Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - March 21, 2024, Winnipeg, Manitoba License Numbers: LGCA 1517-RF-42342, LGCA 1517-RF-42343, LGCA 1517-RF-42344 SCAN TO ORDER FINAL DEADLINE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT 2024 Become Manitoba’s next GUARANTEED MILLIONAIRE! DEADLINE MIDNIGHT MARCH 21 GRAND PRIZE DRAW APRIL 4, 2024 TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND BY PHONE ONLY | stbmegamillionchoices.ca | 204-256-7203 | 1-855-256-7203 JOURNEY OF HOPE Join Us in Making a Difference. Celebrating victories over addiction. APRIL 18, 2024 Fort Garry Hotel Purchase your tickets www.teenchallenge.tc WEATHER COMMUNITY REVIEW BLOOD DONOR CELEBRATES 100 DONATIONSSUN & CLOUD. HIGH -5 — LOW -14 SERVING MANITOBA SINCE 1872. FOREVER WITH YOUR SUPPORT. THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024 Poll shows U-turn on Portage and Main A MAJORITY of Winnipeggers is in favour of reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians six years after an overwhelming “no,” a new poll suggested ahead of a council vote Thursday. More than a quarter of those polled in the Free Press-Probe Research survey said they voted against the proposal in a 2018 plebiscite, but have since changed their mind. “When you look at this new infor- mation, I think a lot of people, like me, are making a different decision than they did six years ago,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said Wednesday. The “new information” is the esti- mated $73 million cost and up to five years of traffic disruption associated with proposed repairs to the pedes- trian concourse beneath the iconic downtown intersection. “When people, like I did, get this new information, it moves us toward the practical alternative, which is to reopen the intersection at-grade,” said Gillingham. The online survey of 600 Winnipeg adults was conducted between March 5-18. A total of 61 per cent said they strongly or somewhat support restor- ing pedestrian access, while 39 per cent are strongly or somewhat against it. Women, younger adults, university graduates and supporters of the pro- vincial NDP and Liberals were among those more likely to be in favour. Portage and Main has been closed to pedestrians since 1979. In 2018’s non-binding plebiscite, 65 per cent of voters were against remov- ing concrete barriers and reopening the junction to foot traffic, while 35 per cent were in favour. CHRIS KITCHING Most Winnipeggers now support reopening intersection POLL PROBE RESEARCH ● POLL, CONTINUED ON A4 ● CARBON, CONTINUED ON A2 ● DAN LETT, PAGE A4 THE Manitoba government tried to tamp down growing unease about the gas supply Wednesday as the pumps ran dry at some Winnipeg locations, retailers scrambled to fill their tanks and Imperial Oil confirmed rail and truck shipments had started after it was forced to close its Manitoba pipeline this week. “I want to assure Manitobans that at this point, there is no immediate concern as we continue to work with suppliers of oil and gas across Winni- peg to ensure we have adequate sup- ply,” Economic Development Minister Jamie Moses said when questioned about consumers being unable to fill up at a handful of gas stations. One of those was a Domo outlet on McPhillips Street, where the pumps were closed late in the afternoon. The attendant advised a customer to check out the nearby Petro-Canada gas bar. Stations around Winnipeg have been limiting — or selling out of — gaso- line. Some began capping fuel-ups to $50. An Esso outlet near Oak Bluff listed its premium gas at regular gas prices. “I use my vehicle for work,” Chris- tina Tolea said while pumping gas at a Petro-Canada. “If I need to fill up my tank, I’m just going to go to two different gas stations.” She thinks everyone should fear a gas shortage. Two pumps over, Carlos Navarro said he’s starting to worry “a little bit” about a gas shortage. He heard the news and figured he’d fill up. The fuel station is busier than normal, he noted. Navarro had to pay at a cashier Wednesday, instead of plugging in his card at the pump like normal. He was prompted to do so before fuelling. “I’m noticing other people going in,” he said, glancing around. Premier Wab Kinew admitted earlier in the day, while being pressed by the Tories in question period, the pipeline shutdown “is a serious issue and it’s one that Manitobans are going to have to learn to live with, all of us together, for the next few months.” Imperial Oil expects the pipeline that runs from Gretna, near the U.S. border, to Winnipeg, will be out of commission for three months while it is being repaired. “Integrity con- cerns” were identified in a section of pipe just south of St. Adolphe. KEVIN ROLLASON AND GABRIELLE PICHÉ ‘Spike the hike’ manoeuvre likely to fail Tories trigger confidence vote over carbon tax OTTAWA — The minority Liberals are facing increasing political pres- sure on their signature climate pol- icy, as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre triggers a no confidence vote in the House of Commons. As the pile-on mounts and provincial politicians — including Liberals — vow to join the fight, Environment Minister Steven Guil- beault is openly calling Poilievre a liar. He’s also challenging the Tory leader to put up an environmen- tal plan that eliminates as many emissions as carbon pricing does without costing Canadians a cent. Conservatives have opposed the Liberal climate policy from the start, but the backlash has grown to new heights since Poilievre took the helm. Under his leadership, the Tories have successfully seized upon the post-COVID-19 cost-of-living and inflation crisis as a platform to convince Canadians the carbon price is making their lives much less affordable. Poilievre is demanding that the government back off from its plan to raise the carbon price another $15 per tonne as scheduled on April 1. The hike will add about three more cents to the price of a litre of gasoline. “I’m giving Trudeau one last chance to spike his hike,” Poil- ievre said Wednesday in speech to caucus members that was open to media. MIA RABSON AND STEPHANIE TAYLOR MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Some Winnipeg gas stations ran dry Wednesday, while others began limiting purchases to $50 as the impact of the Imperial Oil pipeline kicked in. Supply shortage giving city gas pains Pumps at some stations run dry, others limiting sales to $50 ● SHORTAGE, CONTINUED ON A2 ;