Winnipeg Minute: Revenue Diversion, Compost Pickup, and a Funding Model Request

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

This Week In Winnipeg:

• The Climate Action and Resilience Committee will meet today at 12:00 pm. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.
  
  
• A variety of Community Committee meetings take place this week. The City Centre Community Committee will meet on Tuesday at 9:30, as will the Lord Selkirk - West Kildonan Community Committee. On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there are meetings of the East Kildonan - Transcona Community Committee and the Riel Community Committee. Finally, the Assiniboia Community Committee meets on Thursday at 9:30 am.
  
  
• The Standing Policy Committee of Water, Waste and Environment will meet on Friday at 9:30 am. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.

Last Week In Winnipeg:

• Mayor Scott Gillingham called on the Province to implement a new funding model that would give the City a form of revenue that grows with the economy. He said that, despite all the other times the City has asked the Province for more money, this time is different, because his request is for money to fund essential services. Speaking at a business leaders' breakfast, he highlighted the City’s struggle to secure sufficient revenue, which currently relies heavily on property taxes and limited grants. Gillingham proposed that a share of provincial taxes, like the sales tax or gas tax, could provide a more sustainable revenue stream.
  
  
• Winnipeg's new compost pickup program, launched on October 15th, has collected nearly 1,600 kilograms of organic waste from 15 drop-off locations so far. Managed by Compost Winnipeg, the initiative serves as a preliminary step toward a full curbside compost program expected to begin in 2030. Community response has been positive, with residents generally following guidelines for what can be composted. Currently, the bins are only about half-full, indicating there is potential for increased participation in the program.
  
  
• City Councillors questioned the practice of diverting a significant portion of revenue from the Water and Waste Department to the City’s general fund, suggesting a review of this dividend as rate hikes loom. The City currently takes about $40 million annually from water and sewer ratepayers, which could be redirected toward essential infrastructure projects, such as the $3 billion upgrade of the North End Sewage Treatment Plant. Councillor Brian Mayes has called for a motion to review this dividend, which has increased from 8% in 2011 to 12% in 2019. Meanwhile, Councillor Russ Wyatt proposed that any future water and sewer rate increases require approval from the Public Utilities Board to ensure accountability. Both motions will be discussed in upcoming committee meetings.