The WMR, The “Freedom Bill,” and the Future of Local Government in Manitoba

This Is the Most Important Local Government Issue You’ve Never Heard Of — Until Now.

Manitoba Stronger Together invites you to a must-see session with Ken Drysdale, lead author of the National Citizens Inquiry reports, long-time investigative researcher, and one of Canada’s most trusted citizen analysts. With decades of experience exposing systemic failure and advocating for common-sense solutions, Ken will take us deep into one of the most urgent, yet dangerously under-reported, issues facing Manitobans today: the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) Plan 20-50 and the “Freedom Bill” recently passed by the Manitoba Legislature.

This legislation offers a very brief window for municipalities to opt out of the WMR—a regional governance framework that many believe erodes local control, centralizes authority, and replaces elected accountability with technocratic oversight.

As of now, only the City of Selkirk and the RM of West St. Paul have taken action to remove themselves. The remaining municipalities—16 more in total—are at risk of being locked in permanently if action is not taken swiftly.

What is the WMR Plan 20-50?

The WMR Plan 20-50 is a centralized development blueprint that binds 18 municipalities under a unified planning and decision-making structure. On the surface, it talks about “efficiency,” “growth,” and “sustainability”—but underneath, it creates a permanent shift of power away from your local elected council and into the hands of unelected regional bureaucrats, consultants, and public-private partnerships.

Ken Drysdale will walk us through the serious issues detailed in his critical review, including:

- Elimination of Local Control over zoning, infrastructure, and budget priorities
- Forced high-density urbanization — even in rural communities
- Public-Private Development Agreements without local approval
- Erosion of democratic accountability to municipal voters
- Implementation of globalist-style policy frameworks under the guise of “sustainability”

And most importantly: The closing window of opportunity for your community to leave the WMR under the Freedom Bill

Solutions, Not Just Complaints

This is not just another critique. This week’s presentation includes a real, actionable plan for how municipalities—and their citizens—can resist the WMR, withdraw legally, and reclaim their autonomy before it’s too late.

We’re also tracking developments municipality by municipality—and sharing strategies for citizen outreach, delegation presentations, and council engagement.