Full Breakdown
Winnipeg Mayoral Candidates Outline Plans for Vacant Buildings, Addictions Housing, and Council Advertising
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Accelerating Demolition of Derelict Properties
Former city councillor and Progressive Conservative MLA Kevin Klein pledged that, if elected in the upcoming municipal election, every demolition application would be approved within 15 days. He said the city would seek provincial legislative changes to let Winnipeg seize derelict properties more quickly. Klein noted that the city has seized 48 properties over the past four years but has not yet taken title to any of them. His proposal includes waiving demolition fees for owners who rebuild on vacant sites and raising fees on owners who leave buildings empty, with the expectation that savings from reduced firefighting responses would offset costs.
Building a 100-Unit Supportive-Housing Facility
Mayoral hopeful Mike Vogiatzakis, a funeral-home director, announced a plan to cover 25 percent of the capital cost of an $8.75 million, 100-unit supportive-housing project for people experiencing homelessness and addiction. The facility would be located in a neighbourhood without existing residential homes and would operate as a secure treatment centre. Vogiatzakis estimated annual operating expenses of $5.1 million and said the city would collaborate with provincial and federal governments to fund the initiative. He also mentioned that a group of entrepreneurs, including Ken Cranwill—owner of two addictions-treatment centres such as the Kelburn Recovery Centre—might construct the building.
Restricting Self-Promotional Advertising by Council Members
Candidate Don Woodstock pledged to ban self-promotional advertising by city councillors. Under his proposal, council members would be prohibited from using public funds for bus or park-bench signs, transit-shelter and trash-receptacle ads, billboards, taxpayer-funded mailers, or targeted social-media advertisements.
The Field of Mayoral Contenders
In addition to Klein, Vogiatzakis, and Woodstock, the race includes nine other candidates: Mazher Alam, Chris Calcio, Johnny Calderon, Tracey Drexler, Scott Gillingham, Brad Gross, Umar Hayat, Joshua Pagdato, and Noah Redden. Advance polls have opened, and voters will decide which of these proposals, if any, will shape Winnipeg’s approach to vacant-building risk, addiction treatment, and council transparency.