Winnipeg Minute: Pothole Numbers, Police Budget, and the Annual Spring Cleanup

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

This Week In Winnipeg:

• The Standing Policy Committee on Public Works will meet today at 9:30 am. The Committee will hear an update on the Portage and Main pedestrian opening and discuss a traffic calming study on Rue Des Trappistes among other items. On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, the Standing Policy Committee on Community Services will meet. The agenda includes the Winnipeg Public Library Board - 2024 Annual Report and a verbal report on implementing a new bike registration system and bike theft prevention program.
  
  
• The Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will discuss the nomination of Centennial Fountain and the Midland Railway Building as Historical Resources, as well as the renaming of University Crescent between Pembina Highway and Chancellor Matheson Road to “UMSU Way”.
  
  
• On Thursday, at 9:30 am, the Standing Policy Committee on Finance and Economic Development will meet. The Committee will discuss the Winnipeg Police Board - 2024 Fourth Quarter Budget Update. The Winnipeg Police Service ended 2024 under budget by $4.7 million, despite some areas of overspending. Total expenses reached $272.8 million, with higher costs in police services and overtime offset by increased revenue from government grants, traffic enforcement, and criminal record checks. A 14% rise in record checks brought in an extra $1.3 million. Overtime spending jumped 34% compared to 2023, driven by more violent crime, homicides, and critical incidents. Special duty work at retail locations also pushed police services over budget by $4.1 million.

Last Week In Winnipeg:

• Winnipeg Police said that impaired driving from cannabis remains a widespread issue across the city. Between January and March 2025, nearly half of the 207 drivers tested showed signs of cannabis use, slightly up from 43% in 2024. Justice Minister Matt Wiebe expressed concern, noting cannabis is now the second leading cause of impaired driving after alcohol. Authorities are particularly worried about the delayed effects of edibles, which can impair drivers long after consumption. Police also handed out 86 citations for improper storage or use of cannabis inside vehicles.
  
  
• Winnipeg has kicked off its annual spring cleanup, with crews starting work on streets, sidewalks, bridges, and parks. Over the next six weeks, about 500 workers using 300 pieces of equipment will sweep the city, prioritizing active transportation routes. Residents should watch for parking restrictions during this time, as vehicles may be fined or towed. The City will post regular updates online to help residents stay informed. Yard waste collection for compostable materials like leaves and grass will start on April 28th in designated areas.
  
  
• The City has filled over 45,000 potholes so far in 2025, a decrease of about 25,000 from the same period in 2024. The City has also received nearly 1,820 service requests related to potholes this year. While the number of potholes filled is lower than last year, it is still higher than in 2023, when only 22,435 were addressed in the first three months. Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has reported a significant drop in pothole claims in 2025, with 682 claims compared to 1,466 in 2024. MPI attributes the rise in claims last year to extreme freeze-thaw conditions.