Priority one is to clear the bus shelters within one year. Thereafter working with unsheltered people living downtown and along waterways. For a large number of people, it is known to be cheaper and more effective to help them instead of policing them. Working with nonprofits, addictions treatment, and housing first providers we will apply a systemic approach. The opportunity in front of us is to address our ballooning emergency services spending, prevent crime, and address homelessness at the same time.

Shaun Loney announced today that when elected Mayor he will work with newcomer organizations, City Council, the civic Administration and other stakeholders to make Winnipeg more welcoming to international newcomers. Loney noted that while Winnipeg has shown strong population growth over the previous decade, much of this growth has been reliant on international migration of permanent and non-permanent residents to the City which has also offset significant losses from interprovincial outmigration. “I’m particularly concerned,” said Loney, “that Winnipeg’s estimated population actually declined slightly in 2021 for the first time since 1997. We need a more inclusive Winnipeg to attract and retain newcomers.”

The dedicated position of Nightlife Mayor is adopted from a growing number of destination cities around the world. The Nightlife Mayor will be a champion businesses, and arts and culture groups that operate predominantly at night, especially those related to arts, culture and entertainment. Focusing on promotion, safety and facilitating a vibrant atmosphere after dark

The Reconciliation Action Plan is a living document that ensures the teachings, values, cultures and true history of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples are more prominently incorporated into the fabric of Winnipeg. Includes real employment training and opportunities, violence prevention, community-led redevelopment of Portage Place and addressing systemic racism in the Winnipeg Police Service.

Fast, frequent, and convenient transit that takes you where you want to go is the lifeblood of any modern major centre. This is an extremely important initiative to get Winnipeg up to par, and we can’t afford to wait yet another generation. Using a variety of tools and partnerships with other levels of government, I will accelerate implementation of the Transit Master Plan from 25 years to 10 years.

WPS Dispatches to be reduced by 10 Percent

“Arresting the same people more often has not proven to be an effective deterrent, all it’s done is increase our taxes,” said Loney. “Making actual progress on reducing crime will be determined by our ability to support people in need and provide them with mental health services, addiction treatment, housing and jobs.”

The strategy that will reduce police dispatches by preventing crime from happening in the first place.

• Add 1,000 Social Enterprise Jobs

• Addressing Homelessness

• Transit Safety Personnel

• Combatting Bike Theft

• Diversifying Police Training Skill Sets

• Safe Consumption Site

Allowing police to engage nonprofits to prevent predictable crime is a new and practical tool for our public safety toolbox. We will be able to stem the need for even more emergency services. This will free up the much needed resources for libraries, recreation and active transportation. A target of preventing at least 10% of police dispatches is readily achievable within the first mandate.

Hire a new group of Transit Peace Officers who are able to enforce a code of conduct for riders and ensure fare collection happens, but also to connect people who pose a risk on buses to customized support to break cycles of mental health, addiction and other problems. In addition, a mobile app to empower riders to quickly and discreetly report incidents of harassment, or crime.

Winnipeg’s defining opportunity is our ability to connect people who most need the work with the work that most needs to be done. We will add at least 1,000 jobs for Winnipeggers with barriers to employment with a focus on people who have been in constant contact with police. This is one of the most powerful crime prevention strategies available.

We will replace the current local bike registration system with one that is free, far easier to use, and more effective, one that is also connected to law enforcement beyond just Winnipeg. We will register 100,000 bikes within four years. Furthermore, working with police to dedicate forces to target organized theft.

Increase capital investment for active transportation projects to $30-million over the next 4 years.

Furthermore, adopting new policy to allow minor road rehabilitation projects to include pedestrian and cycling improvements as a matter of course instead of the exception.

Prioritize repairing and maintaining existing roads before expanding or building ones.

Convene other levels of government to negotiate a fix for the broken municipal-provincial-federal funding model for roads.

Update the weighting used to rank infrastructure spending to build roads that will accelerate the shift to low-carbon options.

MetroMobility will address congestion and make transit more affordable and convenient. With one touch on your smartphone you can summon an electric shuttle van that takes you directly to the closest arterial transit station where you hop on a made-in-Winnipeg, frequently running electric bus - all for one easy fare.

Expanding the mandate of our city owned utility Winnipeg Waste, Water, and Heat. Will see 40,000 families and businesses cutting their heating and cooling bills by 2030. Winnipeg Water, Waste and Heat will install the loops at no upfront cost recouping the investment through a monthly fee. The result is cost-savings, lower carbon footprint and green jobs for young people.

The Winnipeg Community Housing Land Trust will purchase land, taking it out of speculative real estate markets and then establish partnerships and very long term leases to nonprofit housing providers, co-ops and nonprofits. Raising $100 million from impact investors adding social impact to their portfolios and increasing the supply of affordable housing.

Community Solar Action Plan will offer one-stop permitting and to incorporate geneous already-available incentives from the government of Canada and Efficiency Manitoba. Winnipeggers to personally benefit from energy savings from home rooftop and purpose built community arrays.

The City of Winnipeg design and construction standards for roads and other transportation infrastructure do not always represent industry best practices used elsewhere.

I will partner and support the University of Manitoba Research Chair in Municipal Infrastructure to improve the actual design of our roads and the materials they are constructed with, so that they last longer.

The Winnipeg Tree Trust is a whole new idea to value the benefits of what trees and natural infrastructure have to offer. Taking care of our canopy to help manage both climate change and stormwater run-off - all while employing people with barriers to getting jobs.

Our Electric Vehicle Strategy is the most innovative plan in the country. Winnipeggers will have access to 500 Level 2 EV chargers throughout the city and building owners will be able to install Level 2 chargers at no upfront costs.

Our 5-Point Infill Housing plan will reduce friction between residents and contractors. Highlights include our Considerate Contractor program and the Local Infill Development Benefits fund to give residents in impacted neighbourhoods a piece of the amazing benefits that infill has to offer.

Adding park space will be a key component of the upcoming development of the much needed Master Greenspace and Natural Corridor Plan and Biodiversity Policy. We will also ensure Assiniboine Forest is protected for future generations while working with the federal government to add at least one national park within Winnipeg’s boundaries.

Doing our part to protect Lake Winnipeg by ensuring that we have the capability and capacity at the North End Water Treatment Plant to be in compliance with phosphorus discharge levels. Alongside with the Lake Winnipeg Foundation, Shaun is asking Winnipeg’s next city council to approve funding in the 2024-27 budget for increased digester capacity. They also recommend a rethink on the necessity for nitrogen removal. Establishing both of these as priority for discussions with other levels of government.

Introduce a levy on commercial parking spaces with revenue dedicated road repairs, transit improvements and active transportation infrastructure.

Environment to be given higher weighting to reflect recent Community Energy Investment Roadmap (CEIR) report.

Keeping food waste from entering the landfill is a one of the easiest things we can do as a city to meet our climate change goals. Food waste is a known source of methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas.

A Two-year Residential Food Waste Collection Pilot Project has recently been completed.

Pending the analysis and positive results of recently completed pilot project and completion of CIWMS.

I will recommend scaling out the collection service city-wide food waste and other organics before end of 2026.

The City of Winnipeg has far fewer staff working on energy and climate issue than other Canadian cities we compete with.

Additional staff and increased operating budget is required to support development, implementation and evaluation of new initiatives to help Winnipeggers reduce their energy bills and carbon footprints.

Standing outside of City Hall, surrounded by supporters and with momentum building, Shaun Loney announced today that he is ready to lead the City of Winnipeg as its next Mayor.

“There is no shortage of both persistent problems and new opportunities,” said Loney. “I’m excited to get Winnipeg moving in a positive direction.”

Loney noted that in addition to increased concern about homelessness and public safety, Winnipeg families are feeling financial pain and anxiety.

“With the highest inflation rate in decades, lagging wages, increasing mortgage rates, near record high energy costs and a shortage of affordable housing, now is not the time for a large increase in taxes and levies for low-priority transportation mega-projects proposed by some of my opponents.”

Establishing a Smart Tax Task Force’ of business leaders would develop innovative approaches to taxes, fees and other municipal tools to help take Winnipeg to the next level and be it a leader on economic, social and environmental reforms.

Loney and his team of researchers have compiled a Top Ten list that re-think taxes, fees and tools for consideration by the Task Force:

Including: Phase out the civic business tax, blend it in with commercial property taxes to ensure Winnipeg is competitive in attracting new business to the city. Improve development, building and permitting processes and fast-track permits for projects that reduce or eliminate carbon emissions.

Click below to see the top ten list.

Multiple studies have shown that City of Winnipeg’s charges and fees for new residential developments are among the lowest of major urban centers in Canada.

Review of development charges and fees to ensure that ‘growth pays for growth’.

Provide a sensible solution for Route 90 now. This arterial route needs attention, we need to do this affordably, sustainably and sooner.

1. Immediate doubling of annual resurfacing and repair budget until Route 90 is rebuilt;

2. Introduce new traffic management measures to improve the flow of traffic;

3. Support redevelopment of Naawi-Oodena (Kaypong) by changing Kenaston (from St.James Bridge south to Taylor) into a greenway instead of a freeway; and

4. Greening and residential sound mitigation for portions of Route 90 from Ness north to Ellice.

Recommending a 3.7 percent property tax increase to Council that covers his platform commitments. This rate is slightly less than the five Canadian city average.

Many of my platform commitments use new and modern financing tools that will stem the need for more spending over time, and I’m not promising any grandiose or unproductive mega projects that would further burden the taxpayer for decades to come.”

“Voters deserve to know where the resources are coming from to support his announcements.”

I’ve done my homework.

Click here for highlights. Click here for the full detailed breakdown.

Speaking at the foot of the 112-year old Louise Bridge, Shaun Loney announced today that after being elected Mayor, he will pursue a package of reforms that would come into effect prior to the next municipal election.

The reform measures will ensure transparency and make credible information available to the public before they vote. They are centered on providing timely costing of campaign promises, being straightforward about the actual financial impact for taxpayers and preventing candidates from using large infrastructure projects to curry political favour.

First, the ‘Full Platform Costing Measure’ announced by Loney will seek an amendment to The City of Winnipeg Charter Act. Candidates for Mayor will be required to publish a fully-costed platform BEFORE Winnipeggers begin advanced voting.