Now is the time for a fresh, new voice on City Council from someone who recognizes that Winnipeg’s neighbourhoods can be:

  • Great for families of all ages
  • Healthy, thriving, and safe communities
  • Financially and environmentally sustainable
  • Committed to renewing infrastructure like roads, bridges, and buildings

What exactly do I mean by these and what exactly am I committing to as your next City Councilor for North Kildonan? Each of the categories below can be clicked on to give you specific examples of my goals for making North Kildonan an even better neighbourhood, for all of us.

  • Families of all sizes should enjoy a high quality of life in neighbourhoods where they can access the services they need, where young people are proud to stay, and where people throughout Canada and around the world choose to come to make their home.

    Transit:

    The new transit system is not working, particularly for many in North Kildonan. I will advocate for continued investment in transit to increase the number of buses and bus drivers. These investments, coupled with a review of routes and schedules, are needed to make the new spine and feeder transit system work. I will also listen to you and your neighbours about which routes need to be re-assessed to ensure you’re able to get where you need to go, in a reasonable amount of time.

    Kilcona Dog Park:

    Despite opposition from our community, the current Councillor has decided that in the middle of an election campaign he will start construction of a road through Kilcona dog park, using public consultation data over a decade old. I will do everything possible to preserve the space for the people, dogs, natural wildlife, plants and birds that enjoy the park's current design.

    Libraries open every day:

    Libraries provide education and entertainment for everyone in our community, but they also provide safe and accessible spaces for events, studying, and a free place to warm up or cool down on cold and hot days. I will work hard to make sure they are open every day, and that they are sufficiently staffed with librarians and library technicians who have permanent jobs and who can offer a multitude of quality, free, programming, for everyone - from babies to seniors.

    Swimming lessons:

    Everyone should have the opportunity to learn to swim, both for safety but also for fun and good health. It should not be hard to access swimming lessons. I will work hard to make sure everyone has access to pools and swimming lessons in public pools. 

    Public art, music, arts councils:

    The arts make life more beautiful and enjoyable, and Winnipeg is known across the country for our vibrant arts and culture. I will work to restore the funding that was cut over recent years to ensure Winnipeg’s arts communities can continue to thrive. 

     

  • All families deserve healthy, thriving, and safe communities. My approach to ensuring healthy and safe communities throughout Winnipeg is to invest in evidence-based approaches led by experienced city workers. Addressing the root causes of social challenges provides the best opportunity to prevent problems and to invest in programs that improve life for everyone. 

    Safety Through Care and Community:

    Many people in Winnipeg are suffering because of poverty, homelessness, and addictions. I will take an evidence-based approach to expanding community-led, collaborative, safety strategies that are cost-effective responses to public safety concerns like drug use and theft.

    Improve Fire and Paramedic Response Times:

    North Kildonan deserves a Councillor who listens to frontline firefighters and paramedics, and who supports a budget for the number of full-time responders the city needs to ensure rapid response times.

    Prioritize Community Spaces and Activities:

    North Kildonan needs more free spaces, places, and activities in our community where kids, teens, adults, and seniors can be active, feel a sense of belonging and purpose, and just have fun! I will work to make sure you have safe places to gather, belong, and have fun.

    Affordable Housing:

    Winnipeg needs more affordable housing for seniors and families. I will work to remove barriers to constructing affordable housing and partner with all levels of government to maximize investments in housing for all. 

    Coordinate and Fund the City's Existing Plans:

    The City of Winnipeg has already studied, consulted, and created plans for affordable housing, food security, poverty reduction, recreation, and many more priority issues. These plans are available on Winnipeg’s Strategic Plans & Priorities website. I will advocate that these plans be funded and seen through to completion. Winnipeg has finite financial resources but it still has the means to run our city.

     

  • 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.

    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. 

  • Climate change is the largest threat to our planet right now and to all generations to come. The City of Winnipeg already has plans in place to target climate change and be carbon neutral by 2050, but these plans need to be prioritized, funded, and escalated. OurWinnipeg 2045 sets out the City's long-term vision, plans, and policies for: land use development; environmental sustainability; and social and economic objectives. It includes master plans for transportation, transit, garbage and recycling, climate, and community energy investment. I will work to enact these plans as quickly and efficiently as possible.

    Consider Climate in Every City Council Decision:

    If it’s not good for the climate, then it’s not good for Winnipeg. In all of its deliberations, City Council should be discussing how to prevent climate change and how to prepare for natural disasters (like floods and wildfires), and I commit to raising these issues in every discussion at City Hall.

    Active Transportation Network:

    Active transportation, like cycling and walking, reduces emissions (and traffic!), and once these networks are built, they require very little maintenance and upkeep. Being outside and being active also increases health, well-being, and joy. I will work to expand our network so that everyone can safely walk, bike, and ride, throughout the whole year.

    Winnipeg's Urban Forest:

    Earlier this year there were threats that Winnipeg’s urban forest budget would be reduced. I am committed to protecting, preserving and enhancing the urban forest - it makes our streets more beautiful, our air cleaner, and reduces temperatures in our neighbourhoods.

  • Winnipeg’s infrastructure includes roads, bridges, sewers, arenas, gyms, playgrounds, parks, and community centres. For decades their maintenance has been neglected, creating a very large problem without a simple solution. I am committed to making progress in a sustainable way that’s good for all Winnipeggers to leave our city a better place for generations to come.

    Keep City Jobs in the City and Stop Funneling Money to Private Companies:

    When Winnipeg started giving away city jobs (like garbage, recycling, and snow clearing) to private companies, the idea was that it would save money. In reality, paying someone else to run our city has meant there is little accountability, and no opportunity to build relationships with the workers on the front lines. I will advocate that city services be returned to city workers, with good, permanent, union jobs.

    Fix Potholes and Roads Before Starting New Projects:

    Amongst all of Winnipeg’s biggest problems is the daily issue of potholes. They cause damage to vehicles, slow down traffic flow, and can be dangerous when drivers and cyclists have to swerve around them. I am committed to repairing our existing roads before building new roads.