Winnipeg Minute: Issue 90

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

📅 This Week In Winnipeg: 📅

• The Executive Policy Committee will meet Tuesday at 9:30 am, with the purpose of making final budget recommendations to Council. Recall that Winnipeg is projecting a $17.4-million deficit in its 2025 General Revenue Fund, according to the City’s third-quarter financial update. The shortfall has improved slightly since spring, while utility operations continue to perform strongly, now showing a $78.7-million surplus driven by revised water, sewer and waste-rate revenues. Balancing the year-end budget will require a transfer from the Financial Stabilization Reserve, which is expected to fall to about $18 million - far below the required minimum of $85.1 million.
  
  
• Winnipeg is set to add over 1,000 new housing units through the first phase of the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, with 10 major projects approved to create 1,008 units, including 590 affordable and 274 rent-geared-to-income units. Construction is expected to begin soon, and the City is on track to meet its target of 14,100 housing units by next December, having already approved permits for 9,727 units over the past two years. Additional projects are already funded in the second phase, with some under construction and others in the approval process. While progress is being made, advocates stress the need to continue increasing the number of subsidized units to meet the city’s deeper housing needs. 
  
  
• The Winnipeg Police Service expects to finish 2025 on budget despite rising costs, staffing pressures, and increased demand for policing, according to its third-quarter financial report. Revenues are projected to exceed budget by $14.5 million, largely due to provincially funded initiatives, special-duty assignments, and higher-than-anticipated demand for criminal record checks. While expenses are also forecast to rise by $14.5 million - driven by staffing costs for provincially funded programs and inflationary pressures - savings from staff vacancies, reduced overtime, and fuel tax reductions are expected to offset these increases. On the capital side, spending is focused on ongoing projects, with several initiatives still in planning or procurement stages.
  
  
• A water main break on Main Street in north Winnipeg on Friday afternoon caused flooding, traffic disruptions, and may lead to discoloured water for residents. The break occurred around 3:00 pm during installation of a new underground pipe at the North End Wastewater Treatment Plant. Main Street between Seaforth Avenue and Chief Peguis Trail was closed but reopened Friday evening after crews cleared slush and ice. The City advised residents to run cold taps to check for discolouration and avoid using hot water to prevent sediment from entering hot water tanks. If water remains discoloured, residents are being told to turn off taps and try again in 30 minutes. Crews have stopped the water flow, but it may take several days to determine the cause of the break. The City continues to work on cleanup and remediation of affected areas.
  
  
• As Winnipeg heads into an election year, commentators - including CBC analyst Bartley Kives - are beginning to notice that Mayor Scott Gillingham faces a potentially vulnerable re-election bid despite the advantages of incumbency. Gillingham won in 2022 with just 27.5% of the vote, the smallest share in modern city history, and a low voter turnout left him with a historically weak mandate. While incumbency typically provides a strong advantage, shifting voter attitudes could work against him. Gillingham’s low public profile also contrasts with his well-known predecessors, leaving him exposed if a high-profile challenger enters the race. Currently, no major contender has stepped forward, though former Councillor Kevin Klein has not ruled out a run. Other past candidates either plan to abstain or are lesser-known figures, making a serious campaign logistically challenging given the volunteer and fundraising demands. Despite these vulnerabilities, the window for mounting a credible challenge is closing.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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