News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

November 2, 2020

Manitoba to Improve Efficiency and Transparency of Land Use Planning

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Updated Legislation Follows Extensive Consultations with Municipal Partners, Industry Stakeholders: Squires

The Manitoba government is delivering on key recommendations of the Planning, Zoning and Permitting in Manitoba report with the introduction of bill 37: the planning amendment and City of Winnipeg charter amendment act, Municipal Relations Minister Rochelle Squires announced today.
 
“We believe it is in the best interest of Manitobans to establish a clear, consistent framework for development, reviews and appeals,” said Squires. “After extensive consultations with our municipal partners and industry stakeholders, we have brought forward a bill that addresses their needs while ensuring streamlined planning processes that enhance opportunities for economic growth.”
 
Bill 37 is the result of the 2019 review of Planning, Zoning and Permitting in Manitoba. The goal of this proposed legislation is to streamline planning and approval processes to ensure timely and transparent decisions on private-sector capital investment opportunities, the minister said. It complements existing authority of Manitoba municipalities to adopt, administer and enforce their development plans, zoning and all other bylaws respecting land use and development in their municipality.
 
The legislation would establish a regional planning authority in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, create new rights of appeals on a wide range of local planning decisions, including expanding public appeals to the Manitoba Municipal Board for zoning applications in the city of Winnipeg, and would prescribe timelines for municipalities to process planning applications across the province.
 
“We salute the Manitoba government for taking these steps by introducing this legislation,” said Mark Olson, president and CEO, Landstar Development Corporation. “It creates a fairness that has been seriously missing and drastically needed. It’s the right thing to do.”
 
Following further consultation with municipalities and industry, the updated legislation includes:
providing residents the right to appeal zoning bylaws in the city of Winnipeg, bringing consistency to the zoning appeals process across Manitoba;
ensuring decisions on planning applications cannot be delayed on the basis the preparation or amendment to secondary plan is pending; and
ensuring consultation with potential member municipalities before establishing any future planning regions.
 
The powers of a planning region have been limited to those that are required to implement the regional plan and financial contributions by member municipalities would require agreement on the proportion of funding that each member municipality will contribute to meet the expenses of the planning region.
 
A mandatory review of the legislation would occur within three years after it comes into force.
 
The minister noted that valued stakeholders will now be asked to participate in the critical next steps of addressing policy and regulation matters.
 
It is important to note the current Planning Act and City of Winnipeg Charter Act already provides a number of opportunities for public participation, which are not altered under this proposed legislation, the minister said. This new legislation stems from consultation with municipalities and stakeholders, and they will continue to be involved in the development of these new processes with the goal of improved efficiency, encouraging economic growth and cost savings. 
 
A copy of the 2019 review of Planning, Zoning and Permitting in Manitoba is available online at: https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/planning_zoning_permitting_recommendations_2019.pdf.
 
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