Bohari on Monday pledged to increase annual spending on replacing combined sewers with dedicated sewage and stormwater pipes from $45 million each year to $60 million. Combined sewers, located under older parts of Winnipeg, carry both surface runoff and sewage from homes and businesses. This mixture is pumped to one of the city’s three sewage treatment plants. When heavy rainfall exceeds the capacity of the city’s pumps, sewage diluted with rainwater overflows into the city’s rivers. This, in turn, results in more nutrients—primarily phosphorus and nitrogen—flowing through the Red River into Lake Winnipeg, where they promote algal growth and change the lake’s ecology. Bokhari said she knows the city of Winnipeg is only one source of nutrient loading to the lake, but said the city still needs to do more to reduce sewer overflows. “Pointing fingers at another level of government doesn’t get us as far as the city of Winnipeg,” Boccari said outside the North End Water Pollution Control Centre, where $473 million in upgrades to the plant’s intake facilities are underway . Bokhari pledged to speed up the completion of the next two phases of work at the plant, the largest of the city’s three sewage treatment facilities, because Winnipeg is a decade away from running out of capacity to treat more sewage. The next phases of work at the North End plant include a $553 million biosolids treatment facility awaiting funding approval and an $828 million nutrient removal facility that is not funded at all. Bokhari said she will convince the provincial and federal governments to fund the remaining upgrades. He would not say whether he would raise water and sewer rates to make that happen.
Loney says Winnipeg needs ‘nightlife mayor’
Mayoral candidate Shaun Loney says Winnipeg needs two mayors — a regular, elected mayor to handle civic duties and what he calls a “nightlife mayor.” Loney, the author of two books on public policy, pledged Tuesday to create a new nightlife mayor position to help revitalize downtown Winnipeg and boost the arts and cultural industries. Edmonton, Ottawa, New York and Austin, Texas, are among the cities with similar positions, he said. Mayoral candidate Shaun Loney says Winnipeg needs a mayor and a nightlife mayor. (Bartley Kives/CBC) The nightlife mayor will be responsible for streamlining the event permitting process and addressing noise concerns, among other duties, Loney said, adding that he couldn’t get food trucks to attend his own presentation in Old Square Market, because the paperwork is so burdensome. “The food trucks said it’s not worth going through the licensing process,” Loney said. “How can we make it easier for the sector to have pop-up stores?” Some of the duties Loney described are already being filled by an existing city position, the director of films and special events, who earns $126,000 a year to troubleshoot problems on behalf of the entertainment industry. The name nightlife mayor is reminiscent of Night Mayor, a 2009 short film by former Winnipegger Guy Maddin.
Murray commits to the library
Mayoral candidate Glenn Murray has promised to extend Winnipeg’s library hours. “Time to reopen our libraries on the weekends,” the former Winnipeg mayor tweeted Sunday, suggesting in a later tweet that she would commit up to $2.2 million to make it happen, using funds from her helicopter crash. of the Winnipeg Police Service. Time to open our libraries again on the weekends. Children deserve safe places to learn and grow when and where they need them. Families need them. Together we will achieve it! pic.twitter.com/r6cSeY3Ima —@Glen4Wpg Landing the helicopter would require the cooperation of both the police and the Winnipeg Police Board, as the mayor of Winnipeg does not have the authority to direct police operations. Murray said in a statement that he would honor the pledge later in the campaign. In 2004, during Murray’s final months in office, he considered closing and consolidating some of Winnipeg’s libraries.
Shone promises help to the native newcomers
After Murray’s announcement, mayoral candidate Rick Shawn promised to open libraries seven days a week. It didn’t cost the promise. Shone, the owner of outdoor retailer Wilderness Supply, also promised Friday to do more to help indigenous newcomers to the city find housing and work. He said he wants the city to work with nonprofits and indigenous governments. “We have to be willing partners with any organization that offers support … to make the transition as successful as possible,” Shawn said outside the former downtown Winnipeg Bay building, which has been transferred to its Chiefs Organization South. Shone said he came up with that pledge with input from Edna Nabess, a Winnipeg artisan. He said the pledge would require the city to dedicate two full-time employees to the job. Shone, Murray, Loney and Bokhari are among 12 candidates who have registered for mayor. The other eight candidates are Idris Adelakun, Chris Clacio, Scott Gillingham, Jenny Motkaluk, Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Jessica Peebles, Desmond Thomas and Don Woodstock. Municipal elections are on October 26.
