🌧️ Flood Planning & Infrastructure Resilience

Recent flooding has shown how important long-term drainage, stormwater and infrastructure planning is for a growing Steinbach.

The community experienced significant rainfall and flooding in both 2024 and 2025, affecting many residents and businesses. After the September 2025 event, the City collected damage information from affected residents as part of its application for provincial Disaster Financial Assistance. The Province ultimately declined Steinbach's request. The provincial criteria include whether damage is widespread, mostly uninsurable and a significant financial burden. City Council subsequently asked the Province for greater clarity about how those criteria were applied.

There is an important question here that deserves a clear answer: how is “insurability” being assessed? City officials have indicated that the provincial process looks at insurability at the regional/community level rather than simply whether individual affected residents could actually obtain adequate insurance, and that repeated events are not factored into that assessment.

As i door knock and hear more, the situation has understandably left some Steinbach residents and City representatives feeling that the process may not have treated their circumstances consistently. Recent provincial comments regarding disaster assistance for other Manitoba communities have added to those questions. I believe Steinbach deserves clarity, consistency and transparency in how these decisions are made.

Residents need solutions and some are nervous as to what may happen in the future. I have already reached out to provincial politicians, including ministers and the Leader of the Opposition, seeking an opportunity to discuss Steinbach's growth, infrastructure, seniors housing challanges and flooding-related issues. So far, I have not received the positive response I was hoping for, even regarding a meeting. I will continue following up. If necessary, I am prepared to visit their offices in Winnipeg or ultimately, contact the honorable premier's office. 

I believe a municipal representative should be willing to work with people of different political parties and ideologies when it can help Steinbach. Flooding doesn't belong to one political side, and neither should finding solutions. At the same time, we cannot rely only on financial assistance after a flood. We need to keep working on prevention, infrastructure and long-term resilience.

The City has already begun prioritizing flood-related infrastructure improvements, including projects aimed at increasing system capacity, which is a positive step. City records also note that the 2025 rainfall exceeded the design limits of existing drainage systems and that a climate adaptation and mitigation plan is underway.

Growth means planning ahead. Flood resilience means acting before the next major rainfall, not only responding afterward.

💰 Understanding Our Financial Future

Municipal finances can be complicated. Audited financial statements contain important information, but most residents don't have the time to work through pages of financial statements and balance sheets.

That's why I found the work of Strong Towns Steinbach particularly helpful. Their analysis looks at six financial indicators that may help residents understand the sustainability, flexibility and resilience of Steinbach's finances.

“Overall, Steinbach is in good financial shape. When compared with other Manitoba cities, its net financial position is strong, and most indicators show the city has the capacity to deal with foreseeable challenges.The exception: the ratio representing how well the city is maintaining its roads and other infrastructure steadily declined from 2010 to 2023.”

Strong Towns also notes that the improvement seen in 2024 and 2025 is influenced significantly by the City's investment in the Southeast Event Centre. I don't see this as a reason to criticize the City or Council. I see it as a reminder of how much work lies ahead as Steinbach continues to grow. A financially healthy city still needs to plan carefully for the long-term maintenance and renewal of the infrastructure residents already depend on.

🚶‍♂️🚲 Active Transportation: From Plan to Implementation

Steinbach has already done important work by developing an Active Transportation Plan. I believe that planning provides a strong foundation for the future. The next challenge is implementation.

I want to work toward continued implementation of the City's Active Transportation Plan and better connections for walking, cycling and other forms of active transportation.That means looking at how routes can connect neighbourhoods, schools, parks, recreation facilities, downtown, workplaces, important community destinations

The City has a plan. Now we need sustained effort to help move that plan forward.

Accountability and Planning Ahead

Steinbach is growing and with growth comes opportunity, but also growing pains.

More residents and new development mean more pressure on roads, drainage, infrastructure, transportation and municipal services. I believe our response should be thoughtful, financially responsible and focused on preparing for the future.

For me, accountability is not about blaming people for the challenges we face. It is about asking good questions, understanding the information, following through on plans and making sure residents can see how their City is preparing for growth.

I believe Steinbach has a strong foundation. Our financial position is encouraging. We have plans already underway. We have dedicated City staff, community organizations, businesses and residents who care deeply about this city. But growth brings new demands.

Let's maintain what we have.
Let's implement the plans we've made.
Let's prepare for the challenges ahead.
Let's work across municipal, provincial and federal boundaries when necessary.
And let's bring Full-Time EFFORT to the work.

Not because Steinbach is failing—but because Steinbach is growing.