Vulnerable youth, cadets on patrol, assessment freeze: mayoral roundup

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/10/2022 (700 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayoral candidate Kevin Klein would devote up to $7 million to programs and safe spaces for vulnerable youth, with the goal of stopping gang recruitment.

Winnipeg is suffering from increased violence, which underlines a need to prevent criminal organizations from luring young people into their ranks, Klein told reporters Friday.

“Criminal organizations in our city recruit and manipulate vulnerable, at-risk, marginalized members of society to do their leg work. The focused recruitment of vulnerable young people and gradual grooming and exploitation of pre-teens, turning them into experienced offenders, capable of structured crime and violent acts… must stop,” he said.

“One of the most effective approaches to stopping organized crime is to cut off the available new members and starve the organization of resources.”

The money would be provided over four years to help not-for-profit groups provide staff and create safe spaces to support youth in vulnerable neighbourhoods if he’s elected on Oct. 26, Klein said.

While consultations are needed to determine the exact programs that should be funded, options may include programs that provide soccer, hockey and/or homework help at community centres, he said.

Klein also hopes the consultations with non-profit groups can help connect youth with part-time jobs.

“A significant investment from the government in youth can largely deter the influences of organized crime, crippling such organizations from the base up.”

In addition, he plans to advocate for the Winnipeg Police Service to assign cadets to patrol local community centres and recreation facilities in high-risk areas, ensuring a visible presence that could act as “eyes and ears” for police.

Under provincial legislation, council can’t direct the operations of the Winnipeg police, which Klein acknowledged. However, he said he’s confident the changes can be achieved through negotiations.

If the police department needs to hire more cadets to fulfil the pledge, Klein expects the City of Winnipeg could provide funding through other budget savings and/or photo radar revenue.

Ouellette wants more accountability

Mayoral candidate Robert-Falcon Ouellette said he would require a mandatory registry of financial interests for city councillors and the mayor, modernize conflict of interest rules, limit campaign contributions and require the city to release an annual list of contracts awarded to campaign donors.

“The single largest issue surrounding many of the corruption scandals is the lack of transparency and open government,” Ouellette said in a statement.

Also among his Friday promises were offering leadership training to city management to improve work culture for municipal employees; a push for a ranked mayoral ballot instead of the current first-past-the-post system; and to propose executive policy committee members be chosen by council, not the mayor.

“What Winnipeggers have told us is that in order for city hall to regain their trust, it is important for the mayor to work with all of council. In particular, to work with council without the influence of the EPC appointment,” Ouellette said.

Candidate Don Woodstock is seeking to “level the playing field” for property owners by freezing all residential assessments, including commercial properties worth less than $5 million, for the next eight years.

Commercial properties worth more than $5 million would be reassessed under Woodstock’s plan, which would then place them at real market value and not unfair appraised values, he said.

“It’s time for the small- and medium-sized business owner to get a break,” Woodstock said in a news release. “The big corporations will be examined and reassessed to now pay their fair share of property taxes. This is how I will raise revenue for the city.”

Woodstock also pledged to eliminate the city’s business tax entirely.

— with files from Malak Abas

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga