Winnipeg Minute: Draft Budget, Snow Clearing, and Compost Exceeding Expectations

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

This Week In Winnipeg:

• There are several Board of Revision meetings this week, but no Council or Committee meetings until after Christmas.
  
  
• Winnipeg's 2025 preliminary budget proposes a 5.95% property tax increase, exceeding the 3.5% promised by Mayor Scott Gillingham during his campaign. City officials say the increase will return to Gillingham’s promised 3.5% for 2026 and 2027. Last week, we emailed you about a better idea we have - a 20% tax cut. If you agree, please sign our petition! Once you’ve signed, you can fill out the City’s survey, and let them know what you think of the tax increase. It’s available online until early next month. We’ll be sending out more information in the coming weeks about how to engage with the budget process!
  
  
• The draft budget also includes a pilot project to increase the snowfall threshold for plowing residential streets from 10 cm to 15 cm. The City aims to explore potential cost savings, equivalent to the expense of one citywide snow-clearing operation annually. Some residents have expressed frustration, citing concerns about parking difficulties, road accessibility, and safety, especially during emergencies. Mayor Scott Gillingham emphasized that the initiative is temporary and feedback from the 2025-26 season will guide future decisions.

Last Week In Winnipeg:

• As if the tax increase wasn't enough, it was revealed that Winnipeg property owners will see their monthly Tax Instalment Payment Plan (TIPP) bills rise by 50% starting in January due to a misalignment between City and provincial tax changes. The provincial government is replacing the 50% property tax rebate with a flat $1,500 rebate, which will result in higher monthly TIPP payments. Homeowners, already facing the confusion of a City-wide reassessment and potential municipal tax increases, were given little notice of these changes, partly due to a Canada Post strike. While some blame the Province for the short notice, others felt the City could have better prepared residents. The situation is further complicated by additional tax changes expected later in the year.
  
  
• The City said it is scaling back its plan to transition its transit fleet entirely to zero-emission buses, citing financial constraints and infrastructure priorities. The City will now prioritize purchasing diesel buses starting in 2027, which are less costly than electric models and allow for a larger fleet. Councillors argue that increasing the number of buses and improving service will encourage more people to switch from cars to transit, thereby reducing overall emissions. Fully electrifying the fleet by 2045 remains contingent on additional federal and provincial funding.
  
  
• Winnipeg's compost drop-off program has exceeded expectations, diverting 40,000 kilograms of organic waste from landfills in just two months - triple the anticipated amount. The initiative, which began in October with 15 collection sites, has grown rapidly, prompting increased bin numbers and collection frequency to meet demand. Residents have embraced composting as a regular practice, particularly after Halloween, transitioning from disposing of pumpkins to managing weekly household waste. The program aims to reduce the climate impact of food waste, with plans to expand until a citywide green cart system is implemented by 2030. Current challenges include limited processing capacity, but the City is working toward a long-term solution with a dedicated composting facility.