A Call for Local Control and Prosperity
A Critique of Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) Plan20-50
A Critique of Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) Plan20-50: A Call for Local Control and Prosperity
Prepared by: Margaret Hope Braun, KICLEI Canada
Municipalities Addressed:
City of Winnipeg, City of Selkirk, Town of Niverville, Town of Stonewall, Village of Dunnottar, Rural Municipality of Cartier, Rural Municipality of East St. Paul, Rural Municipality of Headingley, Rural Municipality of Macdonald, Rural Municipality of Ritchot, Rural Municipality of Rockwood, Rural Municipality of Rosser, Rural Municipality of Springfield, Rural Municipality of St. Andrews, Rural Municipality of St. Clements, Rural Municipality of St. François Xavier, Rural Municipality of Taché, Rural Municipality of West St. Paul.
Disclaimer:
The concerns in this report regarding Plan20-50 and similar regional plans across Canada stem from initiatives introduced by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) via voluntary programs like the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program. Although participation is voluntary, it places full legal, financial, and operational responsibility on local councils, not on FCM, ICLEI, or the federal government. This report urges Canadian municipalities to reconsider participation in the PCP program and to focus on locally driven solutions. Withdrawing from the program allows councils to retain governance control and protect their communities from potential risks associated with these global sustainability goals.
See Report: Recommendation to Withdraw from the FCM-ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Program, by Margaret Braun, 2024.
Executive Summary
This report critically examines the implications of Plan20-50 for municipalities within the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR), urging local councils to carefully review their priorities in light of the plan. It highlights that the Province of Manitoba does not mandate the adoption of Plan20-50 and emphasizes that municipalities have the authority to opt out. The plan introduces international sustainability goals that conflict with local needs, diverting attention away from pressing issues such as housing affordability, homelessness, and public safety.
Further concerns include the significant bureaucratic and legal authority the WMR would gain under the plan, imposing additional red tape and legal consequences for municipalities that deviate from its framework after adoption. This risk, combined with the promotion of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), could undermine local governance and shift the focus away from key community priorities.
Key Points
1. No Provincial Mandate for Plan20-50
Plan20-50 is not mandated by the Province of Manitoba. The Provincial Planning Act allows municipalities the flexibility to adopt or reject regional plans. This autonomy gives municipalities the ability to focus on immediate local needs, such as housing affordability, homelessness, and public safety, rather than being forced to conform to global sustainability targets.
2. Increased Bureaucracy and Legal Risks of the WMR
Adopting Plan20-50 would impose significant bureaucratic and legal burdens on municipalities. The WMR requires alignment with its regional framework for development plans, zoning by-laws, and water management strategies, adding layers of red tape that slow down decision-making and implementation. Extensive data collection and reporting requirements strain municipal resources, diverting attention from pressing local needs like housing and infrastructure.
Furthermore, Plan20-50 grants the WMR authority to enforce compliance through legal action in the Court of King’s Bench if municipalities deviate from its framework. This enforcement power risks creating adversarial relationships and may lead to costly legal disputes, further limiting municipalities' flexibility to address evolving community needs.
See Report: Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR): From Local Cooperation to Global Frameworks, by Margaret Braun, 2024.
3. Misaligned with Local Priorities
Municipalities within the WMR are grappling with challenges such as housing shortages, homelessness, mental health, opioid crises, and infrastructure decay. These immediate issues require dedicated resources, yet Plan20-50 focuses heavily on international climate goals, AI urbanization, energy transitions, new economic models and net-zero targets, diverting attention and funding away from the more pressing local needs. The plan’s push for high-density housing overlooks the need for affordable, family-friendly housing options in rural and suburban areas.
See Report: A Municipal Guide to Effective Governance and Environmental Stewardship, by Margaret Braun, 2024.
4. Global Sustainability Goals Embedded in Plan20-50
The integration of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) in Plan20-50 pressures municipalities to align with global climate and sustainability targets. International climate frameworks, include Extensive Data Collection, Energy and Waste Tracking, Urban Densification, Complete Communities, Smart City Technology, Active Transportation, Electric Vehicles, Circular Economy, Climate Resilience and Net-Zero Goals and emphasis on Global Investors, all of which have been embedded into Plan20-50. These recommended frameworks are facilitated by organizations like ICLEI and the FCM, and add financial, administrative, and regulatory burdens that stretch municipal budgets and resources, often redirecting them from core community needs.
See Report: Plan20-50: Global Frameworks Embedded in Canadian Municipalities, by Margaret Braun, 202
5. Practical Alternatives to Global Sustainability Programs
Municipalities should focus on straightforward, locally relevant environmental initiatives instead of complex programs like fleet electrification studies or methane capture programs that may not be practical. As a highly developed nation, Canada has the resources, expertise, and local knowledge to administer its own environmental stewardship initiatives without relying on oversight from international bodies such as the United Nations. Canadian municipalities are well-positioned to address local environmental priorities through community-driven programs that reflect regional needs and align with Canada’s unique cultural and economic landscapes.
See Report: Practical Alternatives to Global Sustainability Programs, by Margaret Braun, 2024
6. Climate Assumptions and Consequences
Plan20-50 builds its policies on climate models and assumptions about human-induced climate change that do not adequately consider natural climate drivers, historical temperature cycles, or the benefits of CO₂ for plant growth. CO₂, a critical component for photosynthesis, has been shown to improve agricultural yields. Policies aimed at drastically reducing CO₂ could therefore harm local agriculture, leading to reduced crop production and higher energy costs for residents. Canadian municipalities should prioritize practical, community-focused strategies that promote prosperity and resilience over global CO₂ reduction efforts. By investing in infrastructure, addressing real pollutants, and supporting agricultural productivity, municipalities can create a sustainable future that prioritizes the well-being of their residents and prosperity of their communities.
See Reports: The Paris Agreement and the Imposition of Questionable Targets on Local Governments, Prosperity Over Catastrophe: A Focus on Adaptive Capacity for Canadian Municipalities, Reframing the Climate Narrative: The Essential Role of CO₂ and Human Activities, Call for a Balanced Approach to Climate Science and Policy and The Positive Role of CO2, by Margaret Braun, 2024.
7. Limited Public Consultation
The development of Plan20-50 has not included sufficient public consultation, raising concerns about the transparency and inclusivity of the planning process. While developers have had five years to provide input, many municipalities and local residents have been left out of meaningful discussions about the plan’s impact. Municipal councils should demand more comprehensive public consultation before adopting any plan that significantly impacts local governance and priorities.
See Report: Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR): From Local Cooperation to Global Frameworks, by Margaret Braun, 2024.
8. Impact on Local Autonomy
Plan20-50 poses a direct threat to municipal autonomy by shifting decision-making authority to the WMR’s statutory corporation model. This governance structure would prioritize the interests of global investors and external programs over those of local residents. Municipalities must safeguard their autonomy and ensure that decisions about planning, development, and resource management remain under local control.
See Report: Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR): From Local Cooperation to Global Frameworks, by Margaret Braun, 2024.
Recommendations
Reject Plan20-50:
Municipalities should reject Plan20-50 due to the increased bureaucratic burdens, potential legal risks, and misalignment with local priorities. Adopting the plan would lock municipalities into rigid long-term frameworks that are difficult to adapt to changing community needs.Reconsider Participation in the Partners for Climate Protection Program:
While marketed as voluntary, participation in the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program leads to policies and expenditures aimed at achieving net-zero emissions, which may not align with the economic realities of Manitoba’s municipalities. Councils should reassess whether involvement in such programs benefits their communities or diverts resources away from more urgent priorities.Protect Local Autonomy and Flexibility:
Municipalities should prioritize policies that support affordable housing, infrastructure upgrades, and energy security. By asserting their governance rights under the Provincial Planning Act, municipalities can retain local control over planning decisions and resist efforts to impose global agendas that do not align with community needs.Reduce Red Tape and Legal Risks:
Councils should advocate for reducing the bureaucratic red tape associated with Plan20-50 and demand that any future regional planning frameworks are advisory rather than mandatory. This would preserve local flexibility and reduce the risk of costly legal disputes with the WMR over non-compliance.Demand Transparent Public Consultation:
Municipalities should insist on more inclusive and transparent public consultation processes before adopting any long-term regional plans. This ensures that local residents and stakeholders have a voice in shaping the policies that will affect their communities.Streamline Environmental Stewardship to Fit Local Needs:
Municipalities should avoid adopting overcomplicated environmental mandates, such as fleet electrification studies or methane capture programs that may not be practical for local needs. Instead, councils should prioritize community-driven environmental efforts that directly impact residents, such as water management, pollution prevention, and tree planting.
Conclusion
Plan20-50 introduces unnecessary red tape, bureaucratic burdens, and legal risks for municipalities within the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region. It promotes global sustainability goals and net-zero policies that may not align with local priorities, such as housing affordability, infrastructure maintenance, and public safety. Moreover, the plan threatens local autonomy by granting the WMR increased authority to enforce compliance through legal action, putting municipalities at risk of punitive measures for deviating from its framework.
Municipalities are encouraged to reject Plan20-50 and refocus on local development strategies that prioritize economic growth, energy security, and community well-being. By maintaining local control and reducing administrative burdens, municipalities can better address the immediate needs of their residents and ensure long-term prosperity.