We've shared plenty of news of the recent Association of Manitoba Municipalities Fall Convention from the City and RM of Portage la Prairie. So many vital issues are raised at that meeting that involves problems you share with our city and RM, making it a great opportunity to see changes made. 

Portage MLA Ian Wishart was there, and he gives the perspective from the provincial side of things.

"It looked like a very good process," notes Wishart. "There were many new councillors there, so this was a really a different one in many ways. There were a number of themes, some of which we're already working on, and others that we'll have to look at from their resolutions. There was a lot of talk about the funding formula, which hasn't been changed in a number of years."

He explains the funding formula is related to the province's contribution to the operations of municipalities in several forms. Basically, it follows the number of people in the area for issues with special needs. He says this formula hasn't been reviewed in a number of years. Wishart says shifts in population have taken place, necessitating an overview in case the funding formula is no longer relevant to everyone. 

"It's usually tied to something, so it's project-related or it's safety-related, or it could be related to some of the other costs that the RMs run on a regular basis" notes Wishart. "Based on what their needs are, we have a different funding formula that we move with. We used to float cash to them."

He adds there were many resolutions on water management that is being, as well as different approaches to it. Water management concerns the flooding problems that the province has suffered during certain years. He explains the projects are co-funded by the municipalities and the provincial government. 

"It sort of falls in line with what we're doing," explains Wishart. "We just released a brand new water strategy for Manitoba and it is a bit of a different take on how to manage water in Manitoba. I think that some of the resolutions certainly line up. There's also a desire to do some different reassessments, mostly on things like railways and pipelines. Their assessment formula is not like the rest of them because they rarely trade hands, so you can't just go with value."

Wishart says this makes the assessments out of date and may indicate that it's time to change, noting the process has already started in government.  

He notes watersheds are a big player in managing local water and is co-funded both with the RM and provincial government. 

"We need to look at how we do that, and what we do with the water," notes Wishart. "But also in the bigger picture of water storages and water management on major waterways, things like the Assiniboine and the Portage Diversion to Lake Manitoba, we need to see how that's best managed. Historically in Manitoba, usually the focus is on getting rid of the water as quickly as possible. Maybe we need to approach this somewhat differently and look at how we can make that water work for us in the short-term, and the long-term. And that includes things like water storages, better water management on the landscape. Now we tend to try and move that water off as quickly as possible, that tends to be a problem for somebody downstream." 

He explains two or three other resolutions were discussed, including one from the RM of Portage concerning Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). Wishart says problems stem from a policy that affects colder weather operations due to a governmental policy.

"That's something that we've actually been hearing a bit about from other partners, and that's something we have a look at as to whether there's anything that can be done with that," adds Wishart. "That and road issues which are always prevalent there, and many times, they lead to action depending on what the request is."

Crime was a major issue brought to the table at the AMM, which Wishart notes has been an issue about which the province was already deliberating and discussing with the federal government at the most recent Justice meeting. 

"It was front and centre, and the federal government committed to going back and reviewing some of their guidelines that they're putting out to the Judges and Crown Attorneys on how people on bail are handled," says Wishart, "and how that situation is worked in the future. So, we're hopeful that that'll get another look. I can't predict the outcome of that."

He adds there are a lot of details in these various resolutions and they all need to be looked at carefully.

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