The NDP government will be introducing legislation this fall, which if approved, will allow municipalities the right to opt out of the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region.
Premier Wab Kinew says this is a hot topic, that he claims was started under the previous government. In recent weeks, the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region has taken heat for Plan20-50, which Executive Director Jennifer Freeman refers to as "a long-term regional plan for the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region to help the 18 municipalities work together."
According to Kinew, under the current legislation, the 18 municipalities do not have a choice whether or not to be part of the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region. He notes they are mandated to be part of the region and to be part of the plan. Those municipalities are City of Winnipeg, City of Selkirk, Town of Stonewall, Town of Niverville, Village of Dunnottar, and the rural municipalities of Cartier, East St. Paul, Headingley, McDonald, Ritchot, Rockwood, Rosser, St. Andrews, St. Clements, St. Francois Xavier, Springfield, Tache and West St. Paul.
Kinew says this fall, his government will introduce a freedom bill, as they are calling it, which will make it voluntary to be part of.
"For those municipalities we've heard, for example, I think Niverville, the City of Selkirk, and others who don't think this is the right fit for them or for their citizens, they are going to have the freedom to leave," assures Kinew.
The Premier says municipalities will have the freedom to say that they were democratically elected at the local level and choose to keep their democratic powers to make the decisions that are right for their residents. Kinew says his government has been hearing the outcry from municipal leaders asking to have their democratic role respected and local decision-making respected.
"We think this is the right move at this time to again move away from that centralization that you saw in the past and move more towards local decision-making power and respect for the average voter out there," he adds.
Kinew says this decision by his government reflects the reality of what is happening outside of Winnipeg. He notes while travelling around and visiting places like Niverville, it is obvious that the local government there is doing things right.
"So, let's respect that," he says.
Kinew says the local approach respects the average resident.
"We want to respect your freedom to make that decision and to not try to shoehorn everybody into the same plan, to instead say we're going to respect local leadership," adds Kinew.
Kinew says his government is a listening one and they want to be responsive to the concerns they are hearing from municipalities. He notes some of the members of the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region have been raising concerns for years now. And, given that this issue seems to now be coming to a head, Kinew says it is an important time for his government to return the freedom to municipalities, make the process voluntary, and ensure that local voices and rights are respected.
"That the people that you elected at the local level are going to actually have the ability to make decisions that make sense for your local community," he adds. "We're also trying to respond to those leaders and municipal officials who have been speaking out recently asking for a new approach here, that better respects those values."
Kinew says the biggest concern that he has heard with Plan20-50 is that municipalities are being forced into something that may not be a good fit for their communities. He notes through the legislation being introduced this fall, the decision-making power, freedom, and flexibility will be returned to local officials.
Kinew says Manitobans always have the right to live where they want to live. He adds that Manitobans also have the right to vote for the people they want in power. And those elected officials should have the ability to make decisions about what their local community will look like.