The controversies surrounding the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region board continued this week after a sixth rural municipality, Springfield, voted to depart the group. In Episode 4, Councillor Mark Miller elaborates on their reasons, which echoed complaints that derailed the WMR's previous Plan20-50 development blueprint.

This interview supplements our column in today's Winnipeg Sun - RM of Springfield exits WMR

6.10 Part 2- Ward 3 councillor Mark Miller describes the district of 16,000 residents which includes the towns of Oakbank, Dugald and Anola. It's a rural setting east of Winnipeg with many commuting to the city for work and appointments. He explains how Plan20-50 was set up to allow Winnipeg to "dominate" development planning with a veto that undermines local autonomy. After being ordered back to the drawing board, that hasn't changed.

"We can breathe a sigh of relief to get out of this bad situation," Miller says, calling it "a horrendous horrible exercise" that cost his RM over $130K.

While WMR defenders smeared opposition concerns, "It wasn't misinformation - you were providing accurate information... they did not consult. I'm thankful you were on top of this from Day One."

He actually attended to the single Plan20-50 open house the WMR staged in Winnipeg in 2024, held on a weekday when "most of us are working stiffs" and couldn't go.

"I was disgusted, " Miller states. "They weren't catering to the citizen who is most affected in the rural municipalities... maybe it was strategy that they don't want the public to be involved"

23.23 Part 3- While Springfield will go back to the residents before any vote to re-join the WMR, residents of Winnipeg have had no say whatsoever on remaining in the organization, let alone be able to find out if taxpayers are getting value for their dollars.

"The hemorrhaging is continuing, and there could probably be more," Miller predicts, as other RMs determine "there's nothing for us. "

27.10- The schedule for preparing a new regional plan runs concurrent to the fall municipal elections, which Miller agrees means support for the WMR can become an campaign issue.

- "If our Mayor runs that he is for it, I can assure you his vote count will go way down because our residents don't want it. "

- "The whole process was flawed and continues to be flawed if they don't consult with the public directly... it isn't an expensive exercise, don't tell me it's too expensive."

- "I will not vote for anything that allows the City of Winnipeg to have veto power."

At the council meeting before the vote, Mayor Patrick Therrien revealed “The City of Winnipeg will be looking to expand its boundaries in the very near future."

Miller asks, "Does he know something we don't?... if that's the case are they just going to take parts of West St. Paul and Springfield and MacDonald or Headingley?... If that's their subtle agenda then we ought to be really cautious about this."

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