Winnipeg needs an economic development officer to guide strategy: MHCA
The City of Winnipeg needs a better, fairer fiscal deal with the province, but first needs to make “economic growth” a formal, guiding principle of its budget and departmental initiatives, MHCA President & CEO Chris Lorenc told the Civic Leaders’ Dinner April 10.
“What we need to make the opportunity of sustained economic growth happen is for the City, first, to name a Chief Economic Development Officer, at a level equal to the Chief Financial and Operating Officers, reporting through the CAO, to a Council Committee,” Lorenc told the dinner, hosted by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. MHCA has been an annual sponsor of the dinner.
Appointing a chief economic development officer who is charged with economic growth oversight would ensure an administrative and political focus on economic growth, Lorenc explained.
Winnipeg, and all municipalities, need a modernized revenue-sharing model with the province that allows them to look at new ways and sources to generate revenue, equal to the increasing demands for service they are facing.
Lorenc noted the provincial budget, recently released, opened the door to having discussions on a new fiscal deal, signalling its intention to pursue a reliable and flexible multi-year funding model for municipalities.
To show the city is serious in its intent to make economic growth a priority, it needs to appoint an executive-level officer embed such a strategy in the work across the municipal government.
The Civic Leaders’ Dinner hosted Mayor Scott Gillingham, city councillors and top administration leaders, who rotated among the tables for each dinner course.
To read the full text of Lorenc’s address click here.
