@Winnipeg City Council Meeting - They're Only Human

Winnipeg City Hall

Last week we got the chance to go to the first city council meeting of 2011 in Winnipeg. This is the story I wrote for our journalism class, but it's definitely not the most interesting thing about the meeting!

Most of you have probably never been to an official city council meeting at city hall before, me neither. It was surprising to see some of the councillors texting during the meeting, others passing notes, and even some side meetings going on - were they even listening to each other?

It was a lot different than I thought it would be. I was expecting a formal, professional meeting where everyone paid attention the whole time.

The life lesson: they're only human.

Despite this, they did get some stuff done!


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Outside a city council meeting Tuesday morning, a few homeless people mingle at a bus shelter. Inside, the decision was unanimous to add 58 new police officers in Winnipeg.

Although it was a unanimous vote in the end, some councillors brought up possible issues. Mynarski Councillor Ross Eadie says police cruisers are not as important as focusing on literacy and education.

Fort Rouge - East Fort Garry Councillor Jenny Gerbasi says we should look at crime rates and not just the number of police on the streets. Gerbasi also says the big question is the budget and wonders how much it will cost to fund the additional police each year with their increasing salary.

Mayor Katz says the new officers will cost $1.1 million for 2011 and $5.4 million for 2012.

File Photo

It takes 18 officers to put 1 more cruiser on the street each week.

It’s worth it to Katz to add the new police, “When you see an officer, you feel safe.”

That’s exactly the problem for some of the people who wish they were around more often.

Keith Shane, 52, a local homeless man who was smoking outside the Salvation Army just off Main Street says, “It’s about time. They could add about 158.”

Shane says the police response time is too slow, “I’ve waited about an hour before they’ve shown up.”

Mike Duerksen, Communications Coordinator for Siloam Mission, says, “It doesn’t matter how many more police they add. They need relationships in the community.”

Back at the Salvation Army, Shane agrees saying, “The police won’t help homeless people.” Although, the police pay attention to him sometimes, as one night he had to sleep in a bus shelter. A couple police cruisers honked at him, and told him to wake up, without even bothering to leave their cars.

Duerksen says there is a mistrust both ways between the homeless and the police usually because of their past experiences with each other.

Shane says, “It’s a start. There’s not enough presence though. They should patrol here more.” The here he’s talking about is outside the Salvation Army, half a block south of the Higgins and Main intersection.