Winnipeg Minute: Aquatic Park, Safety Advocacy, and Exploring New Taxes

Winnipeg Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Winnipeg politics

This Week In Winnipeg:

• Today, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Community Services. The Committee will discuss the Winnipeg Police Board 2023 Annual Report and the Winnipeg Hoarding and Collecting Behaviours Taskforce, among other items. There will be a Council Organizational Meeting on Wednesday at 9;30 am. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.
  
  
• The Standing Policy Committee on Public Works will meet on Thursday at 9:30 am. The agenda includes a traffic study on the intersection of McPhillips Street and Court Avenue, a crosswalk to Kinsmen Sherbrook Pool, and a lit pedestrian corridor on Devonshire Drive West at Dawnville Drive. The Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development will meet on Friday at 9:30 am. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.
  
  
• The City is seeking community feedback on a proposed outdoor aquatic park in St. Boniface, aiming to gather input on potential locations, features, and amenities. Residents can participate by completing an online survey available until December 4th, or by attending an open house on November 14th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Champlain Community Centre. A preferred site and cost estimate for the aquatic park are anticipated to be presented to Council this winter.

Last Week In Winnipeg:

• A recent report from Winnipeg City Hall has revealed that the cost of reopening Portage and Main to pedestrian traffic will rise by an additional $8 million, bringing the total project cost to $21.3 million. Initially, Council approved a $13 million budget for the project, but the receipt of only one bid has significantly escalated expenses. Factors contributing to the increased costs include an aggressive timeline, extensive labour needs, and the complexities of winter construction. Mayor Scott Gillingham has proposed reallocating funds from the City's road renewal and downtown street budgets to cover the extra costs. The push for pedestrian access at this location has been contentious, with a 2018 plebiscite showing 65% of residents opposed to the change.
  
  
• The City said it’s exploring the public's willingness to accept new taxes on various items, including liquor, online deliveries, and vehicle registration, in light of ongoing financial challenges. Mayor Scott Gillingham emphasized the City's need for increased revenue to maintain services amid a growing population and heightened demands. A polling firm has been tasked with gathering feedback on whether residents prefer funding from the provincial government, service cuts, higher property taxes, or new municipal taxes, the latter requiring provincial approval. Gillingham is open to various solutions for increasing city revenue and has indicated ongoing discussions with the provincial government about funding models. Apparently, no consideration has been given to just spending less money!
  
  
• Following a recent incident where a passenger brandished a gun on a Winnipeg Transit bus, the union representing drivers has started advocating for the installation of protective shields. The confrontation occurred near police headquarters, where the suspect pointed the firearm at another passenger and demanded the driver open the door before fleeing the scene. Winnipeg police are currently investigating the incident, as the suspect evaded capture.