Premier Brian Pallister announced today at the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) annual conference in Brandon that the provincial government will provide more than $400 million for emergency response and damage prevention measures to better protect Manitobans.

Pallister says the greatest duty as a government is to keep Manitobans safe.  He added it is a duty we all share and a duty the provincial government takes very seriously.  “Our government is proud to invest in a new, state-of-the-art public safety communications system to replace the province’s’ outdated system that was left in disrepair by the previous government,” says Pallister. 

“The new system will give our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, conservation officers and forest-fire crews a superior communication tool that will enable them to work more effectively, make their jobs safer and ultimately save lives,” he says.

To alleviate the financial burden on local governments, the cost of the new $380 million, multi-year communications system will not be borne by the municipalities.  Pallister added the new public safety communications service will cost close to $20 million a year when it comes online in 2021.

Previously the provincial government announced a new digital two-way mobile radio system, which will provide better coverage over a more secure network.  This new two-way radio system is expected to be fully implemented by 2021 to replace the outdated FleetNet, currently used by municipalities, fire, ambulance and police services, as well as the very high frequency (VHF) radio system used by conservation officers and forest-firefighting crews.

Ralph Groening, president of the AMM, says they commend the provincial government for committing to fully fund the annual operating costs of the province’s new public safety communications service.

“Reliable communications technology is vital for saving lives, keeping first responders safe and protecting local communities in times of an emergency,” says Groening. “This commitment allows municipalities to focus on these priorities through reduced red tape and a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars for the benefit of all.”

Premier Pallister also announced a one-time capital investment of up to $45 million for damage prevention and climate resiliency measures in today’s AMM meeting.  

“We respect the right of every Manitoban to participate in the consultation process,” explains Pallister. “In the old days, they pushed a pipeline across our farm when I was a kid.  We didn’t like it. We didn’t feel like we were listened to.  So, I get it that people deserve to be listened to. But we have been listening and we have been paying millions of dollars for that listening process, and we have changed the design and modified it because we were listening.”

“But you can’t delay a project like this for much longer,” he says. “We’ve got water levels at record highs around the province and flooding dangers are real, and we’ve already had to fork over, as people, over a billion dollars plus because of previous floods around Lake Manitoba.”

“So, let’s get at it!” he adds, “and let’s get protecting people. And that’s what we’re urging, and that’s what was with the Prime Minister in our previous meeting.  We just really need to get this process stepped up.”

“In the meantime,” says Pallister, “it’s going to take at least another year, we’re told, so we’re taking the money that we had allocated for flood-mitigation and various construction activities and we’re giving AMM and the Winnipeg capital region a voice as to how that money will be allocated.”

Pallister added they are wanting to keep monies allocated in the category of saving as much money as possible by preventing additional damage.  “But we’ll see how the application process goes, see what kinds of projects come up, and we’ll take it from there.”  

The capital investment for damage prevention and climate resiliency measure will be allocated in three equal portions:  $15 million for municipalities within the capital region, $15 million for municipalities outside the capital region, and $15 million for previously identified provincial priorities to provide great protection.