It’s no secret that the City of Winnipeg faces significant budget challenges. These challenges are structural, from decades of choosing to build neighbourhoods and infrastructure that cost more to maintain than they generate in income. To reverse this course, and create a financially sustainable city, we need to immediately stop funding unsustainable megaprojects, like expanding Kenaston, and instead focus on providing a good return on investment, and find solutions for neighbourhoods to be self-sustaining.

Answer

Increase the Density of Our Neighbourhoods Before Building New:

To ensure the tax base in each neighbourhood is self-sustaining, we need to increase the density of people who live in our neighbourhoods, especially in less dense areas of the city like North Kildonan. I will work to ensure this is done with meaningful community consultation, so we can welcome new neighbours but not end up with high-rises or developments that disrupt our current neighbourhoods.

Take Care of What We Have First:

Before beginning large, expensive projects, like the expansion of Kenaston, we need to take care of what we already have - like the Chief Peguis Gym and Terry Sawchuk Arena. In recent years both have had sudden and unplanned closures to fix urgent issues - we need long-term plans to keep them open.