Recommendations

(A) ADMINISTRATION

THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS -

  1. That there be formed, by Legislation and without seeking the approval of the residents by way of referendum, the "Municipality of Metropolitan Winnipeg" with jurisdiction to perform those services and to assume those rights and obligations which are listed hereunder.
  2. That the Municipality of Metropolitan Winnipeg be governed by a Metropolitan Council consisting of the elected head of each of the following Cities and Municipalities -- Winnipeg, St. Boniface, St. James, East Kildonan, Fort Garry, St. Vital, Transcona and West Kildonan -- as well as six members to be known as the Board of Control, who shall be elected from the metropolitan area directly to the metropolitan council.
  3. For the purpose of such election, the metropolitan area shall be divided into six districts, each of which shall contain approximately one-sixth of the population of Winnipeg, and shall also contain within its boundaries the total area of at least one of the other cities and/or municipalities, and the population in each of such districts shall be approximately one-sixth of the total population. One controller shall be elected from each district.
  4. The Controllers shall be elected for three years, and their terms of office shall end at the same time.
  5. The first chairman of the Metropolitan Council shall be appointed by the Lietenant-Govenor-In-Council, for a sufficiently long term, to enable the Metropolitan Council to set up appropriate administrative departments, and for one full term of two years thereafter.
  6. The Board of Control shall present plans and policies for the approval of the Metropolitan Council and shall also prepare the budget and supervise same. The Chairman shall the the titular and executive head of both the Council and Board of Control, and shall preside at all their meetings. The Chairman shall not be entitled to a vote, except in the case of a tie vote, but shall be entitled to vote for the election of a Vice-Chairman.
  7. The Chairman and each of the Controllers shall not hold office in any other Municipal Council, the Provincial Legislature, The House of Commons or the Canadian Senate, and each of their offices shall be deemed a full time occupation, and they shall be compensated accordingly.
  8. The other eight members of the Council shall be compensated in such amount as the Metropolitan Council decides, bearing in mind their limited duties.
  9. At the expiration of the first, or "appointed" term, the Chairman shall be elected by the members of the Metropolitan Council from among themselves or they may go outside their number for their office, and the Chairman shall be elected for a term of two years.
  10. A Vice-Chairman shall be elected annually by the Council from among the Controllers.
  11. If one of the Controllers is elected as Chairman, then the office of Controller in that district shall be declared vacant, and a By-Election held at the earliest possible date to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term thereof.

Explanation

The representation on the Metropolitan Council has taken considerable discussion, and the Commission has resolved that the area as a whole can benefit most by not setting up a form of council which can best be described as "city versus suburbs". In the foreseeable future the population of the surrounding area will be greater than in Winnipeg itself, and the pressure will be great at the time to have representation by population applied, with the suburbs claiming the majority. This is a situation that must be avoided.

It was felt that establishing a so-called balance of power between Winnipeg and the surrounding area, by giving Winnipeg one-half of the representation on the Council, would be to set up a built-in obstacle to the harmony and co-operation which will have to prevail in order that the Metropolitan Authority should be successful.

The Commission is therefore of the opinion, based on a careful review of Toronto, that the central city is amply protected by the six controllers who will each represent one-sixth of the city and, of course, by the Mayor of Winnipeg. There is no doubt that the welfare of the area will be better served by the suggested representation.

(B) THE AREA FOR METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY AND FUTURE TERRITORIAL CHANGES

In arriving at its conclusions the Commission was guided by two principles:

  1. That bigness, per se, does not necessarily provide more efficient or more desirable local government.
  2. That a municipality contained within the Metropolitan area must provide within and by itself, as a minimum, the average standard available in the area in both municipal and educational services, in order to justify its exitance as a separate entity within that area.

In light of the above principles, the following is recommended:

  1. That the Municipalities of West Kildonan, Old Kildonan and West St. Paul BE AMALGAMATED INTO ONE MUNICIPALITY, TO BE KNOWN AS WEST KILDONAN.
  2. That the portion of the Municipality of Rosser, bounded as follows: (a) On the East by its present municipal boundary, on the North by the Perimeter Road, on the West by Highway No. 6, and the Southerly extension thereof up to and including Brookside Cemetery, and on the South by the Southerly limit of Brookside Cemetery, (b) together with the Village of Brooklands, BE AMALGAMATED WITH WINNIPEG.
  3. That the portion of Rosser described as being bounded: On the North by the Perimeter Road, and approximately one-half mile Westerly extension thereof, on the West by a line approximately one-half mile west of the Perimeter Road, on the South by its present boundary, and on the East by Highway No. 6 and the Southerly extension thereof up to Brookside Cemetery, as well as being bounded on the East by Brookside Cemetery, as well as that portion of the Airport contained within such municipality.

(And) that portion of Assiniboia described as bounded: On the West by a line approximately one-half mile West of the Perimeter Road, on the South by the Assiniboine River, as well as its Southern Boundary, and on the East and North by its municipal boundary,

BE AMALGAMATED WITH ST. JAMES.

  1. (a) That portion of Charleswood bounded on the North by the Assiniboine River, on the West by a line approximately one-half mile West of the Perimeter Road, on the South by its present municipal boundary, and on the East by its municipal boundary, together with,