School gym in Notre Dame suffers smoke damage

Smoke and damage from a fire Tuesday have closed the gym at École Régionale Notre-Dame in Notre Dame de Lourdes.

While the investigation continues, early reports say the damage may exceed $2 million. While most of the damage is in the gym area, other parts of the facility have been slightly affected as well.

The fire was reported shortly before 7 a.m. Tuesday when the janitor noticed smoke was coming from the gymnasium, and alarms went off.

AMM President shares highlights of Spring Convention

Municipal government officials spent some time in Brandon this week at the spring convention and trade show of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM). 

It wrapped up on Thursday and President Kam Blight says this edition of the convention was more of a networking and educational series of events. 

Several break-out sessions took place to dive into specific issues that are impacting municipalities the most. 

AMM President shares highlights of Spring Convention

Municipal government officials spent some time in Brandon this week at the spring convention and trade show of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM). 

It wrapped up on Thursday and President Kam Blight says this edition of the convention was more of a networking and educational series of events. 

Several break-out sessions took place to dive into specific issues that are impacting municipalities the most. 

AMM calls on federal government to address increasing, mandated costs

One issue the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) continues to contend with, and has been for several years, is increasing costs it says are mandated by the federal government on cities and towns. 

AMM President, Kam Blight, says they're lobbying for both retroactive and newer costs that he feels are becoming a frustrating trend. He noted the problem is, however, that municipalities have to tax residents to cover those costs.

For example, Blight says RCMP costs have dramatically increased over the last few years.

Carbon Tax increase is only one reason gas prices are rising

Gas prices are expected to go up today when the latest increase to the country's Carbon tax takes place Monday, April 1st, but that's not the only increase in gasoline prices we're going to see in the coming weeks. That from Dan McTeague, President of Canadians for Affordable Energy, who runs the gas prediction sites for many cities across Canada, gaswizard.ca. 

AMM President calls for new federal funding model

The Association of Manitoba Municipalities is hard at work trying to influence Ottawa to help Manitoba communities and to realize the crippling effects of changes in how municipalities are funded. 

President, Kam Blight, explains the best funding model that local governments ever received from Ottawa was formerly known as the Gas Tax Fund, which has been renamed the Canada Community-Building Fund. It's currently being altered. He notes this source of funding is losing its benefits due to those changes, but in itself, it's still an archaic model.  

AMM President calls for new federal funding model

The Association of Manitoba Municipalities is hard at work trying to influence Ottawa to help Manitoba communities, and to realize the crippling effects that changes in how municipalities are funded. 

President, Kam Blight, explains the best funding model that local governments ever received from Ottawa was formerly known as the Gas Tax Fund, which has been renamed the Canada Community-Building Fund. It's currently being altered. He notes this source of funding is losing its benefits due to those changes, but in itself, it's still an archaic model.