Orlikow apologizes to Leipsic family

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This article was published 15/10/2010 (5773 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG – River Heights Coun. John Orlikow has apologised to the family of former councillor Brenda Leipsic for failing to acknowledge Leipsic’s role in securing funding to plan the Waverley underpass.

“Brenda Leipsic was a great city councillor and a great deputy mayor, and I would be proud if I can represent the ward as well as she did,” said Orlikow.

He said Leipsic, who died of cancer two years ago, succeeded in securing the initial $1.1 million in funding for an engineering study of the underpass in the 2010 capital forecast. The money was later bumped from the budget but Orlikow made sure it was part of the 2011 forecast.

Earlier Friday, Greg and Tracy Leipsic accused Orlikow of appropriating their mother’s record and fumbling plans for bike-friendly projects in the affluent ward.

They withdrew their support for him and endorsing his challenger, Michael Kowalson.

“In taking credit for my mother’s work, John Orlikow dishonours my mother’s memory. It shows that he is not up to the standards set by her in representing the people of this ward.” said Greg Leipsic.

The Leipsics also said Orlikow had badly mishandled consultations and planning for traffic-calming projects in the ward.