Gillingham vows drug crackdowns would continue on his watch

Scott Gillingham would “immediately” provide funding to extend an initiative that cracks down on open drug use and connects vulnerable people to addictions and homelessness supports, if he’s re-elected mayor.

That partnership between Winnipeg Police Service and outreach organizations began Aug. 7 and is currently set to wrap up Oct. 31.

Gillingham said he would provide $100,000 to Ka Ni Kanichihk, which led weekly outreach walks and worked with police to support the effort, since it needs more funding to extend the program.

That should cover another six months of costs and provide time for the organization to seek longer term funding, the incumbent mayoral candidate said.

“People in our neighbourhoods deserve to feel safe. Businesses deserve to operate without drug-related crime and disorder on their doorsteps and we need the police to be prepared to take action,” said Gillingham.

An initial 10-day open drug enforcement blitz in June drew some criticism because it was not paired with outreach efforts. Gillingham said the joint program offers the best way forward.

“We can’t arrest our way out of this addiction crisis but we can’t solve it without enforcement either. We need police going after criminal activity and we need outreach workers helping people who are struggling with addiction,” he said.

Gillingham said he wants the program to become permanent.

Earlier this week, Winnipeg Police said the joint effort led to more than 200 service referrals and 55 arrests. Police said 10 people they encountered went into Main Street Project detox programs, while 48 were taken to shelters or other services.

Ka Ni Kanichihk is a key participant among 14 Indigenous-led organizations contributing to the program, said Gillingham.

Police can cover their part of the program through existing budgets, he added.

Mayoral candidate Kevin Klein also held a press conference Thursday, where he repeated previous promises to add an independent municipal ombudsman and review Winnipeg’s bus stop locations, if he’s elected.

Klein stressed such changes are key to ensuring small businesses can have their concerns properly considered by the city and make complaints if that doesn’t happen.

The announcement took place at Salt Living at 444 Academy Rd., a company that opposes a decision to move a bus stop on the south side of Academy Road at Niagara Street one block west. The change would remove key parking spaces in front of its store and impede its loading area, Klein said.

“I will restore the independent city ombudsman and this person … would investigate complaints just like this and publish the findings so city hall can no longer bury bad decisions or hide poor treatment of taxpayers. I will not tolerate taxpayers being bullied on my watch,” he said.

The bus stop is slated to move within the next few weeks, he said.

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Salt Living owner Laurel Penner accused Gillingham’s deputy chief of staff Luc Lewandoski of dismissive and bullying behaviour when she, along with neighbouring businesses, petitioned the city to keep the bus stop at its current location instead.

“I was really stressed out about this whole thing. Potentially, we’d have to close our doors,” said Penner, during Klein’s press conference.

She noted her business has no backdoor parking or back door access, so loading products into the store from a different point is not an option, while losing parking spots would remove easy access for customers.

Gillingham said the bus stop switch was previously delayed from December 2025 at the business owners’ request and options were offered to address the concerns. He rejected accusations of bullying.

“We’ve taken several calls, had meetings with the property owners and we’ll continue to. I defend my staff. I will always defend my staff,” he said.

His office said the new stop location is expected to allow pedestrians to cross the street more safely, since it is closer to a signalized intersection.

Meanwhile, mayoral candidate Don Woodstock promises to revitalize community centres, if he’s elected.

The sudden closure of the city-owned West Kildonan Memorial Community Centre arena, which is no longer expected to open this season, highlights city neglect of recreation facilities, he said Thursday.

The centre’s 2026/27 ice season is delayed due to work needed for its gas detection system, exhaust fans and venting, the city confirmed.

Woodstock promised to immediately mobilize city crews to fix and reopen West Kildonan and have the city take over the responsibility for repairs and building maintenance of its properties from any third-party operators.

His proposal would also eliminate ice time fees at city properties, order a city-wide community centre infrastructure audit and fund staff positions in “operational” roles at the facilities.

He’d also push the city to build new community centres in areas like Sage Creek and Amber Trails, and update others.

Woodstock did not offer a cost estimate for his community centre proposal but expects his plan to greatly reduce spending on consultants would help pay for it.

Election Day is Oct. 28.

joyanne.pursaga@winnipegfreepress.com

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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.