The RM of Portage la Prairie met with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) recently.

Garth Asham, Councillor for Ward One in the RM of Portage and Deputy Reeve says these meetings take place in hopes of seeing various issues dealt with.

"All municipalities have issues that they would like to take to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities to lobby the provincial government," notes Asham. "They are the voice closest to the government and we just met with them and brought up some of the issues that we seem to be having, and hopefully they can address them through their contact with the provincial government."

Asham explains such issues include drainage, crime, funding and internet connectivity.

Deputy Reeve/Councillor Garth Asham"Internet is needed more than ever because of the COVID crisis and other items that the RM felt that were needed to be discussed," says Asham. "The Internet is probably a hot topic right now for everyone, because of home-schooling going on. And people in remote areas and rural areas just don't have the connectivity that they should have. And I know the federal government and the provincial government talk about it, but we wish their words would lead to actions, moreso, and do the things, sometimes, that government should be doing, and leading and giving us the services that people really, really need."

Asham says they're not always successful, but it is the role that the AMM plays between them and the province.

"Most of the time, or we hope most of the time, the government pays attention and tries to listen and tries to come with solutions that help us all out," continues Asham. "With the municipalities in Manitoba, we're the next level of government to the people, and we have to be servicing our ratepayers, or, otherwise, we're not doing the job we're supposed to do."