Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 15, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba THE City of Winnipeg must complete a major zoning change to secure $150 million for sewage upgrades. The federal government promised the new support for the multibil- lion-dollar upgrade of the North End sewage treatment plant in a Dec. 16 fall economic statement. On Dec. 19, the Free Press asked fed- eral officials to clarify the specific con- ditions tied to the money. The answer came in an emailed statement Tuesday afternoon. “Conditions for (the) funding notably include a three-year freeze on increas- ing development charges and zoning for ‘four units as-of-right’ per lot,” the state- ment from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada said. City council previously directed staff to prepare bylaw changes to meet the “as-of-right” four-unit requirement, which would allow four housing units to be built on a single residential lot. That would remove the need for potentially time-consuming zoning or variance applications and public hearings to get such projects approved, with a goal to streamline the process and get more homes built. The federal sewage money is tied to final bylaw approval of those changes, which hasn’t happened yet. If the conditions are met, the cash is slated to be doled out over four years, beginning in 2026-2027. Winnipeg doesn’t impose a develop- ment charge, also known as a growth or impact fee. The new zoning rule has triggered concerns from some who fear it could lead the city to sacrifice green space and public input and some city council- lors have complained the federal gov- ernment is dictating municipal urban planning decisions. Coun. Brian Mayes said he’s con- cerned the city could overhaul its zon- ing rules and still not have any guaran- tee the sewage dollars will materialize. “I think it’s too risky to make chan- ges to some of what we’re doing in the hopes of getting money from a govern- ment that’s 20 points behind in the polls with an election (that appears to be) coming in the next few months,” said Mayes (St. Vital). He said it’s unusual to tie the funding to zoning changes. “This seems an odd condition to put on it. To me … it’s about the appearance of doing something on housing,” said Mayes. AN arrest in the case of several cats found dead under a west Winnipeg bridge last month has renewed calls for more extensive regulations after police said some of the animals were acquired through a social media platform. A 24-year-old man was arrested at his home at about 6:40 p.m. Friday after the Winnipeg Police Service reported six dead cats found under Summit Road bridge in December. “Investigators learned that the sus- pect had either lured the cats or made arrangements and acquired them on social media platforms,” Const. Dani McKinnon said during a Tuesday news conference. “They were tortured, and they were killed, and it’s absolutely reprehen- sible.” The man, who is not known to police, faces three charges of killing or in- juring an animal. McKinnon said only three killings have been confirmed, correcting the initial report of six. Police did not release his name be- cause he was released on an undertak- ing and the charges have not been for- mally laid in court. Police received three separate re- ports of dead cats under the bridge near CentrePoint Canada Way on Dec. 8, Dec. 28 and Dec. 30. Police said on Dec. 31 that the cats appeared to have been victims of animal cruelty and that the incidents were likely connected. The cats were discovered in bags or lying out in the open by area residents, who contacted police. Some of the cats were identifiable and the city’s animal services agency either connected with or tried to contact their owners. Krista Boryskavich, an animal advo- cacy lawyer with the Winnipeg Humane Society, said the organization is lobby- ing the provincial government for more extensive regulations surrounding the sales and giveaways of animals online. “What we’ve got in Manitoba, and across Canada, is many unlicensed breeders selling animals online and you’ve got people offering up animals for free online,” Boryskavich said. “The challenge with that is not every- one looking to sell or rehome their ani- mal online do the appropriate checks, and in some cases any checks, to see if these animals are going to unfit owners or situations of abuse or cruelty.” Boryskavich said options range from an outright ban of online sales, recent- ly done in Spain, to other alternatives, such as in New Brunswick, where only licensed and government-inspected breeders are permitted to conduct on- line sales. Sellers in New Brunswick are given a number and those numbers must be placed on online sales ads, with enforce- ment available for those who skirt the rules. “There are different ways in getting to the same end,” she said, adding dis- cussions are ongoing with government. “It’s our goal to see changes (in Mani- toba) in 2025. We’ve been working hard on this issue. This has been an excep- tionally difficult year in terms of ani- mal cruelty.” Police, meanwhile, stressed that while the investigation into the murdered cats is ongoing, they have not found a link to several dead cats reported last Septem- ber in Winnipeg’s Point Douglas neigh- bourhood. McKinnon said animal cruelty cases police have recently seen are disturbing and take a toll on investigators tasked with probing them. Irene Lima and Chad Kabecz were arrested in October after a police inves- tigation into a report from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian detailing videos and pictures shared on the dark web showing the torture and killing of animals. McKinnon said police don’t believe the cases are related or animal cruelty incidents have become a trend. “There is a trend in having access to online reporting and online comings and goings, and untoward behaviours now, and police investigations dive into those,” she said. Police asked anyone with information about the incidents to call major crimes unit investigators at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204- 786-8477 (TIPS). scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca A 19-YEAR-OLD Winnipeg man is accused of defacing walls and fences with antisemitic graffiti in an alleged spree that police say did not meet the Criminal Code’s criteria for hate crimes. Insp. Jennifer McKinnon said po- lice received a high number of re- ports of swastikas or acronyms on outdoor surfaces in Charleswood be- tween Sept. 28 and Dec. 31. “I want to emphasize the Winnipeg Police Service takes all hate-motiv- ated incidents very seriously and con- siders the safety and security of our community to be our highest prior- ity,” she told reporters Tuesday. “We’re committed to working with our community partners and re- main steadfast in denouncing those that participate in such hateful acts. Hate-motivated crimes have no place in our community.” Swastikas and the initials “M.K.Y.” were spray-painted onto Westdale Community Centre and nearby build- ings in the final days of Hanukkah. “M.K.Y.” is an international neo-Na- zi group that promotes violence, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network’s web- site said. A U.S. indictment against an alleged leader in 2024 said the group promoted violence against ra- cial minorities and the Jewish com- munity. Premier Wab Kinew previously condemned the graffiti in Charles- wood, calling it an “act of hatred.” City police arrested a suspect dur- ing a raid involving the major crimes unit and tactical support team in Charleswood’s Westdale neighbour- hood Sunday. Nevin Thunder Young is charged with 26 counts of mischief under $5,000. He was held in custody. Hate crimes investigators, who work within major crimes, continue to investigate. McKinnon said evidence that was seized during the raid is being exam- ined. Police did not disclose what was seized. Surveillance video helped iden- tify a suspect, said McKinnon, who thanked residents for reporting in- cidents or providing information to investigators. Most if not all of the graffiti has been removed or covered. Gustavo Zentner, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs’ vice-presi- dent of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, was grateful for the arrest. The or- ganization helped the WPS in its in- vestigation. Police confirmed they will explore whether the suspect is linked to other offences, Zentner said. He said the graffiti was an attempt to intimidate Jews. “(Hate) creates a divide in society, which we cannot afford nor tolerate as Canadians,” Zentner said. The WPS said the graffiti did not meet specific criteria in the Crimin- al Code related to hate crimes. Char- ges of mischief under $5,000 were deemed “most appropriate,” follow- ing consultation with the Crown, Mc- Kinnon said. WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15, 2025 ● 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 JOANNE MARCHAND PHOTO FIRE ON THE ROAD Firefighters extinguished a vehicle that caught fire on southbound St. Anne’s Road at Fernwood Avenue on Tuesday afternoon. The City of Winnipeg posted on social media that the vehicle has been cleared from the roadway by about 4 p.m. SUPPLIED Avrom Charach has removed more than 100 graffiti symbols or messages, including a swastika on the wall of a Winnipeg synagogue. Dozens of Charleswood walls, fences defaced; doesn’t meet criteria for hate crime, police say Man, 19, charged in antisemitic graffiti incidents CHRIS KITCHING ● GRAFFITI, CONTINUED ON B2 JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Police received three separate reports of dead cats under the bridge near CentrePoint Canada Way in December. A spokeswoman said three killings have been confirmed. SCOTT BILLECK Arrest made after slain cats found under bridge ‘Absolutely reprehensible’ Councillors concerned about zoning changes tied to federal sewage-treatment money JOYANNE PURSAGA ● MONEY, CONTINUED ON B2 ;