The RM of Piney council recently made the decision to join the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM). Reeve Wayne Anderson says this was done as a strategic move aimed at strengthening regional ties and enhancing local services.
Anderson says that Piney’s council had long been interested in joining the AMBM but had been unable to meet the requirements for Francophone representation.
“Over the years, quite a few RM of Piney councils expressed interest in joining. But at that time, they had a stipulation that you had to have a certain percentage of Francophone or bilingual people in your RM, and we were just under that.”
Recently, the AMBM introduced a new entry model called the 3M model, which stands for Municipal Maturity Model. This new approach allows municipalities with smaller Francophone populations to join. Piney, with its 11% Francophone population, decided to seize the opportunity.
“We thought this new method was a good idea. Anything we can do regionally helps all of us, especially since we have a lot of bilingual municipalities around us.”
Being part of the AMBM offers several benefits for Piney and its surrounding areas. Anderson notes that joining the AMBM would enhance networking and collaboration with neighboring communities.
“The AMBM has a strong voice in Southeast Manitoba as they now have 16 RM memberships and a good attitude towards regional development. We thought it was in our best interest to be part of it.”
Financially, the move is also advantageous. Recently, Piney was able to secure a grant from the AMBM to fund a new economic development position, supplementing their existing efforts.
“We’re getting a grant to help pay for an economic development personnel. This new position will work alongside our current economic development officer and the AMBM’s economic development organization, which is quite extensive, and they do a lot of good work.”
The 3M model also addresses past concerns about the cost of bilingual signage.
“Many years ago, bilingual requirements led to significant expenses. But this new model allows us to work at our own pace. For example, when we need new stop signs, we can order them in both English and French without additional cost, just replacing them as needed.”
Looking ahead, Anderson doesn’t foresee major changes but anticipates long-term benefits for residents in the RM of Piney.
“I think things will operate as usual, but with a new aim and goals. We want to provide good service to our bilingual and Francophone residents without additional costs to our ratepayers.”
Overall, the RM of Piney’s move to join the AMBM represents a commitment to regional collaboration and improved services for its residents.