Michael Blume

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.  

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.  

What if this winter had not been an El Niño special? Would the recent storms have been much worse? 

Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorologist Natalie Hasell says there's no way to know for sure but outlines the general differences we expect to see in an El Niño winter. 

What if this winter had not been an El Niño special? Would the recent storms have been much worse? 

Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorologist Natalie Hasell says there's no way to know for sure but outlines the general differences we expect to see in an El Niño winter. 

The president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities is sounding the alarm about the federal government's recent announcement that it will no longer fund certain municipal road infrastructure projects. Kam Blight explains that Minister Steven Guilbeault recently shared the news.

The president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities is sounding the alarm about the federal government's recent announcement that it will no longer fund certain municipal road infrastructure projects. Kam Blight explains that Minister Steven Guilbeault recently shared the news.

Looking ahead, and thinking of the future, Portage-Lisgar MP Branden Leslie is thrilled for several things, including the birth of his first child. The MP announced in a year-end interview with PembinaValleyOnline sister-portal, PortageOnline.

Top of mind for the new year, said Leslie, is the hope of having a healthy baby who inspires him to pave the way through politics for the generations to come.

Portage-Lisgar MP Branden Leslie says he has been battling for local farmers and producers at Parliament Hill with Bill C-234, after having participated in its creation. 

With the focus of the nation's attention on carbon tax and all of Manitoba's eyes on our gas tax holiday, we take a look back at 2023 and how prices fared throughout this last year.

Canadians for Affordable Energy President, Dan McTeague, says everyone expected things to be a repeat of 2022. That was when the highest prices ever paid in Canada for fuel prices hit the highest on average of about $2.14 a litre in June of 2022.

2023 has been a hallmark year for Branden Leslie since he was elected the Member of Parliament for Portage-Lisgar in June.

The Conservative offered up a few highlights since that time.