Province could be tapped to help fund Winnipeg library safety strategy

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This article was published 29/06/2023 (848 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A long-term, multimillion-dollar library security plan is moving forward, months after the homicide of a patron at the downtown Millennium branch — but supporters fear it may not wind up fully funded.

Council’s community services committee approved Thursday a call to spend $1 million on long-term safety measures this year. The measure would fund up to five more security guards at Millennium, increase employee safety training and add up to eight more community safety hosts for the downtown facility and other branches, pending council approval.

The city would also create 4.2 temporary full-time staff positions and devote an additional two community safety hosts to reopen Millennium Library’s Community Connections space, using the existing budget. The space is designed to connect vulnerable library patrons with shelter/housing, social assistance, mental health, addiction services and other supports.

The controversial metal detector looks set to continue screening downtown patrons at least until the city completes a project to redesign the Millennium lobby.

Community services chairman John Orlikow told reporters money is in place to support this year’s changes, pending council approval. However, the next budget process will determine if the city can afford about $2.4 million per year, starting in 2024, to retain the added security guards, community safety hosts and community connections space.

“Our budget is very tight. People have expectations of the roads getting fixed, the pools being open… There’s a lot of cost pressures,” said Orlikow.

The councillor proposed several amendments to the plan, including asking the Manitoba government to deploy two community crisis workers to support the Community Connections space, remove the need for two city staff, and that community safety hosts be required to keep detailed data on incidents they address.

Another amendment aims to hire the community safety hosts through Fearless R2W, which has a contract with the city.

Community safety hosts are trained in trauma-related crisis work and can help connect people with resources.

While Orlikow said he believes those skilled workers would improve safety, the data is needed to justify future funding.

“We have to make sure that when we’re investing our money, it has that outcome we’re asking for,” he said.

The councillor said provincial support would make sense to bridge any funding gaps.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said he believes the city should seek funding support from the province and collect ample data to determine which services are effective.

“We need that data to make good decisions and the right decisions for resourcing in the future,” said Gillingham.

The head of the union that represents Winnipeg Public Library staff said many are glad the metal detectors will remain in place.

“At this point in time, I think it’s necessary. Winnipeg’s in the midst of a meth crisis, there’s poverty and homelessness that need to be addressed,” said Gord Delbridge, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500.

The metal detectors have been in place since Jan. 23, 2023,along with extra security and two uniformed police officers. On that date, the library fully reopened to patrons after 28-year-old Tyree Cayer was stabbed to death on the main floor on Dec. 11, 2022.

Four teenage boys have been charged in connection with Cayer’s death.

The interim security measures sparked a backlash from advocates who argue the airport-style security prevents some people from using the downtown library. Under the new plan, Winnipeg Police Service officers would no longer be posted at Millennium all day, though frequent WPS foot patrols are expected to include the library.

Delbridge said the union is reviewing the long-term plan but worries the spending won’t be approved.

“One of our biggest concerns is that they’ll have the funding in place to be able to see (the changes) through,” he said.

A member of Millennium for All, which opposes metal detectors and police at the downtown library, also fears funding won’t be provided for some key measures.

“I’m very worried that it won’t be funded. I think it’s actually cheap … if we look at how much money has been spent on policing in the last six months, Community Connections is a really affordable investment,” said Joe Curnow.

The interim security measures cost $540,000 between January and June, while the Community Connections space is expected to cost $614,000 per year.

Curnow said she has mixed feelings on the safety plan itself.

“I’m really happy to see library services putting forward (calls to hire) community safety hosts and the Community Connections (space) as a core piece of the safety strategy because they are evidence-based and community-led… I wish that this report was not recommending ongoing (police) foot patrols and metal detectors because those aren’t based on evidence,” said Curnow.

Council will cast the final vote on the matter on July 13.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga