The Manitoba Provincial Affairs Director for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is disputing the Association of Manitoba Municipalities 'Fair Share-Fair Say' campaign. Elliot Sims says municipalities are looking for a hand-out, and not a hand-up, by asking for more funding for infrastructure. He feels the call for changes to the infrastructure funding model are unnecessary, and municipalities could address infrastructure deficits by cutting costs.

"Right now, municipal workers in Manitoba are earning 14 per cent more in wages and benefits, than somebody in the private sector doing the exact same job. This occurs through things such as higher wages, but also shorter work weeks for municipal workers, and much more extensive benefit packages, especially when it comes to pensions and pension plans."

He says the government could play a role in improving the situation, but says the current call for changes to the funding model is misdirected.

"If they were going to the province for a hand up by asking for assistance to reform provincial labour laws to get their costs under control, that's where they should be focusing their energy. Not just a stop-gap measure of more tax dollars on the basis of the excuse they don't have enough money for infrastructure."

However, the calls for change aren't the only aspect of the campaign causing concern. Sims says while the AMM claims municipalities only receive eight cents of every tax dollar collected across the country, that number doesn't take government transfers, or user fees into account.

"When you add those to the equation, municipalities are receiving 15 cents out of every tax dollar collected, nearly double what they claim. If we're going to have a policy debate about funding models for municipalities, and who should be collecting what revenue, where, we need to first get the facts straight about how much revenue municipalities are actually getting. When you look at that analysis from a small business perspective, we believe municipalities are getting their fair share already."

Sims says if municipal leaders focused more on tackling labour costs than asking for revenue, Manitoba would be much farther ahead in creating a competitive small business climate.