Winnipeg Minute: Traffic Safety, Homelessness Concerns, and Spray Pad Extensions

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

This Week In Winnipeg:

• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Assiniboia Community Committee. Several Occasional Liquor Permits and rezoning applications will be discussed. Also on Wednesday, at the same time, the East Kildonan-Transcona Community Committee will meet. The agenda includes a couple of Excess Animal Permits and zoning amendments. The City Centre Community Committee meets on Thursday at 9:30 am, as does the Lord Selkirk - West Kildonan Community Committee. The Riel Community Committee will meet on Friday at 9:30 am. Several Board of Revision meetings take place throughout the week, too.
  
  
• The City of Winnipeg is extending the spray pad season until September 8th, instead of the originally planned September 3rd, allowing families to enjoy these outdoor spaces for a few extra days. Spray pads will remain open daily from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm. The pools at Freight House, Kildonan Park, St. Vital, Transcona Aquatic Park, and Westdale will close today as planned.
  
  
• It’s Labour Day! Many businesses and services in Winnipeg will have altered hours or be closed. Most malls, including CF Polo Park and Kildonan Place, will be open, but Garden City Shopping Centre will be closed. Winnipeg Liquor Marts will operate from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, except True North Square, which will be closed. City services like garbage collection will follow regular schedules, but civic offices and public libraries will be closed. Some outdoor pools will be open, but all indoor pools, fitness centers, and certain attractions like the Canadian Museum for Human Rights will be closed.

Last Week In Winnipeg:

• Manitoba has extended funding for an anti-theft initiative in Winnipeg, allocating $774,000 to keep police patrolling three high-crime areas - Osborne Village, the Exchange District, and the West End - until the end of October. Premier Wab Kinew and Attorney General Matt Wiebe emphasized that the increased police presence has been effective in reducing crime and supporting local businesses. The initiative, originally funded for the summer, has led to over 200 arrests. Discussions are ongoing to develop a long-term solution, with concerns about the sustainability of relying on police overtime.
  
  
• Councillor Evan Duncan expressed disappointment with a report on traffic safety improvements for Wilkes Avenue in Charleswood, citing its limited scope. The report recommends reducing speed limits along certain sections of Wilkes and considers installing a traffic signal at the intersection with Elmhurst Road, which has seen a high number of collisions. However, Councillor Duncan believes more comprehensive measures, such as restricting turns and eliminating passing, are needed.
  
  
• A recent survey revealed that many Winnipeggers believe the City and Province are not effectively addressing homelessness. Of those surveyed, 51% think the City of Winnipeg is doing a poor job, while 46% feel the same about the provincial government. A majority of respondents believe current efforts aren't working and that there needs to be a more aggressive approach to finding housing for the homeless. Additionally, 68% agree that eliminating encampments shouldn't happen until more affordable housing is available.