Preamble: There are increasing concerns about fresh drinking water and the disposal and treatment of sewage in the Province of Manitoba. There is a fear that if action is not taken in the immediate future to start reinvesting in the current underutilized infrastructure and expanding services to the rural areas of Manitoba we may continue to damage our long term sustainable underground water supplies.

As we know, Manitoba is known for its abundance of fresh water so, as we look to the future, we should not only be looking at our water resources for our own drinking water, but also as a potential long-term economic resource.

Resolution: That the Government of Manitoba, in consultation with key stakeholders, develop a strategy to identify urban and rural infrastructure weakness as well as the areas of the province that currently hold the most sustainable water resources, and develop a plan of action not to reduce, but stop the continued contamination of these water supplies and to develop a long-term plan to protect our Province’s most valuable resource.

These actions should be taken as follows:

a) Develop regional plans of action through the cooperation of provincial and other public sector entities.

b) Provide direction to identify both urban and rural infrastructure needs as well as the areas of the province with the greatest need for immediate action.

c) Create a long-term Infrastructure Deficit Reduction Plan.

d) Present a short and long-term budget along with a short and long-term strategic plan.

e) Facilitate and take necessary reasonable steps to induce the holders of underutilized water treatment plants to start negotiating the supply of their services to the rural areas in most need for immediate action.

f) Review the current laws regarding the disposal of raw sewage for residential and commercial property in both urban and rural areas of the province.

g) Hire adequate staff to inspect facilities and enforce the current and/or adjusted laws.

 Resolution: Reports

MCC Advocacy (additions since last report are in italics):

May 21, 2008: An MCC ‘Inside the Chamber’ Web Story entitled “IT HAPPENED AT THE AGM: PART 3 – MCC Announces Resolutions For 2008-2009″ provided access to each and every Resolution passed at the AGM. Notice of this story was circulated through the MCC e-Omnibus which is sent to all MCC members, Media and Government.

June 4, 2008: For the first time ever the MCC made available its handbook on ‘Policies & Resolutions’ which contains Resolutions in one handy format. An MCC ‘Inside the Chamber’ Web Story entitled “MCC Releases Policy Handbook” announced this initiative. Notice of this story was circulated through the MCC e-Omnibus which is sent to all MCC members, Media and Government.

June 6, 2008: Resolution books were sent to every MLA and every Member of Parliament that hails from Manitoba. The following had this Resolution specifically drawn to their attention with a detailed letter setting out the background to this issue, Government initiatives (where applicable), and an argument for the Resolution:

• Minister of Infrastructure & Transportation  
• Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives  
• Minister of Water Stewardship
• Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

July 11, 2008: Wrote to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, seeking their support in relation to this matter.

August 7, 2008: Received an email from a representative of the local chamber that sponsored this Resolution.

September 17, 2008: Telephone conversation with a representative of the local chamber that sponsored this Resolution and Steve Strang, Municipal Mayor of St. Clements and Chair of the Manitoba Capital Region.

September 24, 2008: Sent out a Resolution report to a representative of the local chamber that sponsored this Resolution and Steve Strang, Municipal Mayor of St. Clements and Chair of the Manitoba Capital Region.

October 20, 2008: The 2008 third quarter edition of the Focus mentioned this Resolution in its report on the MCC AGM. The Focus magazine goes out to 10,000 businesses and community leaders across Manitoba.

January 28, 2009: Posted an article by Steve Strang, Municipal Mayor of St. Clements and Chair of the Capital Region Committee, on the MCC website to generate discussion in relation to this issue.

Developments (additions since last report are in italics):

July 9, 2008: The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs wrote to the MCC on this matter, indicating that:

Government recognizes the importance of upgrading municipal infrastructure, and in Budget 2008, committed $150 million for upgrades to rural and northern water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as $17 million in support for municipal sewer and water projects through the Manitoba Water Services Board and for Conservation Districts on an annual basis. A commitment was also made to provide $230 million for the upgrade of all three wastewater treatment plants in Winnipeg as part of a tri-level negotiation with the City and the Federal Government. 

July 31, 2008: The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives wrote to the MCC on this issue. The Minister’s correspondence included the following:

I recognize the importance of rural water and sewer infrastructure and that is why we have recently hired a rural infrastructure specialist to provide a link between government and rural stakeholders. Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Ron Lemieux, however, is in a better position to address this resolution within the context of overall provincial infrastructure strategy. 

August 14, 2008: The Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation wrote to the MCC on this issue, stating as follows:

In the fall of 2006, I assumed responsibility for the Manitoba Water Services Board. I share your concerns about the need to evaluate our urban and rural infrastructure, as well as take the appropriate actions to protect the future quality of our water resources. We recognize that having a sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure is a key component of economic development, in a province that has been blessed with a bountiful supply of fresh water. My staff have been in the forefront of bringing neighbouring municipalities and stakeholders together to develop regional utilities, to share in the resource and reap benefits through economies of scale. 

….

I appreciate the tremendous working relationship that exists between my Department and the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. The valuable input of your members gives us an important insight into the concerns, ideas and aspirations of Manitoba communities that are often crucial in many aspects of our activities. I look forward to having an opportunity to discuss these issues with you in the near future and invite you to contact my office at your convenience to schedule a meeting.

November 25-26, 2008: The Association of Manitoba Municipalities passed a Resolution on this matter at its AGM. The Resolution, entitled ‘Water Assessment Funding’, states as follows:

WHEREAS the Province of Manitoba has implemented required levels of training for water and wastewater facility operators and a continual increase in frequency and types of water sampling requirements;

AND WHEREAS the costs to provide training and additional time for personnel to satisfy the testing requirements have been borne by the local consumer;

AND WHEREAS under The Drinking Water Safety Act, the Province of Manitoba in addition to the above mentioned requirements is imposing an engineering assessment of local water system infrastructure that has for many communities been designed by and constructed under the supervision of the Manitoba Water Services Board;

AND WHEREAS there needs to be an end to the downloading of costs to the local consumer resulting from the implementation of Provincial Government regulations;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the AMM lobby the Province of Manitoba to deem the engineering assessment of significant importance and fully fund the costs of performing the assessments as well as any improvements required following completion of the assessment process.

January 27, 2009: The Federal Budget pledged the following monies for infrastructure:$1 billion over five years for a green infrastructure fund; up to $500 million over the next two years to accelerate infrastructure projects in small communities; $1 billion over two years to expedite new “ready-to-go” provincial, territorial and municipal projects and $4 billion over two years to restore aging infrastructure. The budget indicated that ‘water systems’ was one of the many priorities and it will take some time to figure out the specifics and how exactly they will impact Manitoba’s communities. 

Current Status (additions since last report are in italics):

January 28, 2008: The MCC is still seeking more detail on the information provided by the government. As well, it is investigating the specifics of the Federal Budget and will see how the provincial and municipal governments respond.