Municipal Board Modernization – Underway
Action: Using a phased approach, support The Municipal Board to take steps to modernize, including:
· by dedicating project management resources
· publishing decisions electronically
· enabling digital submissions and electronic correspondence
Underway – What’s New: In Spring 2025, the Department assigned a staff member with specialized project management experience to help support The Municipal Board. Working together with The Municipal Board, the Department’s dedicated staff member is mapping existing Board processes and developing a plan to improve the Board’s use of information technology.
Legislative Changes to Improve Planning Appeals – Underway
Action: Using a phased approach, make changes to legislation to improve planning appeals to The Municipal Board, including standardizing appeal processes and refining scope of planning appeals
Underway – What’s New: The
Manitoba Government passed Bill 33 (The Planning Amendment and City of Winnipeg
Charter Amendment Act) on June 1, 2026. This law is now in effect.
Changes
made by Bill 33 includes assigning performance standards (timelines) to all
planning matters that come before the Municipal Board and changing the scope of
Municipal Board authority when reviewing public objection referrals. To view
Bill 33, please visit https://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/43-3/pdf/b033.pdf.
A Guide and FAQs on the changes can be found here.
Adopt Planning Appeal and Planning Referral Rules – Upcoming
Action: Support The Municipal Board to adopt updated Planning Appeal Rules and Planning Referral Rules including processes to conduct case management and dismiss appeals
Municipal Board Fee Structure – Upcoming
Action: Support The Municipal Board to review its fee structure and clarify guidelines for the assignment of costs
Public Objections in the Planning Process – Underway
Action: Clarify the role, scope and timing of public objections in the planning process
Underway – What’s New: The
Manitoba Government passed Bill 33 (The Planning Amendment and City of Winnipeg
Charter Amendment Act) on June 1, 2026. This law is now in effect.
Bill
33 changes the scope of Municipal Board authority when reviewing public
objection referrals. Hearings will no longer take place for these matters,
which will be replaced with an administrative review by The Board of existing
public record. Board recommendations will be nonbinding, but councils must
consider Board recommendations before giving final approvals. To view Bill 33,
please visit https://web2.gov.mb.ca/bills/43-3/pdf/b033.pdf.
A Guide and FAQs on the changes can be found here.
Municipal Board Staffing and Resource Needs – Underway
Action: Support The Municipal Board in its review of staffing requirements and resource needs to effectively manage planning appeals
Underway – What’s New: The Department is working with The Municipal Board to help them grow their capacity. In Fall 2025, The Municipal Board added a senior policy analyst to their staffing complement.
