The Association of Manitoba Municipalities is responding to concerns surrounding their recent Fair Share-Fair Say Campaign.

The campaign calls on the provincial government to change the funding model for infrastructure, as municipalities currently receive about 8 cents of every tax dollar collected in Canada, but are responsible for 60% of the country's infrastructure. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business Manitoba Provincial Affairs Director, Elliot Sims, recently voiced his opposition to the campaign. Sims stated the 8 cents of every dollar didn't take the federal and provincial transfers into account. However, AMM President Chris Goertzen says that's not true.

"The city of Winnipeg, for example, without the transfers they get about 6.1%. With the transfers, it's about 8.1% of taxes collected are for the city of Winnipeg, so that's a huge disparity when you look at 8.1%, compared to the 60% (of infrastructure)."

CFIB also described AMM's campaign as misguided, saying the infrastructure funding shortfall could be addressed by reducing operating costs, specifically in terms of wages and benefits. Goertzen says putting the blame solely on municipalities doesn't address the issue, noting all Manitoban municipalities must have their budgets balanced at the end of the year.

"Some organizations don't believe in any government spending whatsoever. The reality is, municipalities are very efficient when it comes to what they do with tax dollars. They provide excellent services with limited funds. We see municipalities making decisions every year to balance their books. In fact, they balance their books every year, they're not even allowed to run deficits."

He says this campaign is necessary to tackle what's been described as an unsustainable funding model for infrastructure. He feels without making changes to how municipal infrastructure projects are funded, many communities will see infrastructure deficits continue to grow.

"If we don't see a new Fair Share-Fair Say program put in place by the next provincial government, we're going to continue to see infrastructure that needs maintenance, and is getting more costly. Often, if you look at infrastructure in the community and you repair it sooner rather than later, it's much less costly than if it's beyond repair and you have to replace it."

Goertzen says they've already started having very good discussions with all provincial parties, and hope to create a partnership with the next government to build a better province.