Winkler Mayor Martin Harder is hoping to continue his work on the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM).

He notes getting involved gives the community a voice within wider issues.

"You put forward some ideas and it's especially neat when they get listened to," he says.

Since being elected to the AMM Board over a year ago, Harder has taken on roles on the Province's Affordable Housing Board as well as the National Housing Plan.

Input into the area, Harder says, has also generated an openness to allow communities to manage their provincially owned housing projects and run them at the local level, "creating efficiencies as well as more control over the placement of qualified tenants into those facilities."

Local non-profit Winkler Affordable Housing Inc. recently took over management of 66 housing units from Manitoba Housing. Properties include several houses, townhouses and seniors blocks. Harder says the local leadership provides better understanding of the community's needs.

Harder was also appointed by the Premier to the Red Tape Task Force.

"There's some teeth behind that one and it's really gratifying to see that we can streamline some things."

As well, Harder has taken on seat on the Provincial Justice Advisory Council dealing with issues of RCMP contracts with municipalities and reviewing the work of Police Boards.

"It's neat to see we have an influence beyond our borders," he says. "For our community it's a great gesture for us to be interested the province as a whole."