Steady as he goes

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/12/2009 (5775 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Mayor Sam Katz looks back at 2009, he’ll probably remember his sixth calendar year in office as a series of ups and downs, devoid of either scandal or triumph.

Ottawa came through with trail-building money, the IKEA project was approved and city council approved controversial pieces of legislation such as the sale of the Winnipeg Square Parkade, the purchase of a police helicopter and the creation of a new corporate utility.

On the downside, Katz suffered a symbolic defeat when he lost an ethics debate inspired by last year’s Riverside Park Management affair — and then saw the provincial government pile on with a campaign-finance bill he believes was designed to hurt his chances in the 2010 civic election.

More significantly, the mayor’s plans for a water park went down the drain, a city sponsorship program fizzled and the federal government ignored a $600-million request to upgrade Winnipeg’s first busway into a light-rail line.

A dispassionate observer might call the year a wash. But with Katz’s approval rating pegged at 74 per cent, it doesn’t look like anyone or anything could prevent him from winning his third and final mayoral contest.

Earlier this month, the mayor sat down with the Free Press to dissect the past year and look ahead to the final 10 months of his second term in office.

 

What are you most proud of achieving this year?

 

I’m very happy with stage one of rapid transit, based on a solid business plan that shows that we can have significant infill housing of a high-density nature that will basically broaden our tax base and pay back the money we’ve invested.

It makes me very happy to see the unprecedented investment we’ve made in our recreational infrastructure… to see facilities for our children, so they’re off the street and doing something constructive.

We’ve prepared to sell a parkade and reinvest that money in our downtown. I’m very happy to see movement on Assiniboine Park.

Right now, people are feeling good about the city. There’s a lot of good things we’re doing (and) there’s a whole lot more to get done.

 

What could you have

done better?

 

Off the top of my head, I can’t think of anything right away. Is there genuinely something you have in mind?

 

How disappointed are you with the federal allocation of infrastructure funds to Winnipeg?

 

The federal government made a significant commitment to infrastructure. A lot of it came though stimulus. And these (projects) were what I would call good projects, whether it was the University of Winnipeg or Manitoba.

By the same token, they didn’t necessarily address some of the key priorities of the city. But they accomplished the goal. They basically stimulated the economy. That’s why they call it stimulus funds.

The problem is, when you have a policy in place and you have something that gets forward that contradicts it, it can be very difficult.

What happened, happened. It’s basically out of my hands. The province and provincial government decided on it.

 

When you’re referring to a contradictory policy, I’m assuming you mean the way infrastructure projects had to be new in order to be eligible for federal funds.

 

That’s one of the scenarios that (meant) a lot of our stuff did not qualify. Keep in mind, the provincial and federal governments pick their stimulus projects based on what they believe to be good projects. The city is not part of the process.

 

What exactly did you have in mind when you made your $600-million rapid-transit ask?

 

It was to move forward on what we would call alternative light-rail transit. (This would go) from our downtown to the University of Manitoba. And that’s still part of our ongoing discussions.

 

What do you want to get done during the last 10 months of this council term?

 

I’d like to see a greater focus on infill housing. I certainly want to see a greater focus on development in our downtown, with housing, commercial and retail. I hope CentreVenture and Forks North Portage are certainly part of that.

I want to continue reinvesting in recreation facilities. I’m hoping to move forward on the Disraeli (Freeway rehabilitation) and Chief Peguis (Trail extension). We still need to do a lot of work on our infrastructure and we’re hoping to come up with a plan in the near future on how to address our infrastructure deficit because we can’t sit around and wait.

As you know, for a long time we’ve been asking for a share of growth revenues and that hasn’t happened. In the mean time, we need our own plan to move forward.

 

Does that mean more borrowing?

 

We know what inflation is. We know what that’s going to cost us. If we can borrow and know how we can pay it back and get the work done now, as opposed to five years from now, those are things we need to look at. (Otherwise) it’s going to cost us more money.

 

How will you achieve another tax freeze next year?

 

Do I believe we can have a freeze in 2010? Yes, I do. No one’s going to pretend it’s going to be easy, but I think it can be done.

What I think a lot of people don’t realize is a one-per-cent property tax increase doesn’t give you anywhere near the money the public thinks it does … It’s close to $4.5 million.

(Raising taxes) is definitely not the answer, but there’s no question there will be a property tax increase at some point.

 

Do you still think it’s possible to eliminate the business tax?

 

It’s definitely challenging. It is something worth pursuing and the bottom line is this: You go ask 15 city councillors what these people get for their taxes and they’ll tell you: Nothing.

 

How would you describe your relationship with the new premier?

 

I find Greg Selinger to be very down to earth. He just tells it the way it is (and) doesn’t really play games, from what I’ve seen so far. He and I have a lot in common in that respect. So far, so good.

 

Do you have any concerns about your election chances in October?

 

You’d be foolish to take anything for granted. When I run an election, I run as if I’m down 100 votes. I’m not going to do anything differently. You’d have to find one of the most arrogant individuals to walk the earth to say no to that.

 

Are you concerned about the NDP getting involved in the mayoral race?

 

My support comes form a broad section of the community, and that’s where they’ve underestimated me in the past. Whether I’m in a board room or with working people, it makes no difference to me. Those are (all) my bosses.

In the past, many have tried to pigeonhole me, but they can’t do that.

 

What about ward races? A centre-left coalition was very effective in the River Heights byelection.

 

You and I both know there are a few people who may not run next year. You also know the NDP and the Winnipeg Citizens Coalition, which are one and the same as far as I’m concerned, are targeting certain councillors. So be it. We live in a democratic society.

 

How are you going to spend your holiday?

I’m hoping to get away with my daughters. Right now it looks very likely we’ll visit some friends in Florida. Could be Minnie and Mick.

 

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca