Provincial Water Management Strategy

As announced in November 2022, the Government of Manitoba is developing an initial Action Plan under Manitoba’s new Water Management Strategy. The action plan will define specific projects, programs, and initiatives that Manitoba will invest in over the upcoming years to transform the strategy framework into concrete actions.
We would like your input and ideas as we develop the Action Plan.
The input that you provide today will help inform and shape the initial Water Action Plan, which is scheduled for release later in spring 2023.
Please provide your feedback by completing the survey below and/or posting an idea to the Ideas Board.
We strongly recommend reading the Water Management Strategy and Launch Statement prior to participating in this engagement.
We are also happy to accept written submissions (please send to waterstrategy@gov.mb.ca).
Thank you for participating in this engagement opportunity! We value and appreciate your input and feedback.
Background
On November 8, 2022 Manitoba’s Water Management Strategy was released along with a Launch Statement from Premier Heather Stefanson and Minister Wharton. The strategy aims to meet the diverse water needs of Manitobans while addressing the water challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow. It provides high-level strategic direction and guidance on water, and includes a vision, mission, guiding principles, and key focus areas with corresponding strategic objectives. This strategic framework will set the stage for work and decision-making on water for the coming decade and beyond.
Throughout the process of developing the Water Management Strategy, we engaged with hundreds of Manitobans from governments, communities, organizations, agencies, and businesses, to discuss water management challenges, issues, priorities and needs.
In summer 2021, Manitoba’s Expert Advisory Council (EAC) submitted their advice and recommendations towards developing a Water Management Strategy for Manitoba. Based on the EAC’s report, Manitoba released a preliminary strategy framework and sought input and feedback from Manitobans on EngageMB. The results of that feedback are available in a What We Heard Report.
In May 2021, Manitoba invested $1 million in a Water Strategy Fund to support the Water Management Strategy. The fund was administered by the Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative (EMILI) and guided by an oversight committee. To date, the fund has supported stakeholder engagement and three strategic water projects. EMILI prepared a report summarizing key findings and recommendations based on this work.
Some Indigenous organizations and individuals participated in the engagement for the strategy framework. It is recognized that more direct and collaborative work with Indigenous communities and organizations is essential, and this is a central commitment in the strategy. Manitoba has initiated this outreach and will build future steps for Indigenous engagement in partnership with Indigenous Peoples.