Second hearing scheduled for Aug. 8 in Niverville and online
On July 25 the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) hosted its first Plan 20-50 Public Hearing. The event was standing room only as administrators, members of councils and residents came together to learn more about how people felt about the proposed regional plan.
Plan 20-50 is a regional plan for the municipalities in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region. This includes all of the rural municipalities in our area as well as the City of Selkirk.
The meeting started with a land acknowledgement and some administrative adoptions before quickly moving into the public meeting.
Chair Michael Moore then explained the purpose of the meeting.
“This public hearing is part of the statutory adoption process for regional planning bylaw as laid out in section 22, subsection one and two of the Capital Plan Region Regulations. The Capital Planning Region operates as the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region or the WMR. The WMR is required to hold a hearing in two locations, one inside of Winnipeg and one outside of Winnipeg. This is the first of two sessions. The next session is August 8 in Niverville. At this hearing, the WMR Board will hear representations from members of the public who wish to support, oppose, or provide information regarding Plan 20-50. The WMR board will consider all merits of these representations and any written submissions that may be received. This will support the WMR board in making a decision regarding giving Plan 20-50 secondary reading,” said Moore.
An overview of the process of the meeting followed.
Jennifer Freeman, Executive Director for the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, then came to the podium to give context to how Plan 20-50 was created.
“Planning on a regional level is not a new concept. Regional plans guide planning in most metropolitan areas in North America. A coordinated approach to planning leads to more strategic, efficient and impactful planning outcomes,” said Freeman.
She explained that after consultation with experts, it was decided that the Winnipeg Metropolitan Area required a regional plan.
“Plan 20-50 is a long-term strategic regional plan. It outlines the vision and policy framework for sustainable growth and development in the region for the next 30 years,” said Freeman.
From 2019 to 2022 Freeman explained that engagement sessions were held in the region and that the first version of the plan was released in June 2021.
“That feedback led to the second version of Plan 20-50 that was released to the public in November of 2022,” said Freeman.
More consultation took place at that time and Plan 20-50 received its first reading on June 13, 2024.
“We are now entering the next stage in the adoption process which is where we are today, public hearings. There will then be a second reading, the ministerial review, and approval will follow preceded by the final and third reading when the plan is formally adopted,” said Freeman.
Natalie Lagassé, senior planner for the Winnipeg Metro Region then walked attendees through Plan 20-50.
“Regional plans must comply with provisions of provincial legislation including the Planning Act and the Capital Planning Region Regulation, and must be generally consistent with provincial land use policies. Beneath the regional plans sit the municipal planning bylaws. Municipal planning bylaws must conform with provincial legislation and must not be inconsistent with a regional plan,” said Lagassé.
She explained that the region is expected to grow to over 1 million people by 2050.
“Plan 20-50 establishes a vision to 2050 and includes a focus on strengthening our global competitiveness, stewarding and protecting our environment, facilitating infrastructure, investment in services, and cultivating a resilient region,” said Lagassé.
With that in mind, Lagassé explained that four policy areas were established:
– integrated communities and infrastructure
– investment in employment
– one environment
– and collaborative governance
Lagassé said that the plan would be required to be reviewed every ten years. It can be amended but amendments can only be initiated by a particular set of parties.
“As for the Planning Act, municipal planning bylaws must not be inconsistent with a regional plan. So, this includes development plan bylaw, secondary plan bylaw, zoning bylaw and drinking water and wastewater management plans. The regional plan establishes a process in detail for each of these and these processes are guided by the Planning Act as well as the City Winnipeg Charter. Plan 20-50 also speaks to transition. Once Plan 20-50 is given a third reading and adopted by the WMR Board, it becomes effective immediately. The Planning Act states that municipalities must review its bylaws within three years of adoption to the regional plan to ensure that they are not inconsistent with the regional plan,” said Lagassé.
After the overview, people who supported, opposed, and wanted to speak to provide information were heard.
Both those who supported and those who opposed Plan 20-50 had concerns about the density targets in the plan.
Those in support of Plan 20-50 said that:
– a regional plan is not countrary to local decision making but helps to align local decision making and a regional plan is essential to drawing opportunities to the region
– greater collaboration can only make work easier and more efficient,
– These changes are about creating vibrant community spaces where people can live, work and thrive
– transportation should also be protected as a land use because transportation is the land use that serves all other land uses
Those opposed to the by-law shared concerns about:
– consistency within the plan and transparency with regards to how decisions have been made
– concerns that the WMR board members are not directly elected by the public
– municipal plans having to be changed to be consistent with Plan 20-50
– the cost of implementing the plan
– whether Plan 20-50 is inclusive of people of all abilities
– that consultation events may not have been advertised broadly enough
– That the plan could be more clear
One speaker of note to our region was Selkirk CAO Duane Nicol who spoke in opposition. He shared concerns about the City of Selkirk being forced to be included in Plan 20-50. He feels that it weakens the city’s ability to create a strong and thriving Selkirk.
Another local leader from our region who spoke at the event was Councillor Charles Posthumus of the RM of East St. Paul who spoke on behalf of some of his residents. He was concerned about the density targets and how roads, green spaces and retention ponds would be accounted for in those. He also voiced that he believes that municipalities know what their communities need.
Those providing information to the board shared information about various subjects that they thought would be valuable to the WMR board.
For a more full understanding of the roughly four-hour public hearing, you can view the first public hearing of Plan 20-50 online at www.youtube.com (the first bit of the recording can be skipped as the hearing starts at the 57-minute mark). Residents can view the second Plan 20-50 public hearing at https://www.youtube.com/@winnipegmetroregion. It will take place on Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. Learn more about Plan 20-50 at 20to50.ca.
