Mayoral candidates roll out pledges

Mayoral contender Kevin Klein would seek new election rules to “level the playing field” for all future candidates, if elected.

“This is meant to strengthen our democracy,” said Klein.

He would ask city council to approve several changes, including a municipal announcement blackout to start 30 days before each election, except when one is legally required or shares emergency/public safety notices.

City staff could also release information without elected officials present.

A code of conduct already states city council members “shall not” make public funding announcements with money from the land dedication reserve, community incentive grants, per capita grants, the communities fund or the mayor’s civic initiatives fund within 60 days prior to an election.

Announcements funded through other means are allowed, however, which Klein argues gives incumbent candidates an unfair advantage.

“The whole problem in Winnipeg is that you can’t beat an incumbent … They’re getting more coverage, they’re getting more attention than the candidates running against them,” he said.

Klein would also seek council approval to require that any staff working in the office of a councillor or mayor who then manages that incumbent candidate’s election campaign take unpaid leave for campaign work once the nomination period ends.

Additional changes would require the city’s integrity commissioner to provide oversight throughout election campaigns and ensure no regular council or committee of council meetings are held within 45 days prior to an election. The city would also hire non-partisan experts to evaluate the performance of the chief electoral officer.

Klein said the chief electoral officer should not be permitted to serve as the city’s chief administrative officer or chief financial officer four years before or after serving in the election position.

Incumbent mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham focused his latest pledge on how the city handles emerging technology.

An Urban Technology Review Committee of council would determine how the City of Winnipeg handles artificial intelligence, e-scooters, drones, data centres and driverless vehicles.

“There’s so much new technology, much of it disruptive technology, that we need to look at as a city,” said Gillingham.

Recent warnings about the unrestricted use of AI are one reason for further review, he said.

The leaders of some AI companies have called for safeguards, or even to slow down the expansion of artificial intelligence this month, due to its potential to be used to commit crimes or “go rogue” by taking actions beyond the tasks it was asked to perform.

“You hear both that AI is a great tool, that, if used well, can really assist in productivity and can be a great asset. On the other end of that scale, there are those that have issued warnings about AI. So, we need to be in a proactive position as a city … We should have a comprehensive look at what the city’s position is going to be in how we use, restrict or reject technological advancements,” said Gillingham.

He stressed the focus is not solely on AI. For example, the mayor said the city should explore how driverless vehicles navigate snow-covered roads without visible lane divisions.

The technology committee would include some city councillors and at least three non-voting external experts. It would hold public hearings and provide recommendations, which could lead the city to consider changes to rules, roads/infrastructure or services.

Meanwhile, mayoral candidate Don Woodstock promises to add city support for local Royal Canadian Legion branches and Army, Navy and Air Force veterans in Canadian facilities, if elected.

“These people continue with so little and yet they have given so much,” said Woodstock.

He vowed to add annual grants of up to $100,000 per facility, seek sponsors among charitable foundations to help the groups attract donations, arrange agreements with agricultural producers and wholesalers to provide affordable food for events and rebate all municipal property taxes the facilities pay.

Mayoral contender Noah Redden would push the city to add light rail along the Main Street-St. Mary’s Road corridor, if elected.

“I think we can’t continue with just trying to get by with minimal investment in our public transit,” said Redden.

In 2023, Winnipeg Transit estimated it could cost about $2 billion to $5 billion to create a 20-kilometre light rail transit route.

Redden did not provide a current estimate or length for his proposal but said federal and provincial funding could help cover the expense.

The city could also pause an up to $899-million Chief Peguis Trail extension and an up to $757-million Kenaston Boulevard expansion to free up more money, he said. Both mega project price estimates assume the city would fund the construction solely through debt.

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Redden said replacements of the Arlington and Louise bridges should also be prioritized over those street expansions.

Election Day is Oct. 28.

— With files from the Associated Press

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga

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.