Winnipeg Minute: Issue 101

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

📅 This Week In Winnipeg: 📅

• A $32-million partnership between the federal and Manitoba governments and the Winnipeg Airports Authority will fund the first phase of the West Lands development next to Winnipeg’s airport. The project will service 127 acres of runway-access land aimed at attracting aviation, aerospace, manufacturing and distribution companies. Officials say the development will position Winnipeg to compete for future defence-related and trade investment while generating significant economic benefits, including hundreds of millions in GDP activity during construction and ongoing operations. Mayor Scott Gillingham said the City’s central location and direct runway access make it attractive for major employers, with discussions already underway with a potential tenant. Sources indicate a WestJet maintenance facility is being considered, though no decision has been made. Infrastructure work is expected to be completed by the fall, with further construction to follow, though no full project timeline has been confirmed.
  
  
• The Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) faces uncertainty after the Rural Municipality of St. Clements became the latest municipality to withdraw, leaving half of the region’s original 18 members outside the planning framework. St. Clements cited the need for future Councils to maintain flexibility and noted it has not fully reviewed the regional plan, though it remains committed to inter-municipal collaboration. The region’s plan, extended to January 2027, aims to guide growth, infrastructure, and services, but with reduced membership, political science experts warn it may struggle to achieve effective coordination. The NDP government’s “freedom bill” allows municipalities to opt out, with Premier Wab Kinew emphasizing local decision-making while encouraging cooperation where possible.
  
  
• Winnipeg Transit is proposing adjustments to three downtown routes - D16, D18, and D19 - after a survey by Downtown Winnipeg BIZ suggested the majority of stakeholders are unhappy with the current system. The D16 would be split into two sections to improve punctuality, while the D19 would terminate closer to Vaughan Street instead of Webb Place. The survey found that 84% were unhappy with the transit changes introduced last June, and 70% reported visiting downtown less often. Commuters say travel times have doubled on some routes, leaving riders frustrated. City officials, including Mayor Scott Gillingham, acknowledge issues but note the survey may not be fully representative; they plan to implement the changes in June and continue refining the system. Additional buses and extended service hours are also planned starting in April to address demand on busy routes.
  
  
• City staff are recommending lowering the default speed limit on local streets and minor collector roads from 50 km/h to 40 km/h, according to a report on the agenda for the March 4th Public Works Committee meeting. The proposal follows a pilot project started in March 2023 in four neighbourhoods, which studied the effects of lower speeds on travel, safety, and quality of life. Research cited in the report suggests even modest reductions in speed can reduce the frequency and severity of collisions. Public feedback was mixed, though a city-wide survey found 57% of respondents support the change, and 72% would accept slightly longer travel times for safety benefits. The estimated cost of the change is $525,000, mostly for new signage and advertising, and City Council would need provincial approval through an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act to implement it. 
  
  
• The Winnipeg School Division is proposing a 9.25% mill rate increase in its draft 2026-27 budget, which would raise school taxes for homeowners. Superintendent Matt Henderson said the increase is needed despite a 3.8% provincial funding boost, which he described as below the rate of inflation. The Division’s $549.7-million budget remains largely focused on staffing, with no planned increases in full-time positions, maintaining 2,260 teachers, 1,515 educational assistants, and 120 clinicians. Additional spending is proposed for school and infrastructure repairs, technology upgrades, expanded child-care spaces, arts and music programs, international baccalaureate programming, and global issues classes at high schools. The Board is expected to review and adopt the final budget in early March.

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