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Manitoba Local Government

Regional Planning Advisory Committee

Terms of Reference

Schedule "A"

To Order in Council No. 320/2001

REGIONAL PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR MANITOBA'S CAPITAL REGION

A. Background

On January 23, 2001, the Government of Manitoba released the document entitled: Planning Manitoba's Capital Region: Next Steps. In this document, the Government stated that its vision for the Capital Region is "one of a safe, healthy, efficient and prosperous region with a strong core city, where the public, governments and organizations work together, enhancing community development opportunities, effectively managing and protecting resources, and providing citizens with a high quality of life."

In the Next Steps document the Province outlined a number of issues related to the Capital Region and identified a Provincial ten-point action plan to address them. Among these actions, the Province stated it would "take the lead in developing planning policies that better address the growth management issues facing the Capital Region", and "appoint a Regional Planning Advisory Committee (RPAC) to assist in stimulating public discussion and to provide advice on regional planning policies".

B. Goal

The overall goal of the Regional Planning Advisory Committee (RPAC) is to undertake community consultations in order to gain public and stakeholder input on potential planning policies which better address the growth management issues facing the Capital Region. The RPAC will prepare a report on its findings to the Minister of Manitoba Local Government, and the report will be considered by the Province in developing a Policy Plan for the Capital Region. Once adopted by Manitoba, the Plan will be used to guide decisions by planning authorities on the development of land and the management of resources in the region. It is intended that the Plan will be implemented in a manner similar to The Provincial Land Use Policies, and apply to all municipalities and planning districts in the Capital Region.

C. Study Area

The Province has initially defined the Capital Region to include the following 16 municipalities (see map):

  • Cartier, RM
  • East St. Paul, RM
  • Headingley, RM
  • Macdonald, RM
  • Ritchot, RM
  • Rockwood, RM
  • Rosser, RM
  • Selkirk, City
  • Springfield, RM
  • St. Andrews, RM
  • St. Clements, RM
  • St. François Xavier, RM
  • Stonewall, Town
  • Taché, RM
  • West St. Paul, RM
  • Winnipeg, City

The Province may consider altering the outer boundaries of the Capital Region based on the public and stakeholder consultations, and the advice of the RPAC. Municipal or planning district boundaries are not proposed to be altered as part of this initiative.

D. Role of the RPAC

The RPAC's primary role is to assist in stimulating public discussion and to provide advice on regional planning policies to the Minister of Manitoba Local Government for use by the Province in formulating a Regional Policy Plan for the Capital Region. More specifically, the RPAC will:

  1. Within 45 days of its establishment, submit a brief work plan to the Minister for approval which will identify more specifically the RPAC's schedule and outline its proposed actions.
  2. Advise on materials and documents prepared by the Province for distribution to the public in order to stimulate public discussion.
  3. Hold a series of public workshops, open houses, public meetings or similar types of public forums throughout the Capital Region in order to gain public and other stakeholder input. Additional meetings with specific stakeholders may be undertaken by the RPAC either as a committee of the whole or through sub-committees. Written submissions will be allowed.
  4. Consult directly with the Capital Region's municipalities and planning districts through meetings and/or other means.
  5. Maintain a record of the RPAC's meetings and the input received.
  6. Advise the Province on the need and priorities for background studies and research.
  7. Provide a Report to the Minister which will state its findings from the public consultation.
  8. Be subject to the Government of Manitoba's French Language, Freedom of Information, and Conflict of Interest policies.

E. Role of the Province

The Province of Manitoba will:

  1. Issue terms of reference and enter into any contracts associated with the project.
  2. Incur all duly authorized costs associated with the initiative within approved budgets.
  3. Assist the RPAC in defining the scope and type of public consultations to be undertaken.
  4. Undertake all public communications on the initiative with the advice of the RPAC.
  5. Provide and/or authorize all written materials and documents for the RPAC to use to stimulate public discussion.
  6. Provide staff support (secretariat function) to the RPAC including organizing meetings and processing public submissions. Staff support will be provided primarily by Manitoba Local Government staff.
  7. Undertake background studies and research.
  8. Draft the Capital Region Policy Plan after receiving the RPAC's Report on the public consultation.

F. Timing/Schedule

The RPAC will be expected to begin undertaking its duties within one month of its establishment. The RPAC will forward its report to the Minister of Manitoba Local Government by May 31, 2002. Subsequently, the RPAC may be requested to undertake further public consultations and provide additional advice, as may be required.

G. Budget

A budget has been allocated to Manitoba Local Government for this initiative.


email us For more information contact
capitalregion@gov.mb.ca