Winnipeg Minute: Issue 105

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

📅 This Week In Winnipeg: 📅

• Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said he supports reviewing the City Charter provisions that allow Councillors to continue working while facing criminal charges, following charges against Councillor Russ Wyatt for sexual assault and administering a noxious substance. Wyatt, representing Transcona, attended Thursday’s Council meeting despite calls from colleagues, including Deputy Mayor Markus Chambers and Councillor Cindy Gilroy, to step aside. The charter currently only removes Councillors from office if convicted of certain serious offences, not if charged, and past attempts to implement a forced leave were blocked by provincial law. Wyatt’s presence prompted Gilroy to turn her back during his comments, highlighting discomfort among colleagues. Wyatt deferred questions to his lawyer and requested a 90-day delay on a motion he had planned to introduce regarding a citizen summit on mental health and urban health crises. Mayor Gillingham and other Councillors emphasized the need for Council to continue its work while also encouraging public reflection ahead of the October municipal election.
  
  
• Council has decided to scrap plans for a temporary bike lane on Wellington Crescent and instead advance the design of a permanent lane originally scheduled for 2029, aiming to begin construction next year at an estimated cost of $5.9 million. The decision follows advocacy from residents after a cyclist was killed by a speeding driver in 2024. Council approved a reduced 40 km/h speed limit on Wellington Crescent and nearby streets, though a proposal to close several left-turn lanes failed in a tie vote. Some advocates expressed mixed feelings, welcoming the speed reduction but noting the outcome falls short of making the area fully safe for cyclists and pedestrians. In a separate vote, Council asked the Manitoba government to amend the Highway Traffic Act, allowing the City to set a default residential speed limit, a measure currently limited by costly individual street signage requirements. Mayor Scott Gillingham emphasized that provincial approval is needed before further speed limit changes can proceed.
  
  
• Council voted 9-7 to have organic waste collected by City staff when the curbside compost program launches in 2030, moving away from the current fully contracted model. Councillor Brian Mayes, who supported the motion, argued that having in-house staff would give the City more control over cost and service quality, preventing potential price gouging by private contractors. The decision follows years of debate and previous pilot projects on public waste collection, some of which were canceled or rejected. Opponents, including Mayor Scott Gillingham, have cited higher costs for public collection, though proponents note private collection costs have risen over the past decade. 
  
  
• The Manitoba government has quietly begun moving people into a downtown Winnipeg building being converted into transitional housing, with about 50 residents already living there since November. The seven-storey former Booth University College at 447 Webb Place is being renovated to provide 118 units and wraparound supports for people experiencing homelessness, with the first four floors expected to be ready by August. The initiative aims to relocate residents from the N’Dinawemak emergency shelter, which is closing in April, and includes partnerships with local organizations like the YMCA for shower access. While some neighbours were unaware of the plan, local leaders and students expressed support, emphasizing the need for safe, dignified housing. Housing Minister Bernadette Smith said the government opted for a quiet rollout to protect residents’ privacy. The building, originally constructed in the 1960s and previously a college and YWCA facility, is undergoing renovations to accommodate the new transitional housing program.
  
  
• Manitoba’s NDP government plans to provide free transit passes for youth in Winnipeg, Brandon, Selkirk, and Flin Flon, aiming to make it easier for students to get to school, work, and activities. The initiative, expected to cost $10 million, will be funded through the provincial budget and implemented in partnership with municipalities, though rollout will vary by city. Advocates say the program could foster a lifelong transit culture, increase youth workforce participation, and improve school attendance, while reducing traffic and benefiting the environment. Winnipeg School Division officials welcomed the plan, noting transportation is a major barrier for students.

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