Student journalists at RRC Polytech want hear your views as mayoral campaigns hit the starting block; transit emerges as dominant issue

By James Turner, Winnipeg Better faculty adviser

“What do you want candidates to be talking about as they compete for your vote?”

Since late last year, Winnipeg Better has been asking this question of Winnipeggers as we work toward building coverage of the Oct. 28 Winnipeg city council election.

We’re entirely focused on citizen concerns — not candidate polling numbers or their personalities.

Click here to take the brief Winnipeg Better survey

Through email, Google Forms, social media, and in-person interviews— more than 200 adult Winnipeggers have weighed in so far in to answer our central question.

But here’s the thing — we need to hear more!

In order to ensure our reporting best reflects the priorities of citizens (defined as “people living in a place” here, not status), we are putting the call-out for viewpoints again, now that mayoral candidates have been registering their campaigns.

That said, after collating and studying responses to date, here’s the top six things you say so far that you want municipal candidates to focus on.

We’re calling this the “preliminary” citizen’s agenda for the election. It goes like this:

Transit, active transportation

Most dominant concern and issue

Respondents say they want a modern, accessible, less car-dependent transportation system and are paying close attention to Winnipeg Transit’s service issues and proposed changes.

Key stated concerns:

• Public transit reliability, funding, and redesign concerns
• Active transportation (bike lanes, pedestrian safety)
• Reducing car dependency.

Housing & homelessness

Respondents say they believe managing this file diligently is a core social and economic priority for governments.

Key stated concerns:

• Affordable housing supply
• Homelessness crisis and encampments
• Housing-first approaches
• Rent affordability and tenant protections.

Public safety & crime

Respondents agree public safety is critical — but their POVs on solutions diverge. Some say more police and police response is needed. Others are calling for reduced police funding and diverting those dollars into greater social service investment.

Key stated concerns:

• Public displays of crime (especially violent crime and downtown safety)
• Police funding and effectiveness
• Safety perception across varying neighborhoods.

Social services & poverty

Respondents want the city to connect issues with crime & homelessness to solutions dealing with systemic poverty. They don’t just want additional enforcement.

Key stated concerns:

• Poverty reduction is needed
• Addiction and harm reduction must be a priority
• Mental health supports are lacking
• Community-based services need greater support.

Budget, taxation and infrastructure

Respondents so far say they want Winnipeg to have sustainable and ‘better’ municipal services but also assurance that the city can pay for them.

Key stated concerns:  

• Concern about spending priorities and state of the city’s books
• Property taxes, utility charges in light of the rising cost of living
• Greater ‘where the money goes’ transparency.

Do you agree? Disagree? Have other priorities? Have your say by taking our very brief survey [seriously, it’s short]. Follow the link or copy the below into any web browser.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdm_jq_vZr209sGcFLeG0HaCjKE4SnduYA0-fIly_poMb1P-w/viewform?usp=dialog

What’s next?

In August, two months before E-day, we’ll first update the above with any changes and settle on a final issues agenda.

Our core work will be to challenge candidates directly on how they will accomplish the promises they’ve made on the issues you care about.

We’ll offer them opportunities to speak on these issues at length — and provide an accessible space for you to hear and judge their responses in full for yourself. We’ll also be producing stories on each of the citizen agenda items asking what should the next mayor and city council do to make headway on dealing with them.

Most importantly, we’ll be out connecting with voters in the community and working to refine the agenda as we go.

As always, you can reach us with comments, questions and concerns at jmajorrrc@gmail.com

Comments are also welcome on this post.

Thanks for your time in helping make Winnipeg a better place.

[James Turner, journalism instructor at RRC Polytech, Winnipeg Better advisor/editor].

For more on the genesis and purpose of the Citizen’s Agenda in political coverage by media, please see: https://www.thecitizensagenda.org/