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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

In brief

By: Staff Writer

24/09/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

City committee OKs green plan

CITY council's executive policy committee approved a plan to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions by another 20 per cent by 2019 and to launch a city-wide climate-change action plan.

Mayor Sam Katz's cabinet voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the recommendations from acting environmental co-ordinator Patti Regan.

On paper, the city cut its corporate greenhouse gas emissions by just over 20 per cent between 1998 and 2007, but a large portion of that cut was achieved by selling Winnipeg Hydro and wiping its emissions off the books.

The further corporate cuts will likely be achieved by making city vehicles and buildings more energy efficient.

The community-wide program could be launched next year.

Toilet rebate approved

MAYOR Sam Katz's cabinet approved a plan to offer a $60 water-bill rebate to Winnipeggers who purchase low-flow toilets.

City council's executive policy committee voted 6-1 on Wednesday in favour of the plan, which would see anyone who installs an approved dual-flush toilet -- that is, 4.8 litres per flush -- and recycles their old toilet at the Brady Road Landfill receive a $60 credit, provided the water bill is in their name and not in arrears.

The toilets must be purchased after Oct. 16 and installed by Dec. 31. A maximum of two credits per account will be issued.

The program is expected to cost $100,000 this year, plus $30,000 for advertising. The city might spend an additional $250,000 in 2010, 2011 and 2012 on the credits but expects to recoup this cash and more due to reduced sewage- treatment operating costs.

The plan still requires council approval. The rebates will not apply to single-family condominiums.

City panel gets behind spy tribute

CITY council's executive policy committee gave its support to a plan to rename downtown's Water Avenue after Sir William Stephenson, the celebrated Second World War spymaster.

Mayor Sam Katz's cabinet voted unanimously Wednesday to rename Water Avenue, which runs east from Main Street to the Provencher Bridge, to William Stephenson Way.

Winnipeg-born Stephenson, who grew up in Point Douglas, was a First World War airman who became a wealthy industrialist in Britain. He provided advance intelligence about the Nazi re-armament in the 1930s.

During the Second World War, he ran the U.K.'s intelligence-gathering organization in New York City and helped the U.S. establish what would become the CIA.

Stephenson is credited with helping to end the Second World War by several years, saving millions of lives on all sides.

He rarely returned to Winnipeg and kept his achievements relatively quiet, though he was celebrated in books such as The Man Called Intrepid and used as a model for characters in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels.

City council must still approve the renaming.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 24, 2009 B3

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