What kind of city do you want to see?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/01/2023 (617 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At city hall we are now a couple of months into a new council and, at the same time, the start of a new year.

As this is my first column since the election, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the voters of St. Boniface for your support in electing me to another strong mandate. I am proud to continue my work on issues that matter to making our city a better place to live, including making improvements on road safety and snow clearing policy, among other important issues. Renewal projects such as the proposed splash pad at Champlain Community Centre are moving forward. I will continue to listen to what is important to the residents of St. Boniface in order to make our communities and our city the best they can be; a city that our kids want to live in.

The year 2023 marks the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Winnipeg, which took place in November of 1873. In 1971, the then-City of St. Boniface and other former municipalities were amalgamated with Winnipeg in what became known as Unicity, a project which greatly increased Winnipeg’s size and formed the boundaries that we now know today. I ask our readers, where do you want to see our city in the next 150 years? That might be a bit too far into the future to think about with much certainty, but even decisions we make at council over the course of our new term must be made with the consideration of our children, our children’s children, and beyond in mind.

Our city is projected to reach a population of one million by 2046. Across the globe, efforts are being made to reduce carbon emissions in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. We can do our part in Winnipeg by building a better transit network through the guidelines of the Winnipeg Transit Master Plan passed by council in 2021. We can also take common-sense safety measures to make our roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians, and create a more walkable and cycling-friendly city. The success of the Enhanced Summer Bike Routes program (also known as “Open Streets”) has shown that there is widespread public support for such initiatives.

The environment and the economy are not mutually exclusive entities. I believe that we must continually work toward a more sustainable city, or we are at risk of falling behind and being at a competitive disadvantage with other similar-sized cities who will work toward similar goals.

However, I know the residents of St. Boniface and Winnipeggers are resilient people and we are up to the task. We can accomplish a lot when we work together.

See you on the bus!