Winnipeg mayoral candidate, Coun. Kevin Klein, has pledged to create an infrastructure plan at City Hall, to remove political considerations from decisions around construction of roads and other core infrastructure.
Klein met with the MHCA Board of Directors and past Chairs on September 21. He said he will use $2 million to appoint industry experts to create the infrastructure plan, assisting the city to identify strategic priorities.
“Our plan will address the long-term infrastructure needs of roads, bridges, water and sewer systems to avoid unnecessary duplication of work,” Klein said in a news release. “We will publish the results so the public can track the progress. This plan will allow for prioritization and informed decision-making.”
He said should he be elected mayor October 26, he would bring back cost-benefit analyses to the decisions around capital expenditures. The city’s finances require transparency and accountability, he added, noting the debt level now is reaching its maximum level.
Klein said he is also not opposed to looking at the use of P3s – public/private partnerships – to build infrastructure. He pointed to the Moray Street bridge and Chief Peguis Trail as examples of the evident benefits to the city of P3s.
“At this point in our economy, if we had a bridge fail, we’d be unable to fund a replacement.”
While not discounting the potential for tax increases, or expanding the sources of revenue, Klein said it is economic growth that would be relied upon for generation of revenues to the city coffers.
Winnipeg needs to concentrate on economic development and creating economic opportunities, he said. But that starts with addressing the causes of crime, which is scaring away investment, he said.
Klein singled out the city’s role in engaging with capital region municipalities to ensure the metropolitan region competes for business and newcomers.
Further, he said he would bring about servicing of the CentrePort South footprint so development can proceed there.
Other priorities Klein spoke to included
- ‘Zero’ budget reviews – which means not simply increasing budgets from the previous year’s level, but reviewing the financial demands based on service levels
- Permits issued within 90 days, and establishing one point of contact for business
- Introducing performance reviews for the public service
- Establishing Indigenous economic zones, as seen in Alberta and setting up an urban reserve economic development arm
