Incumbent mayor pledges to open door to more housing

Scott Gillingham promised several new steps to help get more homes and businesses built in Winnipeg Friday, if re-elected as mayor, amid other pledges from his competition.

Gillingham vowed to “keep Winnipeg’s building boom going,” noting local housing starts have increased and projects are on the way to redevelop Portage Place, the former Hudson’s Bay and other downtown sites.

“If re-elected mayor on Oct. 28, I will continue that momentum,” said Gillingham.

His list of development-related promises includes:

• speeding up building inspections with more remote video and online options;
• allowing owners of new private industrial parks to defer payment of some city charges until lots are sold or leased (within a five-year period); and
• consulting with developers to determine ways to attract more homes at malls and major transportation corridor sites.

He would also seek partnerships with Crown corporations, colleges, and universities to rezone their empty spaces to allow mid-rise housing.

Gillingham would seek a policy that requires staff to consider if new housing construction should be part of any plans for new city buildings, such as libraries or recreation centres.

“In the future, for example, we could have a library on the main floor of a building with a housing development above it,” said Gillingham.

“Our own city staff can work in partnership to speed up and reduce the timelines on building inspections.”

The video inspections could create a record of building approval processes, pinpointing common obstacles developers face so that the city can address them, he added.

“Our own city staff can work in partnership to speed up and reduce the timelines on building inspections,” said Gillingham.

He did not offer a cost estimate for the changes, such as the amount of revenue that would be delayed through deferred fees.

Shortly after Gillingham’s announcement, mayoral candidate Mike Vogiatzakis shared a series of promises he would pursue to make Winnipeg Transit safer, if elected.

That would include creating a Transit text line for passengers to report safety incidents to the service’s control centre, establishing a dedicated Transit police unit and creating a new transit safety pass that every rider would need to enter any bus or enclosed bus shelter.

“(When riders) scan their passes, that allows (them) to get on the bus. All the (identifying) information goes to transit control … If violence erupts on the bus, if somebody was stabbed, if there was a brutal offence on the bus, transit control knows who was on that bus so they can better start the investigation,” said Vogiatzakis.

He said he would also partner with businesses to create “secure” bus shelters that feature shatterproof glass, panic buttons and safety cameras.

“We know that, in this last year alone, there’s been stabbings, there’s been beatings, there’s been assaults (on Transit). This is unacceptable.”

“We know that, in this last year alone, there’s been stabbings, there’s been beatings, there’s been assaults (on Transit). This is unacceptable,” said Vogiatzakis.

The plan assumes some businesses would pay to build the secure bus shelters in exchange for advertising.

“We haven’t figured out a total cost, but … we have numerous businesses who are willing to pay for them. So, this would be zero cost to the citizens of Winnipeg,” said Vogiatzakis.

He has not yet determined a cost estimate for adding a Transit police unit or his overall Transit plan. Bus safety passes would ensure every rider pays their fare, earning the city millions of dollars more each year, which could help pay for the changes, he said.

Vogiatzakis said he plans to work with the Winnipeg Police Board to secure a dedicated Winnipeg Police Service transit unit, since city council can’t direct police operations.

Mayoral candidate Don Woodstock also released several campaign pledges this week.

If elected, he promised to replace 30 per cent of the city’s transit and first responder vehicles with electric models within four years, require developers to plant 10 trees for every mature one they remove (with a diameter of 30 centimetres or more) and require active transportation elements for all new road construction projects, among other green initiatives.

The tree planting requirement would aim to ensure developers benefit from protecting the city’s canopy.

“Before they cut a tree (down), they’d have to really, really think twice about it because it’s going to cost them,” said Woodstock.

“Before they cut a tree (down), they’d have to really, really think twice about it because it’s going to cost them.”

He also promised to provide free fitness and dance programs for seniors, with some classes in city courtyards and public spaces, as well as free community centre sessions and transportation from seniors’ homes.

Earlier this week, Woodstock also promised to add new protections for women.

That would include having all workplace harassment allegations assessed by an independent ombudsman, letting female bus passengers request mid-route stops to shorten their walking distance at night and barring candidates who face sexual assault charges from running for a city council seat.

Christopher Clacio, Umar Hayat, Mazher Alam, Joshua Pagdato, Johnny Calderon, Noah Redden, Zac Uminski, Brad Gross and Kevin Klein have also registered to run in the mayoral race.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Head Start

Weekday Mornings

A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day.

Sign up for Head Start

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.

Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.