Winnipeg Minute: Issue 70

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

📅 This Week In Winnipeg: 📅

• The City of Winnipeg has dramatically revised its combined sewer overflow upgrade plan, slashing the estimated cost from $2.2 billion to $1.1 billion and moving the completion date up from 2095 to 2047. The previous figure included a 100% contingency and was criticized for being inflated in a failed bid to secure provincial and federal funding. Councillor Brian Mayes welcomed the new direction and the more realistic plan. Mayes had long opposed the original 2095 target, calling it a sign of City Council’s inaction on aging sewer infrastructure. 
  
  
• Residents are calling for stronger enforcement of Manitoba’s Scrap Metal Act, citing ongoing thefts of copper wire, plumbing, and bicycles. The Act, in place since 2022, requires scrap dealers to keep transaction records and provide them to police when requested, but advocates say some scrap yards continue to buy stolen goods. Community leaders argue that without cracking down on the buyers, thefts will persist because there’s still a market. Winnipeg police say they are working on the issue, noting the role vendors play in profiting from stolen materials. Justice Minister Matt Wiebe acknowledged the seriousness of the problem, stressing the dangers and community impacts. Bike advocates add that better enforcement would discourage bike theft, which harms people who rely on cycling for transportation. Residents are also urged to register their bikes to improve recovery chances.
  
  
• Winnipeg is set to introduce temporary yellow concrete traffic calming curbs next month as part of a pilot project aimed at reducing speeding and improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. These highly visible curbs, called TC curbs, are designed to slow traffic, enhance visibility, and reduce conflicts on streets with wide corners or limited crosswalk visibility. The initiative provides a quick and affordable safety solution while permanent road improvements are planned. Mayor Scott Gillingham emphasized that safer streets are a priority for every neighbourhood. The City is also collaborating with Art City Inc. to add decorative asphalt art at some locations to boost curb visibility and add community character. Installation will begin in August, and traffic behaviour will be monitored for a year to see if any adjustments are needed. 
  
  
• Police have launched daily foot patrols in Osborne Village from 8:00 am to 2:00 am to address rising violent crime in the area. In 2023, violent crimes surged by 59% compared to the previous year, though there was a slight reduction in 2024. Despite this, assaults have increased by 44% so far in 2025. Officers in both uniform and plainclothes will monitor the area, check on bail conditions, and work closely with residents and business owners to improve safety. Local business owners have reported multiple violent incidents and vandalism, contributing to staff turnover and business closures. The patrols will continue until fall, with plans to reassess their effectiveness.
  
  
• Carmen Prefontaine has become the third candidate to register for the Council byelection in Elmwood-East Kildonan, seeking to fill the seat left vacant by the late Jason Schreyer. Prefontaine, vice president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Manitoba since May 2024, received an endorsement from the Winnipeg Labour Council. She plans to address local challenges such as homelessness, crime, and poverty by working with other government levels to tackle root causes rather than increasing police presence. Prefontaine brings experience working for the City of Winnipeg in human resources. Her priorities include improving safety, transit, and infrastructure like roads and water systems. The other candidates are Emma Durand-Wood, an urban forest and housing advocate, and Zekaria Selahadin, a child-care assistant. The nomination deadline is September 19th, with the byelection scheduled for October 25th.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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