October 29, 2025
Manitoba Government Accepts All Recommendations From Independent Review of The Planning Amendment Act and The City of Winnipeg Charter Amendment Act (Bill 37)
The Manitoba government has accepted all the recommendations outlined in the independent review’s final report of the Planning Amendment Act and the City of Winnipeg Charter Amendment Act (Bill 37), as part of its commitment to ensure municipalities have a voice in local planning decisions, Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard announced today.
“The previous government’s changes to the Municipal Planning Act were intended to squash local community voices and centralize top-down, control over municipal decisions,” said Simard. “We don’t think local communities should be dictated to by the provincial government. We believe municipalities should have the freedom to choose their own plan based on what’s best for their citizens.
“This review addresses some of the criticisms municipalities had about the legislation and it builds on the work we’ve already done to reverse decisions made by the previous government. We look forward to working in partnership with municipalities to build a stronger, more responsive planning system,” the minister added.
The review began last November after the province introduced an amendment to the Planning Act that granted municipalities the right to opt out of Plan 20-50, a regional growth plan for the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region that many municipalities outside Winnipeg opposed.
“The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) welcomes the province’s tabling of the Statutory Review of Planning Legislation Report and appreciates the work that went into this important review,” said Kathy Valentino, president, AMM. “We look forward to the Manitoba government’s implementation plan and working together to strengthen Manitoba’s planning framework. It’s essential that any changes continue to respect local autonomy, as municipal councils are best positioned to make decisions that reflect their communities’ priorities.”
“The Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities (AMBM) welcomes the Manitoba government’s decision to accept the recommendations resulting from the independent review of Bill 37,” said Ivan Normandeau, president, AMBM. “As trusted partners, we will continue to work closely together to plan for sustainable and inclusive growth, harnessing our province’s unique bilingual advantage to strengthen our communities. We also underscore the importance of fully supporting municipal action and equipping municipalities – democratically elected governments closest to Manitobans – with the necessary tools to fulfil their mandates in service of residents.”
Conducted from March to October 2024, this review involved over 250 participants representing more than 95 municipalities, development stakeholders and the public. Consultations included the City of Winnipeg, the Manitoba Municipal Board, the Department of Municipal and Northern Relations, and other relevant government departments.
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