Virtual council meetings could be extended
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$1 per week for 24 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.99/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/04/2020 (2137 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Winnipeg city council could continue its virtual meetings in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Beginning this week, council committees allowed councillors to attend meetings online or in person. The public must dial in by phone to participate.
While that plan was previously approved for April and May, a new report calls to extend that system until Aug. 31.
The changes are meant to ensure council business can continue, while public gatherings are limited to 10 people or less to reduce the risk of COVID-19.
If council approves the report as is, some new powers will also be given to key city staff during that period.
The planning, property and development director could approve some variances and conditional uses.
City clerks could approve per-capita grants, while the community services director would be able to approve community incentive grants, as long as these decisions follow consultation with affected ward councillors and meet council-approved criteria.
A city report says that delegated authority will ensure city business can continue despite council’s more limited schedule, since all meetings now occur in council chambers that allow new technology and social distancing.
City refers call to waive ambulance fees
One councillor’s request that Winnipeg ensure victims of crime don’t receive ambulance bills will be redirected to the provincial government.
Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) had pushed for the city to ensure those who receive ambulance service due to a crime committed against them aren’t invoiced for the $250 per-ride patient fee.
Nason aimed to ensure the province would simply cover the tab before that could occur.
On Wednesday, council’s protection and community services committee deemed the matter a provincial health-care issue and opted to write to Manitoba Justice on the topic.
The city will also seek updates on how many victims of crime apply for provincial compensation for ambulance service, which some should qualify for.
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.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Advertisement Advertise With Us
Advertisement Advertise With Us