Winnipeg Drowning in Sewage Bills
City Hall Throws a Lifeline to Feds for Support
Winnipeg will request federal funding to help with sewage upgrade projects, but city councillors remain divided on where the funds should go and how to pay for the rest.
City council passed a motion today to apply for one-time Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) support of $150 million towards the North End Sewage Treatment Plant (NEWPCC) and another $31 million towards the Southwest Interceptor Project.
A nine to five vote decided the secondary project, because it meets the criteria of the CHIF application. Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) said at the meeting that a St. Boniface project would better serve Winnipeg’s housing goals by developing infill lots in mature neighbohoods rather than greenlands near the city limits. She said the city’s inability to prioritize projects as they see fit due to federal mandates is concerning.
Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) said at the meeting the $150 million contribution isn’t enough to account for the federal government’s 30% share of the NEWPCC project funding, which leaves the Winnipeg public on the hook for over a billion dollars.
“The federal government has to step up, and frankly madam speaker we haven’t seen that from this federal government or previous ones with regards to housing,” said Coun. Wyatt. “And I don’t think we’re going to see that from the next one either.”
The Manitoba government has not funded the multibillion-dollar sewage upgrade projects and the city budget has reduced its annual commitment to $30 million from $45 million. Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) said at the meeting this would push the estimated completion of the Combined Sewage Overflows (SCO) work well beyond the 2045 deadline, calling for more funding from all three levels of government.
“We keep complaining that we don’t get provincial or federal funding,” said Coun. Mayes. “But we never ask for it.”
Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights - Fort Garry) said at the meeting that developers should pay to extend services.
Winnipeg water and waste has been increasing sewage rates by 8% every year since 2022 when the NEWPCC project broke ground.
Well written and informative!