Winnipeg Minute: Federal Funding, Public Art, and a Councillor Seeks Clarification

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

This Week In Winnipeg:

• On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, the Executive Policy Committee will meet. The Committee will hear a Monthly Update on Supportive Housing, Addiction and Social Action Indicators. The Committee will also review two requests for funding from the Land Dedication Reserve Fund - one for the Aldgate Park Community Skating Rink Project and another for North Winnipeg Parkway Improvements.
  
  
• The Historical Buildings and Resources Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:00 am. The Committee will consider adding the Centennial Fountain at 311 Broadway and the Midland Railway Building at 200 Isabel Street to the List of Historical Resources. Finally, the Riel Community Committee will meet on Friday at 9:30 am.
  
  
• Councillor Brian Mayes is seeking clarification from City Administration regarding funding for the North End Sewage Treatment Plant ahead of the February 26th Council meeting. This follows a City report recommending an application for federal funding through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF), which includes $150 million for sewage treatment upgrades. However, Mayes is concerned about the conditions attached to the funding, such as Indigenous consultations and environmental assessments, which could delay construction. Work on the biosolids project has already started, raising questions about whether construction will pause or continue without the required approvals. Mayes wants more details before voting on the application.

Last Week In Winnipeg:

• It was announced that a new dual-track French immersion and English K-8 school will be built in the Prairie Pointe area of southwest Winnipeg to serve the growing community. The school, which will be located on Castlebrook Drive, will accommodate over 600 students and provide 74 child-care spaces for infants and preschoolers. Construction is planned to begin in early 2026, with the school expected to open in September 2027.
  
  
• A new public art installation, "The Candle," has been selected for the Railside development at The Forks. Created by Métis artist Ian August, the surrealist-style sculpture will be nearly four meters tall, with a curved candle form emerging from a holder and topped by a light mimicking a flame. Inspired by 1970s surrealist paintings and comic books, this piece will serve as a focal point in Railside's public courtyard. The artwork is expected to be installed in 2027, alongside the completion of the first phase of the development. August is known for other local public art, such as the Rooster Town Kettle, which commemorates the Métis community's history in the area.
  
  
• The City of Winnipeg and the federal government have announced a combined $58.5 million investment to create nearly 2,500 new homes, including affordable housing units. The funding will support 12 local projects focused on affordable housing and downtown developments, with $25 million in capital grants allocated to create 1,418 new units, including 633 affordable ones. An additional 16 projects will receive $33.5 million in tax increment financing, contributing to the creation of 2,487 housing units, with 1,295 being affordable.