Support needed for neighbourhood cleanups
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This article was published 25/05/2022 (371 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
After a long and snowy winter, spring is finally upon us and like many Notre Dame residents, I can’t wait to spend more time outside enjoying the warmer temperatures. However, we have all noticed that as the snow fades from sight, there is now a massive amount of garbage piled up through the winter.
I have been calling on the city to speed up the clean-up process but with an issue of this proportion it is clear that the city can’t do it alone and the province needs to step in with more resources. In the short term, I have asked for support from the province to organize multiple, large community-wide clean-ups, the type that require small Bobcats, dumpster bins and transportation rentals. I am hoping to get a positive response soon.
Despite the huge challenges presented by the amount of garbage in our communities, there are so many people and organizations, such as the West Alexander Resident’s Association, Spence Neighbourhood Association, and Central Neighbourhoods, which have stepped up and organized major cleaning operations. It has been amazing to see our community come together because we care about a clean environment and the safety of kids and neighbours.
However, we also need long-term solutions to the many issues, including hazardous garbage, that are so interconnected. There are so many systemic issues contributing to our city’s garbage problem but the Progressive Conservative government is not doing nearly enough to address these issues. It has sold off social housing and failed to repair existing social housing, it cut people off from disability and regular EIA benefits, and it has raised Manitoba Hydro rates while letting our minimum wage fall to the lowest in the country by the end of the year. These are the issues my NDP colleagues and I raise in the Legislature every single day.
While our community deserves a good and appealing environment, our homeless folks deserve to be treated with dignity and get the support they need to be healthy and live in safe conditions. We can’t hope to address one issue without fighting for justice in others.
Contact my office anytime by calling 204-788-0800 or alaya.marcelino@yourmanitoba.c
Malaya Marcelino
Notre Dame constituency report
Malaya Marcelino is the NDP MLA for Notre Dame.