CRIME AND SAFETY

The following article was written as a city council meeting assignment. Having covered both a school board meeting and a meeting at Winnipeg City Hall, I can say that I appreciated my time at city hall considerably more.

I've always followed politics with a keen interest, having done my post-secondary studies in politics. I appreciated the process, the dialogue, and the clearness with which the meeting unfolded. The press is always present to hold councillors accountable for what they say, and what they do.

This is in stark contrast to the conduct of the Winnipeg School Division board meeting where, as a rule the press isn't present. I genuinely got the impression that we were intruding when we were at the school board meeting. Trustees were willing to answer questions, however I never got the feeling they really wanted to talk.

In any case, the following article covers the council meeting on January 26, 2010.


Crime and safety dominated the first city council meeting of 2011 at Winnipeg City Hall on Wednesday. Councillors approved a motion to increase the number of police officers by 58 by the end of 2012. In doing so, city council fulfilled Mayor Sam Katz's 2010 election campaign promise to add new officers to the Winnipeg Police Service. Although the motion was carried unanimously, some councillors expressed concerns about where the money for the new officers will come from.

(Photo from winnipeg.ca) 

According to Katz, crime and safety are Winnipeggers' number 1 priority. He noted that 18 of the new recruits will be assigned to a cruiser which will operate on a three-shift rotation, 20 officers will serve on foot patrol, and the other 20 officers will be fighting street gangs as part of a gang prevention unit. 32 officers will be added in 2011 at an estimated cost of over $1 million, and the remaining 26 will be added in 2012 for an estimated price tag of over $4 million.

Mayor Katz (Photo from mbchamber.mb.ca)

When referring to the street gang problem, Katz stated that he was fully aware of the troubles faced by at-risk youth. Katz hopes that the addition of 20 new officers dedicated to combatting gangs will be effective. "We know they are vulnerable, specifically young aboriginal people," he said, adding, "we need more resources."

Councillor Ross Eadie, who represents the Mynarski ward, echoed Katz's sentiment that crime is an important issue to Winnipeggers. "There really is a want from the people to bring more police officers to protect communities at risk," he stated, however adding that those resources "have a lot of financial implications."

Jenny Gerbasi, Fort Rouge - East Fort Garry ward councillor, said finding funds for the new officers was a major concern. Although the city is operating with a funding shortfall, Gerbasi didn't want to see existing programs that prevent crime cut in order to pay for the new officers. "We will need some fiscal accountability, " she said. "We have to find a way to pay for it without taking away from programs that prevent (crime). (Katz) didn't say where we're getting the money from. It's a big question mark."

Councillor Jenny Gerbasi (photo from winnipeg.ca)

Scott Fielding, the chairperson of council's finance committee and councillor for the St. James - Brooklands ward, said that although the budget isn't finalized, he doesn't foresee additional officers coming at the expense of existing programs.

Fielding said that the funding for new police officers would be covered by new revenue streams, such as property taxes generated by new homes. He added, "the city's revenue stream always goes up, we'll generate the funds."