Winnipeg Minute: Issue 82

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

📅 This Week In Winnipeg: 📅

• Today, at 9:30 am, there will be a Special Meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development. The agenda includes a discussion about new supportive housing on five City-owned sites - 546 Sherburn St., 1168/1172 Plessis Rd., 626 Stella Ave., 75 Poseidon Bay, and 2546 McPhillips St. The buildings will be 3-4 storeys, with small studio units and support services for people leaving shelters, youth, refugees, and those with mental health needs. A new zoning rule, if approved, will let these projects be built without extra approvals, with lower parking requirements and flexible building rules. The City will sell or lease the land to housing providers for $1, with rules aimed at keeping it affordable for many years.
  
  
• The federal government is investing $1.6 million in 10 projects aimed at protecting and restoring Lake Winnipeg. Announced by Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid, the funding supports initiatives critical to the lake’s fishery, hydroelectric generation, and its importance to First Nations and Métis communities. The Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium will receive $708,900 for research and monitoring, Ducks Unlimited Canada $150,600 for phosphorus control and farmer outreach, and the University of Winnipeg $218,000 to study phosphorus runoff during snowmelt. Federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin emphasized that protecting freshwater is essential for communities, industries, and future generations. Lake Winnipeg, Canada’s sixth-largest lake, accounts for 25% of the country’s commercial freshwater fishery and sits within a basin that contains 70% of Canada’s farmland.
  
  
• A City planning expert, Orly Linovski, has criticized Winnipeg Transit's recent overhaul, warning that the new spine-and-feeder system is harming lower-income residents who rely on buses. A letter from Linovski, endorsed by 16 local groups, highlights long and unreliable transfer times that jeopardize jobs, childcare, and daily routines. While the City has made some adjustments and plans further changes in December, Linovski says urgent investment is needed to increase bus frequency and reliability. Councillor Janice Lukes noted funding limitations under the current model, emphasizing that larger improvements may require provincial or federal support. Mayor Scott Gillingham highlighted recent investments, including a 27% increase in the operating budget and the rollout of zero-emission buses. Advocacy groups say the overhaul has reduced accessibility, particularly for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents, leaving some discouraged from using public transit. Users have reported longer walks to stops, confusion with the new routes, and reliance on alternative transportation like Ubers.
  
  
• Homeowners near Kenaston Boulevard are frustrated by decades of uncertainty over the City’s long-planned road expansion. The fear of expropriation has weighed on residents for years, with 78 properties potentially affected. The City of Winnipeg plans to widen Kenaston from four to six lanes, replace the aging St. James Bridge, and upgrade infrastructure along Route 90, with construction targeted to start by 2027 and finish around 2032 or 2033. Mayor Scott Gillingham emphasized that completing all components together is crucial to avoid severe traffic disruption, while funding from federal and provincial governments will be needed to cover the $757-million project. Some homeowners have already moved due to uncertainty, while others worry about rising property values and whether the City’s $5 million set aside for expropriations is sufficient. Officials say ongoing consultations will continue as the project progresses.
  
  
• Winnipeg has unveiled a new memorial garden honouring local police dogs, recognizing their loyalty, bravery, and service. The memorial, located beside the Winnipeg Police Service canine kennels in St. Boniface, features four Tyndall stone pillars engraved with the names, badge numbers, and service years of more than 78 canine officers, alongside the bronze sculpture Forever Faithful. The project, nine years in the making, was funded through eight community-driven initiatives, including sales of calendars, stuffed animals, perogies, and engraved stones forming the walkway to the garden. Police officials emphasized the unique bond between handlers and their dogs, highlighting the animals’ critical roles in tracking suspects, rescuing vulnerable individuals, and protecting the community. The garden is open to the public as a lasting tribute to the contributions and sacrifices of Winnipeg’s K9 unit.

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