War of words erupts at city hall

A "pile of dung" replaced the usual mud-slinging at city hall on Tuesday, as council's finance chairman resorted to graphic means to combat criticism of Winnipeg's spending plan for 2009.

In a vote that broke down along unofficial party lines, city council approved this year's operating budget by a margin of 11-4. The $785.3 million blueprint maintains Winnipeg's 12-year-old property-tax freeze, includes an extra $1 million for aboriginal training and offers $2.5 million worth of tax credits to more than 3,800 of the city's smallest businesses.

But council's unofficial opposition opposed the spending plan because the city plans to make cuts to the public service if Manitoba does not grant Winnipeg $15.1 million in additional funding when the Doer government tables the provincial budget this afternoon.

"I believe this is a cheesy way of blaming the province for layoffs," charged St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal, who voted against the budget along with Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, Daniel McIntyre Coun. Harvey Smith and Elmwood Coun. Lillian Thomas.

The city has asked the province for $3.6 million in additional ambulance funding and up to $11.5 million in a separate request for new funding.

Mayor Sam Katz hinted Tuesday the province intends to honour part of these requests and that the city will be able to find enough "efficiencies" in the public service -- political jargon for cuts -- to balance the budget.

"The bottom line is there is no hole, OK?" the mayor told reporters. "We will have enough efficiencies and enough revenues to fill the number we're talking about."

Swandel, who assumed the role of finance chairman in October, accused opposition councillors of fabricating a financial crisis to attack his first operating budget.

"There they go again. This is no more than a disingenuous campaign of misinformation that amounts to no more than a pile of dung," Swandel said.

When asked to clarify his comment, the St. Norbert councillor said he didn't want to say "a load of crap" on the floor of council. " 'Dung' was more appropriate for the chamber," he said.

Couns. Bill Clement (Charleswood) and Russ Wyatt (Transcona) also delivered shots of their own, claiming that the province does not provide Winnipeg with a stable source of growth revenue.

City council will return to the chamber this morning for a regular council meeting with a busy agenda. Gerbasi plans to issue a motion to shelve the planned debate over the Tuxedo Yards Redevelopment -- that is, the $400 million IKEA project -- until the city conducts a more detailed cost-benefit analysis of the effects of the 80-hectare big-box development on Winnipeg's transportation system.

Also up for debate are the latest version of the city's roadside memorials bylaw, increased dog-licence fees, cuts to the park police and a plan to change the name of Garbage Day to Recycling Day.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

What they said

Quotes from Tuesday's operating-budget debate at city council:

"I believe this is a cheesy way of blaming the province for layoffs."

— St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal, referring to the city's intention to find more "efficiencies" in the public service if the Doer government does not offer the city more money in provincial budget

"There they go again. This is no more than a disingenuous campaign of misinformation that amounts to no more than a pile of dung."

— St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel on opposition councillors' objections to the city's budget

"When everybody gets pissed at you, that's a good sign."

— Mayor Sam Katz on enduring criticism from both the left and right

-- Bartley Kives

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 25, 2009 B1