Friday morning started with our Winnipeg Sun report about the wheels falling off of the Plan 2050 bus. RMs ask province to let them out of Manitoba’s Metro Plan20-50
We have additional details to share in Episode 16 about the reasons why the rural municipalities of Headingley, Niverville, and St. Andrews- and then 2 more – joined Selkirk in pronouncing the document substandard and the take-it-but-you-can’t-leave-it organizational structure unacceptable.
The outpouring of opposition followed the WMR having to reschedule a vital public hearing when a reported 650 concerned citizens arrived in Niverville on August 8th, expecting to participate in the event. We discussed what we saw, in Episode 14.
8.30- Among the issues raised by the RMs in the aftermath of visible opposition to the plan from the public were: The forced membership in the WMR was undemocratic, the weighted voting rules giving Winnipeg a veto even more undemocratic, and vesting the Metro board with final say on local land-use decisions and the power of expropriation was unthinkably undemocratic.
- Headingley, a prosperous west perimeter community, protested “the plan is being advanced without comprehensive background studies in crucial areas.”
- Selkirk CAO Duane Nicol said “we’re seeing the disconnect between the decisions being made and the actual on-the-ground lived experience of the communities and the residents that have to live with these decisions.”
- By Friday afternoon, East St. Paul issued a statement relaying their message: “this Bill effectively strips elected local governments of their autonomy, placing final municipal decisions in the hands of unelected Provincial Government appointees.”
With evidence mounting that Plan20-50 is dysfunctional, it’s been almost like a make-work project for the planners. And under their plan, Scott Gillingham – who supports the plan and claimed detractors had “misconceptions”- is the kingmaker of the Capital Region.
13.00 – Marty explains why It isn’t only what’s “in the plan” today that matters
It’s that the plan opens the door to things being put in later by an unelected board- and the RMs have to pay for it all to boot. When it suits them, the WMR calls the plan a “guide.” Hear the explanation of why that’s deceptive- because it’s a blueprint, with no deviations permitted..
East St Paul ripped the entire concept:
- “A one-size-fits-all approach is not practical or effective… being forced to conform to rigid, top-down directives.“
- “… the plan contains targets, language, and definitions that lack the necessary clarity, leading to multiple contradictions within the document. This vagueness poses a risk of misinterpretation and inconsistent application across municipalities.”
Like the other dissenters, ESP complained of “the adoption of costly programs and processes on municipalities” which “could lead to increased taxes or cuts to essential services, neither of which are acceptable outcomes for our residents.”
20.30 And then there were 6! Only TGCTS checked the websites of all the WMR members, and found that The Village of Dunnator had put out a statement on Wednesday, a short and pointed message.
The Winnipeg media ignored the controversy of Plan20-50 until Marty’s column in the August 4th Sun described the serious implications flagged by the Manitoba Trucking Association, Terracon Builders, and Ken Lee. Read the column at this link.
23.33 PART 2 – In contrast to the dissidents, the RM of St. Clements declared unquestioned loyalty to the WMR. For the first time, an extended FAQ was posted.
You’ll hear just a few of their official responses about “media coverage”, “public debate” and “body oversight” that seem disconnected from reality, especially the claim that “the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) is not an unelected body controlling local decisions. Local councils retain their authority.”
There is no mention made of the 4 unelected provincial appointees, or of the Gillingham veto, or the power to expropriate RM property.
Repeated mentions of ‘the public had opportunities to participate’ is a weak cover-up for the fact their public consultation process was fake. With 875,000 people affected, speaking with 500 of them about the plan is nothing to brag about- in fact, it’s 27 citizens per member RM.
That’s pathetic – and evidence that the process was manipulated to clue in supporters and engineer support, while suppressing media interest and public awareness. Shades of the bike lobby.
36.00 – Marty gives a good example of how Plan20-50 can submarine local decisions: Dunnator would want no part of the WMR having control of the beach at Matlock.
The Metro disinformation campaign is laid bare by this statement:
“These FAQs are provided as information for residents of St. Clements, on how Plan20-50 impacts the community. Everyone is encouraged to read the plan.”
However, in an interview with SteinbackOnline released on Wednesday morning, Metor executive director Jennifer Freeman conceded, “a planning document like a regional planning bylaw can be hard to read when it’s not your field.”
“Read the plan”? Now, that’s a scam. You still won’t get it, so your questions are just misconceptions and you’re confused. Just like those 6 RM councils. That’s how planners have rigged the process. Welcome to Winnipeg.
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