Manitoba Stronger Together (MST) is calling on all concerned citizens to take action! This Sunday, February 23, 2025. The Mayor of East St. Paul will be hosting an informal event at the RM of East St. Paul Council Chambers (1-3021 Birds Hill Road, East St. Paul) from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. This is a golden opportunity to demand answers about the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) and ensure that our elected officials are truly representing the people who put them in office!
Why This Event Is Critical
The fight for municipal independence is at a pivotal moment. Last Friday, February 14, 2025, municipal representatives from WMR met with the Minister for a crucial discussion regarding: ✅ Withdrawl of East St. Paul from the WMR
✅ The process of withdrawing from the WMR ✅ Clarification on whether municipalities would lose provincial funding if they withdrew ✅ The reality behind Bill 4 ("The Freedom Bill") and the chaos it has caused
We at MST have obtained detailed information about what happened in that meeting, and let’s just say—it’s shocking!
👉 The Minister assured the municipalities that they WILL NOT lose provincial funding if they withdraw from the WMR.
👉 The Minister admitted that municipalities CAN opt out at any time simply by submitting a council resolution—despite the misleading and confusing wording of Bill 4.
👉 The Minister was not even sure what Bill 4 actually says because it is so poorly written! (Yes, really!)
👉 The Minister Stated that the municipalities would have to wait until Bill 4 receives Royal Assent prior to requesting withdrawl from the WMR
Our Mission: Demand Transparency, Demand Action, Demand A Commitment that the RM of East St Paul Will Withdraw from the WMR
We cannot allow confusion and misinformation to shape the future of our municipalities.
This Sunday, we need YOU to attend and ask the mayor some very pointed questions!
This is about more than just East St. Paul—this is about protecting the autonomy of every municipality in the WMR and ensuring that local leaders take a stand.
Your presence matters. Your voice matters.
How You Can Make an Impact
✔️ Attend the meeting in a professional and respectful manner – We must remain composed and strategic. We will not give the press or opponents the opportunity to dismiss our movement as "radical" or "uninformed." We are neither. We are engaged, intelligent, and determined.
✔️ Bring MST’s prepared materials – Download and print some of our fact sheets and flyers. Let the mayor know that we are informed and organized.
✔️ Ask the tough questions – Below are 12 powerful questions you can ask the mayor to hold them accountable and ensure they are representing their constituents, not an unelected regional bureaucracy.
12 Questions to Ask the Mayor About the WMR and the February 14 Meeting
On the WMR and Municipal Independence
The Minister has confirmed that municipalities will NOT lose provincial funding if they withdraw from the WMR. Given this, do you commit to allowing East St. Paul residents to have a say in whether we stay in or leave the WMR?
The Minister stated that municipalities can opt out at any time by submitting a resolution after Bill 4 receives Royal Assent. Will you commit to bringing this resolution forward to allow East St. Paul the choice to leave?
The WMR has faced widespread criticism for its lack of democratic accountability. Do you believe it is acceptable for an unelected regional board to make planning decisions that override local municipal authority? To be perfectly clear on this, within the "Capital Region Organization and Procedures By-Law" for the WMR, under Section 21, Voting, the City of Winnipeg is essentially given a veto over all decisions by the WMR as no majority vote from the member municiplaities is valid unless the City of Winnipeg votes for it. Under Sunsection 21.2(4)
The WMR was supposed to improve efficiency but has instead created more bureaucracy, more regulations, and increased costs for municipalities. Do you acknowledge these concerns, and will you push back against WMR mandates that do not serve East St. Paul?
Given the heavy influence of globalist frameworks like the UN’s 2030 Agenda in the WMR Plan 20-50, how do you ensure that local policies reflect Manitoba’s unique needs rather than a one-size-fits-all international agenda?
On Bill 4 ("The Freedom Bill") and the Minister’s Admission
The Minister admitted that Bill 4 is so poorly written that even the minister was unclear on what it actually says. Were you aware of this issue before the February 14 meeting?
MST will be submitting a rewritten version of the Transition section of Bill 4 to ensure municipalities have a clear and fair path to withdraw from the WMR. Will you commit to supporting this clarification and advocating for it to be implemented?
The transition section of Bill 4 contains contradictory and misleading language that makes it unclear when and how a municipality can withdraw. Will you push for transparency and demand this section be rewritten before the Bill’s final reading?
On Representing the People
Many citizens feel that elected officials in the WMR are not listening to the will of the people. Given the significant opposition to WMR mandates, how do you plan to ensure that residents of East St. Paul have their voices heard?
Given the widespread concerns about property rights, including restrictive zoning, density targets, and potential expropriation, will you commit to rejecting any policy that infringes on property rights without full public consultation?
We know that several municipalities are already considering withdrawal from the WMR. If other municipalities leave, will you ensure that East St. Paul does not become isolated and left at a disadvantage?
Given everything that has been revealed about Bill 4, the WMR, and the Minister’s February 14 statements, do you personally support keeping East St. Paul in the WMR, or do you believe it is time to leave?
Is the Mayor prepared to submit a resolution to the Minister requesting the withddrawl of East St. Paul from the WMR?
This Is Our Moment—Be There. Speak Up. Demand Action.
This is not just about attending a meeting—this is about shaping the future of East St. Paul and the entire WMR region.
📍 Where? RM of East St. Paul Council Chambers, 1-3021 Birds Hill Road, East St. Paul
📅 When? Sunday, February 23, 2025
⏰ Time? 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Manitoba Stronger Together has been leading the charge in uncovering the truth about the WMR, but we need you there to help push for accountability.
Let’s show the mayor that we are informed, we are engaged, and we will not be ignored. See you there! 💪🔥
Letter to Give to The Mayor
Please copy the following letter, make the revisions to it that you wish and fill in the blank areas, print it and present it to the mayor at the meeting. Letter credit: Kicklei Canada
Template for Persuasive Letter to Municipal Councils
📌 This template can be copied and pasted into an email or printed as a formal letter.
Personalize it before sending it to their local councils.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Province, Postal Code]
[Email Address]
[Date]
To: [Mayor/Reeve’s Name][Municipality Name][Municipal Office Address][City, Province, Postal Code]
Subject: Urgent Action Required – Withdrawal from the WMR & Opposition to Plan20-50 and Bill 4
Dear [Mayor/Reeve Name] and Council Members,
I am writing as a deeply concerned resident of [Municipality Name] regarding the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR), Plan20-50, and the restrictive measures introduced under Bill 4 (The Planning Amendment Act).
While Bill 4 was initially promoted as a “Freedom Bill”, allowing municipalities to opt out of the WMR, a closer review reveals that it imposes severe bureaucratic hurdles, unrealistic deadlines, and legal entrapments that make withdrawal nearly impossible.
Key Concerns
Bill 4 Creates an Unfair 180-Day Deadline for Withdrawal
As of December 31, 2024, municipalities have only 180 days to complete complex procedural steps to exit the WMR, including public hearings and Ministerial approval.
If our municipality fails to act within this period, we will be locked into the WMR indefinitely.
Due to the current confusion over the language contained in Bill 4, it is not possible to accurately determine what the intent of the Bill is.
Public Hearings & Procedural Barriers Slow Down the Process
Bill 4 mandates public hearings and extensive documentation, delaying municipal decision-making while providing no clear path for approval.
Ministerial approval is not guaranteed, and the province retains the power to deny withdrawal requests without appeal.
Due to the current confusion over the language contained in Bill 4, it is not possible to accurately determine what the intent of the Bill is.
Plan20-50 Overrides Local Authority
Plan20-50 forces municipalities to follow global urban development and net-zero mandates that do not reflect local needs.
Affordable housing, infrastructure investment, and public services are being pushed aside in favor of high-density urban planning and restrictive climate policies.
Municipalities Must Act NOW – Waiting is Not an Option
The WMR may delay sending withdrawal notices, forcing councils into a time crunch with little room for public debate.
Municipalities that fail to pass a resolution and submit a withdrawal request within the 180-day window will be trapped in the WMR permanently.
Due to the current confusion over the language contained in Bill 4, it is not possible to accurately determine what the intent of the Bill is.
Call to Action: Take Immediate Steps to Withdraw
To protect the autonomy of our municipality and preserve local decision-making, I urge you to take the following actions immediately:
Pass a Formal Resolution to Withdraw from the WMR
We must demand immediate withdrawal from the WMR and reject Plan20-50 before the 180-day deadline expires.
A pre-drafted resolution is available here: [Link to Resolution].
Schedule and Publicize a Mandatory Public Hearing ASAP
The timeline for compliance is already running. Waiting risks losing our chance to opt out entirely.
I urge council to schedule the public hearing as soon as possible and ensure residents have ample opportunity to voice concerns.
Demand Amendments to Bill 4
We must pressure the Province of Manitoba to remove the unnecessary procedural barriers and ensure a fair and transparent withdrawal process.
Keep Residents Informed & Provide Transparency
Many residents are unaware of the risks posed by Plan20-50 and Bill 4.
I urge council to publish a clear statement outlining the municipality’s stance and next steps.
Final Thoughts
This is not just about regional planning—it’s about defending the right of our municipality to govern itself. If we fail to act, we risk becoming permanently subject to bureaucratic mandates that strip local councils of decision-making power.
I respectfully request a formal response from council outlining the immediate steps our municipality will take to withdraw from the WMR and reject Plan20-50.
I look forward to your leadership on this critical issue and hope to see swift action before it is too late.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name][
Your Contact Information]
Sample Resolution WMR
Here is the finalized municipal resolution with formal legal citations to strengthen its
impact. It cites relevant sections of The Planning Act and Bill 4 to provide legal backing.
Resolution to Withdraw from the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) and Oppose
Plan20-50 and Bill 4 The Planning Amendment Act/Loi modifiant la Loi sur l’aménagement du
territoire
[Municipality Name]
Date: [Insert Date]
WHEREAS the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) was created under The Capital
Planning Region Regulation, 2023 (M.R. 90/2023) without meaningful public consultation
and imposes regional planning decisions that do not reflect the unique needs of our
municipality;
AND WHEREAS The Planning Act (C.C.S.M. c. P80), Section 8(3) previously allowed the
Minister of Municipal Relations to modify the WMR’s membership by regulation without
requiring public hearings, strict timelines, or ministerial approval for withdrawal;
AND WHEREAS Bill 4: The Planning Amendment Act now imposes rigid procedural
requirements and a 180-day withdrawal deadline (Bill 4, Section 11) that significantly
hinder municipalities’ ability to exit the WMR;
AND WHEREAS Bill 4’s enforcement is retroactive from December 31, 2024, as per
Section 11(3) of Bill 4, meaning municipalities were subject to its terms before it was
formally passed, violating principles of procedural fairness;
AND WHEREAS Plan20-50 embeds global urbanization policies, net-zero targets, and
regional sustainability mandates that limit local flexibility on critical municipal issues,
including housing affordability, infrastructure investment, and economic
development;
AND WHEREAS Bill 4, Section 7(2) removes municipal discretion by requiring ministerial
approval for withdrawal and grants the province authority to deny withdrawal requests
with no clear appeal mechanism;
AND WHEREAS The Planning Act, Section 168 mandates public hearings and extensive
procedural requirements before withdrawal, placing an administrative burden on small
municipalities with limited resources;AND WHEREAS municipal autonomy is a fundamental principle of local governance, and the ability to plan, develop, and manage municipal affairs should rest with locally elected representatives, not external regional bodies;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The Council of [Municipality Name] formally declares its intent to withdraw
from the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) in accordance with The Planning
Act and directs municipal administration to begin the withdrawal process
immediately.
The Council calls upon the Minister of Municipal Relations to approve our
withdrawal request without unnecessary delays and to uphold municipal
autonomy as per Section 92(8) of the Constitution Act, 1867, which vests local
matters in the jurisdiction of municipalities.
The Council directs administration to schedule the required public hearing, as
mandated under The Planning Act, Section 168, and submit the withdrawal
resolution within the imposed timeline of 180 days.
The Council opposes the implementation of Plan20-50 within our municipality
and urges the Province of Manitoba to repeal any statutory obligations that
enforce compliance with the plan.
The Council formally requests that the Manitoba Government amend Bill 4 to:
Extend the withdrawal timeline beyond 180 days, allowing municipalities
sufficient time to complete procedural requirements.
Remove the requirement for ministerial approval of municipal
withdrawals from the WMR.
Restore the pre-Bill 4 framework that allowed municipalities to
voluntarily opt in or out of the WMR.
A copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to the Premier of Manitoba, the
Minister of Municipal Relations, our local MLA, and all municipalities within the
Winnipeg Metropolitan Region.
Moved by: [Councillor Name]
Seconded by: [Councillor Name]
Vote: [Passed/Defeated]
MST Fact Sheets
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