Motkaluk unveils platform, vows to freeze property taxes, some city salaries

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This article was published 06/09/2022 (743 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayoral candidate Jenny Motkaluk plans to freeze property taxes, along with the salaries of all city employees who make $75,000 or more per year, if elected.

In a platform outline released Wednesday, Motkaluk revealed not just her first 2022 campaign pledge but dozens of ideas at once, after focusing on meeting with “thousands” of Winnipeggers since she registered to run for mayor on May 1.

“This plan is the product of everything that I’ve learned from (Winnipeggers)… It can be done right now and within our existing budgets,” she said.

If elected, she promised to: ensure building permits are issued 50 per cent faster; create a Winnipeg Transit police force; extend the Chief Peguis Trail to run from Main Street to Route 90; supply water and sewer service to CentrePort; “enable the private sector” to convert hundreds of vacant buildings into affordable rental units; abolish photo radar traffic enforcement; and build two new spray pads per year, all without raising property taxes.

To afford those changes, she would cut the assessment department budget by “at least 50 per cent,” eliminate city spending that goes beyond the municipal “scope,” prevent council from donating to charities, restrict grants to only those with “meaningful and measurable outcomes” and impose a wage freeze on all city employees who earn $75,000 or more per year.

“I’m asking our highest paid public employees to give a little bit more so that we can help those who are hurt the most. I will not impose taxes on struggling Winnipeggers so that we can give raises to civic employees who are already making more than $75,000 a year,” she said, noting the affected staff would include firefighters, police, paramedics, council members and others.

Almost 4,200 of the city’s roughly 10,000 employees fall into that category.

The head of the city’s largest union said the proposed wage freeze would risk worsening a shortage of municipal staff, since more workers could leave for higher wages elsewhere.

“I think at this point in time that’s a very irresponsible position to take when we’re in an economic downturn. And the city is most certainly challenged with recruitment and retention (already),” said Gord Delbridge, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500.

Delbridge said the pledge also raises questions about collective bargaining rights, since wages are typically handled during negotiations, not imposed by elected officials.

Motkaluk said she expects the city could abide by bargaining rules by imposing the freeze gradually as contracts expire.

To increase municipal tax revenue, she promises to extend city water and sewer service to CentrePort and expand the Chief Peguis Trail to attract new development. She expects those steps should offset the millions of dollars the city would lose each year by cancelling photo radar, which she claims has not improved safety.

Meanwhile, Motkaluk also doubled down on her controversial stance on Canada Day. In June, she faced backlash for criticizing The Forks’ decision to host an “It’s a New Day at The Forks” event, instead of its traditional Canada Day celebration on July 1. If elected, Motkaluk says she would replace three representatives that the city appoints to the Forks North Portage Partnership board with ones who would help ensure Canada Day is not “cancelled” again.

“I’m a proud Canadian and I love my country and I love my country unconditionally,” she said.

The Forks changed the celebration this year after consultations with Indigenous people, newcomers, youth and others. The discussions started after Canada Day 2021, when a group toppled statues of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth at the Manitoba legislature following a rally to honour Indigenous children believed to be buried in unmarked graves on the grounds of former residential schools.

While Motkaluk said her promises can be delivered without the help of other governments, one pledge calls to lobby the province to abolish the Winnipeg Police Board, an entity that provincial legislation requires. Motkaluk stressed lobbying another government is within the city’s power.

Motkaluk did not provide a cost estimate for her promises but said more details will be released over the next several weeks.

Winnipeggers will elect their next mayor and council on Oct. 26.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga