Winnipeg Minute: Taxi Ads, Lemay Offer, and Staff Hiring Plans

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

This Week In Winnipeg:

• This morning, at 9:30 am, there will be meetings of the City Centre Community Committee and the East Kildonan-Transcona Community Committee. Tomorrow, at 9:30 am, there will be meetings of the Assiniboia Community Committee and the Lord Selkirk - West Kildonan Community Committee. The Riel Community Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am to round out the week’s Community Committee meetings.
  
  
• On Tuesday, at 2:00 pm, there will be a Special Meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Development Standards. The lone agenda item involves proposed amendments to the Development Agreement Parameters (DAPs). The DAPs are guidelines for developers and the City when creating agreements for land development. The main proposed change is a new road and sidewalk warranty, where developers are responsible for one year of maintenance and a two-year warranty for defects.
  
  
• The Standing Policy Committee on Public Works will meet on Thursday at 9:30 am. The agenda includes Pedestrian Crossing Upgrades at Hazel Dell Avenue and Watt Street, a verbal update on the Portage and Main Pedestrian Opening, and the North Garage Replacement Project Budget Status, among several other items. On Friday, at 9:30 am, the Standing Policy Committee on Community Services will meet. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.

Last Week In Winnipeg:

• The Manitoba Heritage Conservancy has proposed a $5.25-million offer to purchase and conserve Lemay Forest, a 23-acre parcel of land in Winnipeg’s St. Norbert neighbourhood. The land's owner, the Tochal Development Group, is planning a large-scale assisted-living facility on the site, a proposal previously rejected by City Council. Tochal representatives have dismissed the offer as a public relations tactic, questioning its legitimacy and financial backing. Tree clearing has already begun on the site, sparking protests and a blockade by local advocates. While supporters of the conservancy’s bid see it as a positive step toward preservation, the developer insists the land is not for sale and plans to proceed with its development.
  
  
• Winnipeg's proposed 2025 budget revealed plans to hire more staff for libraries, transit, and forestry than for police, despite policing accounting for 24% of City expenditures. The budget plans to add 27 transit workers, 24 firefighters, 12 library staff, and 8 forestry workers, compared to 6 new patrol officers. The City aims to expand services, such as bus routes to new suburbs and library hours, while also increasing efforts to maintain its tree canopy. The budget will be reviewed by Council in January, with a vote scheduled for January 29th.
  
  
• The City said it is considering allowing digital advertising inside taxis and other vehicles for hire, including Uber and similar services. The proposed change would permit the installation of tablets to display ads and provide information to passengers, offering an additional revenue stream for operators. According to the City's annual vehicle-for-hire report, Uber and other rideshare companies have surpassed traditional taxis in popularity, accounting for 57% of rides in 2024 compared to 43% for cabs. The report highlights evolving technology and passenger engagement as key factors driving this potential policy change.