Delegates weigh in on city’s strategic priorities action plan

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/05/2023 (884 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeggers gathered to pitch their own strategic priority wish lists to city councillors Tuesday.

Multiple delegates asked executive policy committee members to incorporate specific efforts to combat climate change and welcome newcomers to council’s draft strategic priorities action plan, which sets goals to help guide the 2024-2027 multi-year budget.

Some argued the looming threat of climate change requires immediate action, including a commitment to implement Winnipeg’s Community Energy Investment Roadmap, a proposed strategy to meet or exceed net zero emissions by 2050.

“We came here wanting to get CEIR on the strategic priorities (list)…. Our greater vision is that the CEIR report be implemented and used as a lens for every area of planning,” said delegate Lynda Trono.

Trono is a member of Interfaith Coalition for CEIR, which she said is devoted to ensuring action on the roadmap.

To vastly reduce emissions, the roadmap suggests several key changes, such as to ensure all vehicles are zero-emission models and have Winnipeg Transit “expanded and decarbonized.” The majority of buildings would need to undergo “deep retrofits” to reduce energy consumption, with new ones built to high-efficiency standards. The proposal also calls for a widespread switch from fossil fuels to electricity for heating, cooling and water heating.

A city report suggests these and other changes could cost billions of dollars to implement by 2050, including both private and public investments, but actually save billions more in energy expenses and carbon taxes.

Meanwhile, others urged EPC to incorporate the city’s Newcomer Welcome and Inclusion Policy into its strategic plan.

“It talks about a welcoming city, a city without racism, equitable and accessible services.… All of these important aspects (are needed) to support a progressive city,” said Abdikheir Ahmed, executive director of Aurora Family Therapy Centre, which offers programs created specifically for newcomers.

Ahmed also criticized the plan’s lack of inspiring images of the city.

“As it is, this strategic action plan looks very dry, boring and, as a politician, I would not accept it to pass the way it looks,” he said.

Councillors stressed the current plan is considered an initial draft document.

Another delegate supported a council-proposed priority to “initiate” the Chief Peguis Trail extension.

“The completion of Chief Peguis Trail will spur the development of services, take traffic off residential streets and be a link to the CentrePort development. It will provide active transportation paths. As it stands, the northwest corner of Winnipeg is underdeveloped and underserved,” said Maria Santos, chairwoman of the Seven Oaks School Division board.

Critics have argued the project’s half-billion-dollar price would be better spent on other priorities.

EPC did not add any new strategic priorities to its action plan Tuesday. The committee ordered a staff report to assess how the plan aligns with council-adopted policies and strategies, such as the community energy and newcomer documents.

“This would be asking the public service to measure the strategic plan against those policies that have been adopted,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham.

However, some of the goals of the roadmap could still be pursued soon, said Coun. Brian Mayes, chairman of the water, waste and environment committee.

“We are moving forward with a plan to put tens of millions into (energy efficient) retrofits of buildings that will save us money in terms of carbon tax and also (produce) an environmental benefit,” said Mayes.

A call to have city staff identify up to 15 municipal structures and/or about $80 million worth of retrofits to cut carbon tax costs will be considered by council on May 30.

When asked if the commitments folks lobbied for were simply too expensive to add as strategic priorities, Gillingham said all potential costs will be debated in the next budget process.

The overall strategic plan includes more than 40 actions, including seeking a new funding formula from the province, adding affordable housing and developing neighbourhood action teams to help deliver city services.

Pending council approval, city staff are expected to provide a framework to implement the plan in September.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga