Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - March 19, 2024, Winnipeg, Manitoba TUESDAY MARCH 19, 2024 ● ASSOCIATE EDITOR, NEWS: STACEY THIDRICKSON 204-697-7292 ● CITY.DESK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM SECTION B CONNECT WITH WINNIPEG’S NO. 1 NEWS SOURCE ▼ CITY ● BUSINESS Proposed cuts set stage for last-minute save Budget debate familiar dance Y OU could call it the civic budget bait and switch. Start with the threat of a high-profile cut in city services, such as closing a pool or cutting back on hours at public libraries. The bad news is typically delivered by the mayor or the head of the city’s finance committee, who assures citizens that times are tough, and that difficult decisions need to be made to reconcile the budget. Then, they sit back and wait for the tsunami of outrage. Right on cue, parent groups, so- cial-service agencies and special-in- terest lobbies howl for the cuts to be reversed. And then — when all seems lost — there suddenly appears a glimmer of hope that a solution can be found. When the final budget is approved, the pools and libraries are miracu- lously saved. Citizens celebrate their victory over city hall, all with the knowledge that they will all be back playing the same game at the same time next year. Sound too bizarre to be true? Look at this year’s civic budget debate and you’ll see the bait and switch playing out in real time. Last month, the city unveiled its proposed 2024 operating budget with a plan to close Happyland, Windsor Park and Eldon Ross pools. The proposal was accompanied by a plan to invest $20 million in 10 new outdoor splash pads. There was also a plan to extend hours at community libraries but close the downtown Millennium branch on Sundays. As has been the case in budget debates past, the proposals have trig- gered a wave of protests and pleadings from people who have deep connec- tions to the pools and the downtown library. And those pleadings have — not surprisingly, given the way these things tend to go — prompted some second thoughts at city hall. Mayor Scott Gillingham said last week that while he wouldn’t make any promises to keep anything open, he was “still open to see what may be done…. We’re still in a place of discus- sion.” No one can say with complete con- fidence that a reversal of fortune for these facilities will be forthcoming. But Gillingham has certainly opened the door to yet another example of council miraculously pulling a commu- nity’s pool from the jaws of disaster at the very last moment. Why do we have to go through this dreary budget ritual in what seems like every year? Opinions and theories vary. From a political point of view, draw- ing the citizenry’s attention to potential and controversial budget cuts does tend to direct it away from things such as tax hikes. And there is no getting around the fact that this year’s operat- ing budget is a bit more aggressive on that front. In addition to a 3.5 per cent property tax hike (with two points dedicated to infrastructure) the budget also proposes a five per cent increase in all other fees (minus frontage levies), a $1 a monthly 911 service fee (consistent with most other cities) and a one-point bump to the city’s accommodation tax charged on all hotel, motel and short- term room rentals. DAN LETT OPINION ● LETT, CONTINUED ON B2 City lawyer suspended after drunk driving conviction A WINNIPEG lawyer has been sus- pended from practising for one year af- ter she was convicted of driving while drunk and repeatedly ramming the back of another car. The “chase” happened on the night of Sept. 19, 2021. Lauren Fourmeaux Clemens was convicted of driving while impaired and assault with a weapon in June after a provincial court trial. She pleaded guilty to conduct “unbecoming a lawyer” at a law society disciplinary hearing Feb. 6. The Law Society of Manitoba issued its written decision on the disciplinary matter last week. The decision states Fourmeaux Clem- ens has little recollection of the event, but witnesses at her trial recounted “disturbing aspects” from that night. She repeatedly rammed the rear of an- other vehicle in an unprovoked incident and followed the vehicle despite the driver’s attempts to get away, the deci- sion says. The incident ended when Fourmeaux Clemens lost control on a roundabout and hit a concrete post. Police found the lawyer at a nearby coffee shop, where she was aggressive and unco-operative with officers and paramedics, the deci- sion states. Evidence suggests Fourmeaux Clem- ens was driving while impaired by al- cohol, the effects of which might have been amplified by prescription medi- cation she was taking, the law society’s decision states. “The case (entails) precisely the type of conduct which erodes public confi- dence, both in the profession itself and in the ability of the society to effect- ively govern its members in the public interest.” JURA MCILRAITH RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS DOWNHILL SIDE OF WINTER Elder Villa walks his dog, a one- and-a-half year old Chiweenie dog named Chiwii, in the high winds along the paths on top of Garbage Hill, Mon- day. Windy conditions will continue today in the city with a high of -5 C, and a few flurries in the forecast Transit safety officers saving lives C OMMUNITY safety officers are being credited with saving at least two lives and helping bus riders feel safer a month after they began patrolling Winnipeg Transit buses and shelters. The team’s leader told reporters Monday that the officers — tasked with defusing dangerous situations, provid- ing first aid and helping connect vul- nerable people with resources — have exceeded initial expectations since the program began Feb. 20. “It’s rolled out even better than I en- visioned. I’m really feeling we’re mak- ing an impact out there on the street,” Bob Chrismas said. “One (outcome) that I was particu- larly thrilled with is our officers… came across a person face down in the snow over by Portage Place, (with) no life signs. They administered CPR and naloxone, brought that person back to life.” Chrismas said there was another, similar incident, along with one in which community safety officers pro- vided first aid to someone having a seizure. He said officers also regularly trans- port people to shelters and other resour- ces, using the team’s three vehicles. Overall, he estimated they respond to about 15 to 20 incidents per day. An increase in violence against both Winnipeg Transit drivers and riders sparked calls to increase security for years. “I’m biased, of course, but in the first few weeks, I feel that we’ve already proven (the) concept,” Chrismas said. “So, I absolutely could use another 100 officers tomorrow, if they were given to us.” Christine Welsh, a team supervisor, said officers have reported positive feedback from the public. “We’ve had… a high number of (bus drivers) that are fist-bumping and cit- izens that are engaging our safety of- ficers and letting them know they very much appreciate the presence…. People are actually approaching them and telling them that they feel safer,” said Welsh. The team was directed to begin its work with a focus on transit, especially on routes connected to downtown. Supervisor Sean Berman said he rou- tinely found folks sleeping in transit shelters while working his past job as a Winnipeg Transit inspector. For the first time in years, no one was found do- ing so early Monday morning, he said, crediting the safety team’s outreach. “I went out and hit the streets this morning at about 6:30… and we could not find one single person in a bus shelter in the entire downtown. It was amazing, actually,” said Berman. Mayor Scott Gillingham said he’s heard positive feedback about the pro- gram, though more data is needed to determine if it should be expanded. “When we hear that the community safety officers are raising people’s level of confidence and sense of security, and when they’re actually involved in inci- dents that end in a positive outcome, where no one’s hurt, those are the kind of stories that show this program is working,” said Gillingham. The province has pledged $5 million to help fund the team, which the city has promised to continue through 2027. It is expected to cost $2.5 million this year. ‘Really feeling we’re making an impact,’ team’s leader says one month into program JOYANNE PURSAGA ● TRANSIT, CONTINUED ON B2 POLICE have a message for youth planning to shoplift during spring break: they’ll be watching. The Winnipeg Police Service will send additional officers to patrol re- tail stores and malls to discourage theft when students are out of class next week. WPS major crimes Insp. Jennifer McKinnon said police expect an in- crease in shoppers at retail stores, which could correlate to increased theft. The property crimes unit, as well as community support units, will proactively attend shops and malls to try to discourage theft, she said. “You won’t know when and you won’t know where we are, but we will be out there,” McKinnon told reporters dur- ing a news conference Monday. “If the intention is to go out and shoplift during the spring break, chances are we’re going to be out there looking for you.” The planned uptick in enforcement comes as part of Winnipeg police’s re- tail theft initiative announced in Nov- ember, which is aimed at decreasing shoplifting. McKinnon said that during Decem- ber, when police focused resources on large shopping centres and stores amid the holiday shopping season, there were 459 incidents of shoplift- ing reported in the city, compared with 640 in November. Insp. Max Waddell, who oversees uniformed officers in the city’s west police district, said police will send out extra officers when available. “The deployment is any time we have extra resources above our min- imum, which is seven two-officer cars, they are being deployed in and around that area, when available,” said Waddell. The issues surrounding retail theft are “complex,” police said in a news release. “We remain committed to working with our community partners and so- cial service providers to ensure sup- port is available to individuals facing various challenges such as food insec- urity, poverty or addiction,” police said in the release. Waddell said he believes retail thefts drive violence and other crimes, as shoplifted goods are typically sold on the online black market for cash, with the funds used for illicit goods such as drugs or weapons. Preventing retail theft a priority during spring break: police ERIK PINDERA ● LAWYER, CONTINUED ON B2 ;