Thompson Mayor Colleen Smook, Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson and AMM president Chris Goertzen call for the reinstatement of the Municipal Road and Bridge Program during AMM’s annual convention at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg on Tuesday, November 27, 2018. (AMM / HANDOUT)
WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s municipal leaders are calling for the province to reinstate a program that funded road and bridge infrastructure.
Speaking in Winnipeg Tuesday for the association’s 20th-anniversary convention, AMM president Chris Goertzen said, “Municipal road and bridge infrastructure is essential for a better Manitoba.
“This program has very little red tape, which makes it an efficient way for municipalities to partner with the provincial government to build much-needed infrastructure in local communities across our province.”
The program provided $14 million to municipalities in 2017, but only $2.25 million in 2018. The province has previously announced plans to terminate the program completely.
The AMM says 102 municipalities have co-sponsored a resolution, calling on the province to halt plans to cancel the program and roll over funding into the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
“The program was very dependable while the application process was simple and streamlined,” said Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson, whose city is one of the co-sponsors on the resolution.
