City delays restaurant-inspection decision again

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This article was published 15/09/2010 (5529 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG – City council’s executive policy committee voted this morning to delay a decision on harmonizing Winnipeg’s health inspections once more – this time, for another 60 days.

Since 1972, when Winnipeg amalgamated with its suburbs, the city has been left with a patchwork of health-inspection jurisdictions. The northwest quadrant of the city is covered by city inspectors and the rest of Winnipeg covered by provincial inspectors – but the city employs more people to cover fewer restaurants, pools and daycares than the province does in its much larger area.

Mayor Sam Katz vowed to end the split jurisdiction, which is regarded as a bureaucratic headache, in 2005 as part of his Red Tape Commission. Council finally voted to hand over the entire inspection job to the province – or have the city take on the role – in 2007.

But EPC has voted six times to put off a decision, citing ongoing negotiations between the city and province. The total number of days the item has been laid over since January 2008 now stands at 935.

Other significant decisions made by EPC this morning:

• EPC voted in favour of a plan to spend $1.2 million next year on more civilian and police communications officers to improve 911 telephone response times.
• EPC also voted in favour plan to license head shops, possibly as soon as next year.
• And EPC voted in favour of a lease for a new spa at the Crescent Drive Golf Course.

The latter three items face council approval on Sept. 22.