Langford looking to join RM of North Cypress

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By: Kate Jackman-Atkinson

myWestman.ca

Last November, the provincial government announced that they would be requiring all Manitoba municipalities to have a minimum of 1,000 residents for the 2014 municipal election.

In December, the province announced that all municipalities with a population below 1,000 will have to notify the province of their preliminary amalgamation partner or partners by the end of January.

A number of area municispalities will be affected by the change, one of which is the RM of Langford.

According to the 2011 Census, the municipality has a population of 767 residents and municipal figures put the current population at 791.

According to RM of North Cypress council minutes, as reported in the Jan 21 Carberry News Express, the RM of Langford has approached them about possible amalgamation. The RM of North Cypress has a population over 1,000 and therefore isn’t facing forced amalgamation.

With a similar land type, both municipalities have similar concerns regarding agriculture. In addition to Langford’s agricultural land base, it also has an industrial land base. Much of the development on the west side of Neepawa, north of Hwy. 16, such as Enns Bros, Rocky Mountain Equipment and Prairie Forest Products, actually fall within Langford.