Councillors irked by province’s control over funding, secrecy

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This article was published 24/08/2017 (2977 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The letter from the provincial government that reveals its intention to manage city hall spending has caught city councillors by surprise.

“It looks like they put conditions on the basket funding,” said Coun. Janice Lukes, a member of the finance committee, adding the province appears to be taking a very hands-on, “prescriptive” approach to municipal affairs.

Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), chairman of council’s environment committee and a member of Bowman’s executive policy committee, said he was unaware of the letter and EPC had not been informed of the province’s move into city hall decision-making.

Coun. Jeff Browaty said Bowman continues to keep council members in the dark on vital information.

“After an initial opportunity to formulate a recommendation to council on how to handle this development, (Bowman and McNeil) should have come to council with this news,” Browaty (North Kildonan) said. “It’s become regular practice under this administration of “openness and transparency” to learn about these developments through the media.”

Coun. Russ Wyatt said the provincial government should not impose controls on city hall decision-making. He said the letter signals the province recognizes there is an absence of long-term, strategic planning at city hall and no formal method for both levels of government to meet and discuss issues of mutual concern.

“We always have had to run balanced budgets, and the provincial government was bleeding red,” Wyatt (Transcona) said. “Having said that, this speaks to the fact the city has been perceived as a rudderless ship over the last three years. Council has no strategic plan or no long-term vision of where it wants to take the city and clearly the province is recognizing that.”

Coun. Scott Gillingham, chairman of council’s finance committee and a member of EPC, said he had been briefed on the “highlights” of the letter but had not seen it, adding he and the city administration remain confused about what the province wants and when the new rules take effect.

Gillingham (St. James-Brooklands-Weston) said the city is preparing its 2018 budget and the province’s move will affect decisions.

“I have questions around what the province means by requiring outcomes and, I understand from my briefing, that will be determined through discussions with the province,” Gillingham said. “We still don’t have clarity on what outcomes, what information the province is seeking.

“We need clarity from the province on all these matters as soon as we can get it.”

Lukes (South Winnipeg-St. Norbert) said the finance committee wanted the administration to brief it on progress to establish rules of the new funding model. She said council members weren’t told the province had planned such a dramatic change to its relationship with city hall.

The lack of public disclosure about the funding model – either from Bowman or Gillingham — puzzled councillors.

Gillingham responded that he and Bowman have repeatedly said the province is being asked about the new funding rules. He could not explain why council had not been told about the province’s intentions, which are outlined in the letter.

Reporters have repeatedly questioned Bowman about the issue but he has never disclosed the province’s intention or the city’s concerns.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca