A pair of Interlake communities will soon have access to new fire trucks.
The province announced Wednesday that it is investing more than $500,000 in fire protection services in the Town of Winnipeg Beach and the RM of St. Laurent.
"We want to make sure that our first responders have the equipment they need to protect Manitoba families in communities across the province," said Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard. "We’re proud to support municipalities to purchase new fire trucks and equipment that will keep you safe."
Winnipeg Beach will receive $40,000 to purchase a specialized fire truck that can tow a 16-foot boat, allowing emergency personnel to respond quickly to water rescues and other water-related incidents.
Meanwhile, the RM of St. Laurent will receive $472,500 to purchase a new 2026 fire truck.
"Our council has been working diligently to improve services for the residents of the RM of St. Laurent, including finding a replacement for our aging fire engine," said Richard Chartrand, reeve, RM of St. Laurent. "We are so grateful to Premier Kinew and Minister Simard for approving our Manitoba GRO grant application and for helping us ensure that our dedicated volunteer fire department is able to continue to provide crucial fire services to the people of our community."
The funding announced is part of the $42-million Manitoba Growth, Renewal and Opportunity (GRO) program, which funds critical infrastructure projects to support growing and sustainable communities..