Agreement fails to end unequal inspections
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/09/2009 (5856 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
MORE than two years after the city and province pledged to create a uniform health-inspection regime for Winnipeg, downtown restaurants, day cares and gyms are still nearly five times more likely than their suburban counterparts to get a visit from a germ watchdog.
And it could be another year before city hall and the legislature find a solution to the unequal enforcement of health regulations that has led some members of Mayor Sam Katz’s cabinet to complain the province is failing to keep some parts of Winnipeg safe.
On Wednesday, city council’s executive policy committee voted to give the community services department up to one more year to negotiate with their counterparts at Manitoba Health about a way of harmonizing health inspections within Winnipeg.
Two different enforcement regimes have been in place since 1972, when Winnipeg amalgamated with its suburbs. That has led to a situation where 24 city inspectors cover the northwest quadrant of the city — about 35 per cent of Winnipeg — while 10 provincial inspectors handle the rest of the city.
On a per capita basis, a restaurant within the city’s jurisdiction is four times more likely to be inspected than one covered by provincial inspectors, community services director Clive Wightman told EPC Wednesday.
That led St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel to deride the slow pace of negotiations with the province.
"The province is failing at the task of health inspections while we’re overdoing it on our side," said Swandel, who was joined in his condemnation by St. Vital Coun. Gord Steeves, St. James Coun. Scott Fielding and Charleswood Coun. Bill Clement.
Wightman insisted the pace of negotiations has improved, while Katz pleaded for patience. But the committee discussed the city’s reluctance to give up its enforcement while wishing the province would take over.
Manitoba Health Minister Theresa Oswald did not respond to requests for comment.
bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca