The R.M. of Dufferin played a significant role in the recent creation of a provincial tile drainage by-law template.

The effort, spearheaded by the Red River Basin Commission, drew on the R.M. of Dufferin's experience with the process because the municipality was one of the first in Manitoba to create its own set of rules and regulations for the system.

George Gray, reeve for the R.M. of Dufferin, served on Council twelve years ago when members got to work under former reeve, Shawn McCutcheon.

"We could see that tile drainage was going to be an advent for the future that needed some rules and regulations to...make sure everybody cooperated for a success story for both parties and that certainly has been the case," he said.

In February 2017 Gray hosted a webinar on the subject. He explained that a poll of the 80 participating municipalities showed only 15 per cent had anything resembling a tile drainage policy.

"So that rang the bell that it was time that somebody formed a policy to offer to other R.M.s in the province."

Gray says tile drainage has been present in the R.M. of Dufferin for about 20-25 years. He noted Council approved between 15 and 20 tile drainage applications last year, adding there is about 10 more applications in the queue for 2018.