. Paul Mystery Lake, LGD Bifrost Morton Westbourne Neepawa, Town Birtle Mossey Whitehead Niverville, Town Blanshard Mountain Whitemouth Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Brenda North Cypress Whitewater Village Brokenhead North Norfolk Winchester Oak Lake, Town Cameron Oakland Woodlands Pilot Mound, Town Cartier Ochre River Woodworth 5 President’s Message n behalf of the Board of Directors of the Association of staff on various pieces of Manitoba Municipalities, I am pleased to submit the legislation and I had numer- O 2013 Annual Report. ous discussions with Mayor Sam Katz around the rising This past year was the 15th in AMM history, and was some- infrastructure defi cit and what of an anomaly in that our top issues were not of our other major issues. This choosing. The most critical issue facing municipalities relationship, along with the Manitoba-wide and indeed across Canada continues to be creation of the AMM Cities the growing infrastructure defi cit and the need for alternate Caucus, helped further our revenue. However, the issues we found ourselves lobbying lobbying activities by raising against were forced amalgamation of municipalities and an the profi le of some important unexpected increase to the Provincial Sales Tax. Our efforts issues that affect all munici- on both fi les are detailed thoroughly within this report, but palities, large and small. the unfortunate outcome is that the real hot-button issues did not receive as much attention as they deserved. The AMM also had the opportunity to meet with the That is not to say the year was without its successes; in Leader of the Offi cial Opposition, Brian Pallister, and his fact, there were several of note. First and foremost is at the team on a number of occasions throughout the year, and we federal level, where the government’s decision to index the bid farewell to longtime leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party, gas tax transfer at two per cent annually will add another $9 Dr. Jon Gerrard. I look forward to meeting with newly-elected million to the permanent gas tax fund over 20 years. With the leader Rana Bokhari in the coming months. extension of the Building Canada funding for 10 years, this budget helps to address the need for long-term sustainable Throughout the year, my executive team works alongside infrastructure for Manitoba municipalities. We hope details me, and I owe a huge debt to Vice-Presidents Ralph Groe- on both of these programs will be announced in 2014. ning and Eileen Clarke and Executive Director Joe Masi – your support is truly immeasurable. I’d also like to thank Provincially, the AMM did see some positive investments, the AMM Board of Directors for their hard work throughout including the three-year, $21 million Municipal Road Improve- 2013, and bid farewell to four outgoing members - Reeve ment Program (MRIP), another $1 million in funding for the Roger Wilson, Mayor Bob Stefaniuk, Mayor Rick Pauls, and Municipal Bridge Renewal Program, and a funding increase Mayor Jim Goymer. for the Manitoba Water Services Board of $4 million per year for three years. While the relationships we have with other orders of govern- ment and with the parties both in power and in opposition Other successes for municipalities included the power to now are important to our success, the AMM’s greatest success is establish speed limits in school zones; a new investment in due to the support of its membership. Manitoba has almost rural economic development through the Partner 4 Growth 1,200 elected mayors, reeves and councillors who come program; the release of the long-awaited Emergency Medical together on many occasions throughout the year to raise the Services Review; and a small yet signifi cant increase in traffi c profi le of the most critical issues facing municipalities. control compensation for municipal fi re departments. Our association also had an impact, through presentations and This year in particular, I have been impressed and in many written submissions, on almost a dozen pieces of provincial cases moved by our members as they took to podiums from legislation. all corners of the province right to the Manitoba Legisla- ture to make their case against forced amalgamation. Your These successes speak to our overall good working relation- presentations were articulate, powerful and really illustrated ship with our provincial counterparts. Throughout the year, the true meaning of community. the AMM met with both Cabinet Ministers and the Premier individually, and with the Premier and Cabinet as a whole. Thank you for your ongoing support. These meetings are invaluable in order to build relationships and to ensure the AMM’s issues are communicated and understood. While some of these relationships have been tested this year, I do thank Premier Greg Selinger and his team for always being open to meeting with us. We also partnered with the City of Winnipeg on several Doug Dobrowolski occasions this past year. Our staff consulted with Winnipeg President 6 Executive Director’s Message am pleased to provide At the same time, our traditional communications offerings, the Executive Director’s including our website, Municipal Leader magazine and I message for the 2013 bi-weekly news bulletin, continue to ensure our members Annual Report of the and others are always up-to-date on AMM activities and Association of Manitoba municipal issues. The media found our activities newsworthy Municipalities. It has been an on well over 500 occasions throughout the year, ensuring our exciting and challenging year priorities and issues enjoyed even further reach. and I look forward to sharing some highlights with you. Additionally, we made some internal changes by upgrading the way we send emails and register members for our events. First and foremost, the We also made some small but signifi cant changes to our Municipalities Trading Company website at www.amm.mb.ca. These improvements will ensure of Manitoba Limited (MTCML) an even more positive and user-friendly experience for our enjoyed another strong year, membership when accessing AMM information. with sales of approximately $29.5 million. Due to the Our Board of Directors is second to none and truly continued participation of our members and discount pricing representative of all corners of Manitoba. I sincerely from MTCML Offi cial Suppliers, the MTCML was pleased to appreciate their support and guidance throughout the year. rebate $800,000 to our members based on their sales. This Without their investment in time and effort into the AMM, we brings the cumulative rebate over the past 12 years to $7.3 would not be the successful association we are today. million. The programs and services we offer our members would Also in 2013, the AMM was able to distribute a refund in the simply not be possible without the excellent efforts of our amount of $2.4 million from the Self-Insurance Loss Pool. staff, as they truly go above and beyond to ensure our This refund is the sixth in the AMM’s history and brings the member benefi ts are of the highest quality. To Linda, Denys, cumulative total since 2004 to almost $7.8 million. Refunds Donna, Patti, Julia, Lynne and Lindsay – thank you for your from the loss pool are made possible due to our program’s support throughout the year.