Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 29, 2015, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE B1 FUNDERS SPONSORS ® Vickar Automotive Group Fun Packs 12 tickets for the price of 9. Available at Vickar Automotive Group dealerships, Cambrian Credit Union branches and Folklorama pavilions. G E T Y O U R F U N FOLKLORAMA. CA PACKS ! F O L K L O R A M A Mini Fun Packs 5 tickets for $ 25. Available for advance purchase only at Folklorama offices and select retailers. S E E IT ALL AUG. 2- 15, 2015 Go to F olklorama. ca for more information. CROSSTOWN CIVIC CREDIT UNION www. crosstowncivic. mb. ca * Rates subject to change without notice. CAN YOU PICTURE YOURSELF IN PARIS? 1.80 % ON TAX FREE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS WE CAN! A growing concern / B7 CITY & BUSINESS CITY EDITOR: SHANE MINKIN 204- 697- 7292 I CITY. DESK@ FREEPRESS. MB. CA I WINNIPEGFREEPRESS. COM WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015 B 1 W HEN it comes to corporate communications at Winnipeg city hall, management has apparently decided it’s time to go in a different direction. Councillors and city hall insiders found out late last week that Steve West, the city’s longtime manager of corporate communications, had been moved to a new job. West now serves as the manager of strategic initiatives within the corporate support services department. It’s an important development if only because West leaves a city communication infrastructure that had become, particularly in recent years, extremely rigid and tightly controlled. Often to its own detriment. Senior civic administrators have griped quietly behind the scenes for years about the vise- like grip the communications department exerted on every news release and public event. Inordinate waits for approval and frequent, inexplicable vetoes on communication initiatives became the norm. In media relations, the city has for some time now used an extremely restrictive process for contacting senior civic staff. Councillors are all too easy to reach via email and telephone; requests for senior administrators, however, go through a central mediahandling unit and are then farmed out to individual communicators that hover over interactions between city officials and reporters. It is an overly complex, over- managed system that satisfied neither bureaucrats nor journalists. And in a refreshing twist, the city’s senior management does not disagree. Michael Jacks, the city’s chief operating officer, said in an interview the change at the top of corporate communications signals a new era in openness and transparency. Jacks said CAO Doug McNeil made it clear he wants senior administrators more engaged with the media and public. That, Jacks said, will require the city to ease the control it exerts over communications. “ The CAO has given a clear direction to the city’s senior management that we have to be more open and accountable,” Jacks said. “ We are in a new day. We’re acknowledging that we need to make some changes.” It would be wrong, however, to blame West for the current state of civic communications. The centrally controlled and rigidly managed system the city has today has its origins in events that took place well before West took over in 2010. In fact, you could make a case that the current communications system is a byproduct of the decision in the 1990s by former Mayor Susan Thompson to axe the board of commissioners. Prior to the gutting of the board, journalists could get background and commentary directly from individual commissioners, who would often speak frankly about council decisions, almost like an official opposition. However, their frankness sparked allegations the commissioners were usurping the authority of elected officials. That proved to be the board’s undoing. Shortly after the board was dismantled, communications strategy began to change. Gone were the days of direct contact with individual subject matter experts within city hall. Instead, journalists were funnelled through a central media inquiry desk. Multiple layers of media- handling were inserted into the process. Bureaucrats were sold on the promise of an efficient, one- stop shop that would function as a buffer between them and journalists that would frustrate the media and reduce negative stories. None of that actually happened. Instead, the strategy has had two major consequences. First, too often the city has been unable to argue its own case when big stories are breaking. This was certainly evident in the winter of 2014, when DAN concern arose about snow clearing. LETT City has finally decided it’s time to talk New CAO recognizes need to communicate with citizens Continued Please see CITY HALL B 3 W INNIPEG is getting $ 40.8 million this year as its share of the federal tax on gasoline. Conservative MP Joyce Bateman made the announcement Tuesday at city hall. The money will be used to cover the city’s share of the long- term capital costs and ongoing maintenance payments for the Disraeli bridges and Chief Peguis Trail projects, 38 projects involving road maintenance as well as upgrades to Winnipeg Transit operations. “ We are focused on creating the right conditions for economic growth and long- term prosperity,” Bateman said. “ Infrastructure fuels the Canadian economy and creates jobs for strong, healthy, sustainable communities which drive the economy.” Bateman was joined by acting deputy mayor and public works chairwoman Coun. Janice Lukes and provincial Municipal Government Minister Drew Caldwell. Lukes said strengthening the city’s transportation links is vital as the capital region grows toward a population of one million residents. “ Gas- tax funding is important for Winnipeg and helps maintain and modernize our roadways and critical transportation infrastructure,” Lukes said. Of the $ 40.8 million, Lukes said $ 17.5 million will be directed to the Disraeli bridges; $ 6.4 million to the Chief Peguis Trail project; and $ 5.8 million will be directed to Winnipeg Transit. Lukes said the remaining $ 11.1 million will be spent on 38 road projects, including resurfacing the southbound lanes for a stretch of Henderson Highway and a portion of the southbound lanes of Main Street. Winnipeg has received more than $ 333 million since 2006- 07 from the federal gas tax fund. Caldwell said the provincial government is committed to spending $ 5.5 billion over five years on infrastructure projects and the federal gas- tax portion will be a welcome addition to that. “ Whenever we can partner together on building roads or supporting transit, we are making progress,” Caldwell said. “ The most noteworthy thing about the announcement we’re having here today is the three levels of government are working together on shared priorities.” aldo. santin@ freepress. mb. ca By Aldo Santin Gas tax fuels street projects Feds hand over $ 40.8M to maintain roads Where the money is going $ 17.5 million annual capital and maintenance payments for Disraeli bridges. $ 11.1 million 38 road- improvement projects. $ 6.4 million annual capital and maintenance payments for Chief Peguis Trail. $ 5.8 million upgrades to Winnipeg Transit. ‘ Gas tax funding is important for Winnipeg and helps maintain and modernize our roadways and critical transportation infrastructure’ B_ 01_ Jul- 29- 15_ FP_ 01. indd B1 7/ 28/ 15 9: 13: 33 PM ;