The Association for Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) held its fall AGM last week in Winnipeg. It was held in person and virtually to accommodate the different needs in the province.

Morden's Mayor Brandon Burley attended in person, and said it was good to get together again with friends, peers and colleagues.

"It's always a good time, and nice to get back to peers and friends and colleagues, and it's nice to have people who have some things in common with and you can learn from. It was a good two days. There's some good resolutions coming out of there. I think some of them were very positive with regards to our region and our municipality."

Burley appreciated the resolution around Financial Tool Kits giving municipalities the expanded capacity to drive economic development and to encourage certain uses in the community.

"The other is that AMM is looking to lobby the province over its provincial fresh water strategy in a time, like right now, when we're in a drought as we are, I think this is a very, very important message for the province to be getting. Billions of dollars in agricultural failures, and as well with Indigenous communities without fresh drinking water, I think the time is here, and it's now. I've had this conversation (with) our own MLA for Morden and Winkler. This has been on the front of his mind, as well. "

Justice was a topic that took a large focus in City Caucus conversations.

"On the City Caucus level, the majority of the conversation there was around Justice and Law Enforcement. In particular, 'Catch and Release Programs' and the perennial arrest and release of people, even after breaching, as well as amendments to the Police Board Act that seemed to pry a part funding from democratic oversight. Those are the key themes, at least, as far as it relates to our city."

Burley says he will be dedicating some of his time over the next 6 months to discuss with other municipalities, including the City of Winnipeg. He says the province has its work cut out for it, regarding the realignment of municipalities and police boards under the Police Board Act.