City council has decided to put in a formal request to Statistics Canada in regards to the 2011 census.

The census showed a 4.6 per cent decrease in population from 13,466 in 2006 to 12,829.

Through a mayors, reeves and CAO's meeting held by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM), the city has learned that a number of other communities will also be submitting requests for a review of population statistics.

The decline in population negatively affects the funding that the city receives from the province. Extremely low rental vacancy coupled with a lack of housing suggests a deviation that does not correlate with the census figures.

The decision to proceed with an appeal letter was approved unanimously at an April 9 regular meeting of council.

Deputy Mayor Dennis Fenske was sitting in for an absent Mayor Tm Johnston, and explained the process for the appeal.

"As far as the mechanics of it I'm not exactly sure how that works," said Fenske, "I would assume that it's similar to a recount in an election, or we provide data that was missed and ask that it be included in our numbers."

In a memo from city manager Gary Ceppetelli, recommending that the city move forward with their appeal, he indicates that the administration has been in initial discussion with an individual who has indicated a willingness to assist the city in submitting a formal review to Statistics Canada.

The individual is Ray Gagnon, who Fenske says has a lot of experience with this type of process and will be an asset to the city going forward.

"The deadline to file an appeal is Dec. 31 of this year," said Fenske, "so we're well within that and should be well within the deadline."