Residents of the rural capital region, including Niverville and Ritchot, are invited to a public hearing hosted by the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR). The meeting will take place on August 8 at 3:00 p.m. at the Niverville Heritage Centre.
The August meeting is the second of two public hearings required of the WMR as it moves through the process of adopting a regional planning bylaw called Plan20-50. The first hearing was held in Winnipeg on July 25.
Plan20-50 is a 127-page document which delineates the Manitoba capital region’s 30-year plan when it comes to coordinating land use, services, and infrastructure.
According to the WMR, the plan “sets the blueprint for a resilient, sustainable, and globally competitive region. Plan20-50 considers community growth and development, infrastructure investment and servicing, regional economic development, watershed and natural asset stewardship, climate resilience, agriculture and resources, and collaboration with Indigenous Nations.”1
The WMR is one of many capital regions across the country. Capital regions are formed as collaborative bodies between a province’s capital city and its surrounding municipalities.
The goal of any capital region is to form networking partnerships so local municipal governments can work collaboratively on the broader concerns they all face as opposed to each one working independently of their neighbours.
The WMR includes the City of Winnipeg and 17 surrounding municipalities. The provincial government appointed Niverville to the WMR in 2023. Prior to that time, it was considered optional and Niverville’s council had chosen not to participate.
The WMR board now includes political constituents from Winnipeg as well as mayors, reeves, and representatives from each participating municipality.
Mayor Myron Dyck sits on the board on behalf of Niverville. Councillor Shane Pelletier represents the RM of Ritchot.
Jennifer Freeman is the executive director for the WMR. She explains how Plan20-50 came into existence.
“We were mandated by the province in 2019 to create a regional plan,” Freeman says. “We released two versions of the plan and this is now the third version that’s gone through the formal process as laid out in the [provincial] regulations.”
It was no easy task, she says, to create a long-term plan that works for the entire region, especially when faced with the hurdle of pandemic restrictions in the first two years of its creation.
The WMR has consulted with experts, held informational sessions, and collected and processed feedback, updating the document time and again.
“We are incredibly proud of the regional vision that has been developed with the input of many,” says Freeman. “Plan20-50 is a 30-year framework to build a stronger economy and stronger communities, protect Manitoba’s resources, and create a better future for all. This latest version of the plan brings us closer to achieving that future.”
In the fall of 2023, the WMR hosted three public consultation sessions on Plan20-50 in Winnipeg, Stonewall, and Île-des-Chênes.
Advertisements were sent out in the Winnipeg Free Press, on the WMR website, and through local municipal governments.
Attendees included council representatives and municipal planners, various stakeholders, and others. An overview of Plan20-50 was provided along with a Q&A period.
Following these sessions, the bylaw went through its first reading. Prior to the second and third readings, and the bylaw’s adoption, the Manitoba Planning Act states that public hearings must be held.
What to Expect at August Public Hearing
According to Freeman, a brief overview of the plan will be presented prior to opening the floor for public feedback.
“We will present on the plan, [providing] the progress and how we got to where we are today,” Freeman says. “And then it’s an opportunity for the public to provide their feedback, [whether it’s] in support of the plan, in opposition to the plan, or providing for information.”
Similar to any public hearing, though, public presenters should not expect that the WMR will be there to answer questions. They will simply listen and collect feedback, recording it for the public record.
All oral presenters must apply in advance in order to present. This can be set up through the WMR website or at the Niverville Heritage Centre meeting room one hour prior to the meeting’s start time.
“I would say, if they want to get in the queue, it’s better to register online,” Freeman adds. “Should they not want to do an oral representation, they can do a written submission. Then the written submission of their thoughts or concerns are collected and provided with our submission to the Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations.”
There is no requirement to register in order to attend the meeting and all are welcome. Presenters and guests can join via Zoom if they’re unable to attend in person.
Objectors
In recent weeks, objectors to Plan20-50 have been voicing concerns. One group in particular calls themselves Action4Canada (A4C).
According to the A4C website, they are a grassroots movement working to reach millions of Canadians in an effort to unite voices in opposition to “the destructive policies tearing at the fabric of this nation.”
Their most recent call to action includes a request for residents to sign a petition in opposition to Plan20-50 and also attend the WMR’s public hearings if possible.
They describe Plan20-50 as “the 15-minute city plan on steroids [that] would transfer control of Manitoba municipal by-laws to the WMR.”
The “15-minute city” is a term adopted by urban city planners. It’s a concept that would allow every resident to access their primary needs, such as shopping, education, healthcare, and leisure, within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit ride from their residence.
The stated goal is to help reduce car dependency and improve quality of life for all citizens.
To these objectors, Freeman recommends reading Plan20-50 for themselves before attending the public hearing.
“It’s important [for people] to understand what the plan is,” says Freeman. “There may be some misinformation going around about the plan so hopefully at the public hearing that can be clarified.”
