Winnipeg Minute: Issue 68

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

📅 This Week In Winnipeg: 📅

• On Thursday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of City Council. Council will debate whether to allow residents to opt out of Winnipeg’s new Advanced Metering System for water usage. The Executive Policy Committee is recommending that Council reject an Opt-Out Program and instead support a public education campaign to address safety and privacy concerns. The AMI system is part of a $135-million capital project aimed at replacing aging water meters and improving accuracy, efficiency, billing, and leak detection across the city. Administration advised against an opt-out option, citing high costs, operational inefficiencies, and safety concerns, with projected annual costs for opt-out customers ranging from $569 to over $1,000, excluding a $240 one-time fee. Participation in such programs elsewhere has been very low - typically around 0.1% to 0.2%.
  
  
• Council will address a motion that has been submitted to rename Lindenwood Drive West Park to "Kaitlyn Lawes Park" in honour of the decorated Olympic curler. Lawes won Olympic gold medals in 2014 and 2018, as well as a World Championship in 2018, making her the first Canadian curler to win gold in two consecutive Olympics. The City has already named parks after teammates Jennifer Jones and Jill Officer, and supporters argue Lawes deserves similar recognition. Council initially directed a report on the renaming back in June 2022, but delays have stalled the process. The motion, brought by Councillors Mayes and Orlikow, calls for waiving the Welcoming Winnipeg Policy, citing past exceptions. It also proposes funding signage through the Riel Community Committee’s Land Dedication Reserve. In similar news, another motion has been introduced to rename Berkley Square Park to "Dawn McEwen Park”. McEwan was Lawes’ teammate.
  
  
• The City of Winnipeg is looking to introduce a new daily fee of $222 (before tax) for adult cricket field rentals at Bridgwater Lakes Park, reflecting the longer duration of cricket matches compared to other sports. Cricket stakeholders had requested a dedicated 10.5-hour time slot (9:00 am - 7:30 pm) to accommodate full games, which often exceed the current booking windows designed for soccer and baseball. While the Standing Policy Committee on Community Services initially recommended receiving the report as information, the Executive Policy Committee rejected that recommendation and instead directed Administration to work with the Manitoba Cricket Association to explore the creation of booking time slots specific to cricket use. Though the exact demand for the new cricket field booking is uncertain, the City anticipates modest revenue of approximately $5,772 from weekend rentals between July and September.
  
  
• Two Councillors are criticizing the City's decision to exclude St. Boniface Street Links from a new $275,000 mobile outreach contract awarded solely to Main Street Project. Councillors Cindy Gilroy and Sherri Rollins expressed concern that the decision undermines Street Links' proven contributions to homelessness, addiction support, and encampment closures, especially in eastern Winnipeg. Executive Director Marion Willis warned that consolidating services under one provider risks eliminating essential supports and said political motivations may have influenced the outcome. Between 2022 and 2024, Street Links received $118,750 from the City and currently relies on separate funding for its 24/7 safe space and recovery residence. The City says the decision was based on a competitive review process with no political interference, but Gilroy and Rollins argue that cutting support for a group delivering "life-changing work" is short-sighted. Willis has requested continued funding through 2025 to avoid service disruption but has not received a response. 
  
  
• Emma Durand-Wood, a longtime community organizer and first-time political candidate, has announced her candidacy for the Elmwood-East Kildonan City Council seat left vacant after the passing of Councillor Jason Schreyer. Encouraged by neighbours and fellow volunteers, Durand-Wood is campaigning on a platform focused on food security, traffic safety, and supporting local businesses. She brings extensive volunteer experience with local organizations and emphasizes strong communication and community collaboration. Durand-Wood supports creating a Business Improvement Zone for Elmwood and South Henderson Highway and wants to explore pilot projects to address local issues more quickly. She says she promises to be a visible and accessible Councillor who listens and responds to community needs. As a resident of the area since 2008, she says she’s driven by a deep pride in the neighbourhood and a desire to help it thrive. The byelection is scheduled for October 25th. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

A recent heated debate erupted at City Hall over the Wellington Crescent bike lane.

What do you think about bike lanes and the future of cycling infrastructure in our city?

Reply to this email and let us know!

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