Gillingham pledges police, firefighter staffing increases to serve growing population

Scott Gillingham is promising to set long-term staffing targets to raise the ratio of firefighters and police officers to Winnipeg’s population, if re-elected as mayor next month.

“The city has grown by 80,000 people in the last four years…. What I’m proposing is a thoughtful, methodical, strategic, long-term staffing plan to make sure that we have the right resources for the growing city that we have,” Gillingham said Wednesday.

Election day is Oct. 28.

Gillingham said he would ask city council to set the targets next year, then gradually increase the number of positions to match 2016 per capita staffing levels for the emergency responders.

That would equate to about 196 police officers per 100,000 population, versus about 170 currently, and about 120 firefighters per 100,000 population compared to the present 112.

Based on a current population of about 850,000 people, that target would raise the number of police from about 1,443 to 1,666 and the number of firefighters from about 975 to 1,020.

(Those figures are preliminary and may not account for specialized roles that don’t need to increase due to population growth.)

Setting the targets would allow council to gradually reach levels that best serve the population, possibly over five to 10 years, said Gillingham.

“(That would be) done over time, phased in over time, thoughtfully, methodically, at a rate that we could afford,” he said.

He also promised to seek provincial funding for eight more ambulances and 120 more paramedics, which Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service has requested for years.

The union representing Winnipeg firefighters welcomed the campaign pledge.

“The UFFW has been advocating for years, raising concerns about staffing resources and emergency-response capacity in Winnipeg that have not kept pace with population growth and the increasing demand for service. Today’s (election pledge) is an important acknowledgement of that challenge… and a commitment to work towards a measurable long-term solution,” said Nick Kasper, president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg.

Earlier this week, mayoral candidate Don Woodstock promised to hire 100 more firefighters and 50 additional paramedics over two years, if elected, something he said is desperately needed to end a reliance on overtime.

“They are trapped working crushing, dangerous, endless overtime while the city burns.”

“They are trapped working crushing, dangerous, endless overtime while the city burns,” said Woodstock.

He noted provincial funding would be needed to add paramedics.

Woodstock also promised to add more specialized equipment, boost mental-health supports for WFPS staff and build fire-paramedic stations in rapidly growing communities, such as North McPhillips.

He believes his promises would alleviate the need to spend about $10 million on WFPS overtime, which the city did in each of the last few years.

Kasper said one year of overtime savings wouldn’t be enough to cover the addition of 100 more firefighters, however, which UFFW estimates would cost about $13.3 million annually.

Another mayoral candidate said she would make several changes to Winnipeg Transit, if elected. Tracey Drexler said she would declare security an emergency and fast-track the upcoming switch from partial driver safety shields to full enclosures. She would also attempt to add dedicated Transit police officers and “peaceful greeters.”

“Our Transit operators deserve to come home safe at the end of every day, but right now they’re working in fear,” said Drexler.

“Our Transit operators deserve to come home safe at the end of every day, but right now they’re working in fear.”

The greeters would work on fare collection and monitoring, and Transit constables would respond to threats, and detaining and arresting people, she said. Drexler did not provide the number of new positions or a cost estimate for the promises.

Kevin Klein, a former city councillor who registered for the mayoral race Sept. 3, said he plans to provide his first platform pledge later this week.

“We’re starting on Friday morning, with the first campaign announcement. And then it’s going to be full speed ahead after that,” said Klein.

When asked why he has not shared such details with voters so far, he said he feels there is still plenty of time to do so.

“I don’t think it’s late into the race. I think that we’re providing a vision of what we have for Winnipeg…. We are going to make change that makes sense,” he said.

“We’re providing a vision of what we have for Winnipeg.”

Wednesday also marked the start of the nomination period for the election. To see their names on the election ballot, mayoral candidates must complete that process, which includes obtaining the signatures of at least 250 people on the voter’s list by 4:30 p.m. next Tuesday.

Chris Clacio was the first to complete that process Wednesday morning.

Candidates who registered to run for mayor also include Mike Vogiatzakis, Umar Hayat, Mazher Alam, Joshua Pagdato, Johnny Calderon, Noah Redden, Brad Gross and Gagandeep Bawa.

Zac Uminski had registered for the competition but withdrew on Wednesday.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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