Manitoba NDP to make changes to Plan20-50 after pushback from municipalities

The province has announced new legislation that will allow municipalities to opt out of Plan20-50, while a rural Manitoba mayor says officials did such a poor job of rolling out the plan that it allowed “misinformation” to take over the conversation and put added stress on local leaders and communities.

“I’m asking you not just as mayor, but as a proud Manitoban to revisit Plan20-50 at your end, before our municipal leaders receive more unnecessary stress, separation of neighbouring municipalities, threats, and forced position-making,” Ritchot Mayor Chris Ewen wrote in a letter sent on Tuesday to provincial officials including Premier Wab Kinew.

Controversy, and in some cases outright opposition, has been growing over the implementation of Plan20-50, a planning document for growth and development in the 18 municipalities that make up the WMR, over the next 30 years.

The plan proposes a more “collaborative” approach to municipal decision-making in the region, and would set targets for growth and development that WMR communities would have to meet.

But some municipalities, including the city of Selkirk and the town of Niverville, have publicly announced they don’t want to be included in Project 20-50 as it is currently being proposed, with Niverville saying they oppose their “forced involvement,” and officials in Selkirk also saying they have felt forced into the plan.

On Wednesday, the province released a statement saying that they will introduce legislation this fall that would allow municipalities to opt out of WMR and Plan20-50 if they choose to do so.

“This is about giving municipalities the freedom to make their own planning decisions, rather than force them into a planning region that isn’t working,” Kinew said. “We’ve heard what municipalities have to say, and that’s why we’re moving forward with legislation to make membership in Plan20-50 voluntary.”

Ewen said he sent his letter on Tuesday not as a show of support or opposition to Plan20-50, but to convey his belief that the rollout surrounding the plan has been flawed since it was first announced.

On social media platforms including Facebook, some have also been making claims that the plan could lead to so-called “15 minute cities,” which some believe could confine residents to their own neighbourhoods, and Ewen said in his letter he is concerned about ongoing “misinformation” regarding the plan.

There has also been strong public reaction to Plan20-50, as on Aug. 9 a public meeting in Niverville regarding the plan was postponed after more than 600 people showed up and could not safely fit into the venue. A new date for the public meeting has yet to be announced.

Ewen, who is a former WMR board member, said current WMR board members have been told not to talk to residents about the plan, as the public hearing process moves forward.

“Today, I received a statement from the WMR which indicated board members are not to communicate with their ratepayers in an effort to maintain the public hearing due process,” Ewen said.

“More than ever, it is now critical to answer the questions of community members when a change that will affect over a million people is about to happen.”

He is also asking municipalities opposed to or concerned about the plan to work with and consult other communities in WMR before making public statements contributing to the divide.

“I watched a handful of Municipalities send statements to the public, without working collaboratively with the rest of the WMR municipalities, creating an even stronger divide between Manitobans,” Ewen said.

“We now receive daily calls and emails from residents asking us to take the same stand. As mayor, I believe this was the wrong approach, and now more backlash is happening to those that are respecting collaboration.”

Ewen said Wednesday he would not be offering any additional comment regarding his Tuesday letter.

In a statement released Tuesday, the WMR said they are encouraging leaders and community members to learn the details of the plan, and confirmed that they are currently asking WMR board members not to talk to stakeholders about Plan20-50.

“During this adjournment period, the requirements of the process must be maintained, and as such, the WMR Board cannot discuss matters related to the plan outside of the public hearing forum,” WMR said.

“Meeting with individual stakeholders outside the official process could be perceived as giving unfair advantage of influence, which goes against the principles of open and transparent governance. A re-scheduled public hearing will be advertised as per notification requirements in The Planning Act.

“The Winnipeg Metropolitan Region encourages citizens to read the plan.”

Manitoba will revise capital planning laws, allow opt-out for RMs

The Manitoba government will introduce new legislation this fall to alter capital region planning. Premier Wab Kinew and Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Ian Bushie announced that the legislation will make participation in the capital planning region, Plan 20-50, optional for municipalities.

“This is about giving municipalities the freedom to make their own planning decisions, rather than force them into a planning region that isn’t working,” Kinew said. “We’ve heard what municipalities have to say and that’s why we’re moving forward with legislation to make membership in Plan 20-50 voluntary. We’re working with communities like Selkirk, Niverville and Stonewall to grow the economy, and build more housing in a way that makes sense for them.”

Plan 20-50, a long-term planning strategy involving Winnipeg and 18 surrounding municipalities, was established under the previous government’s Bill 37.

“Instead of working with municipalities, the previous government forced through Bill 37,” Bushie said. “Our government is committed to listening to local leadership and respecting local governments to make their own decisions for their communities. We know the best way to build up communities across the province is to partner with them to help build up infrastructure, create more good jobs and invest in services like health care. Manitoba families want to see us work together to deliver for them and that’s what we’re going to do.”

This story was originally published in The Winnipeg Sun. It is republished under a Creative Commons license as part of the Local Journalism Initiative.