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City Councillor Markus Chambers is once again the subject of intense scrutiny, this time for his decision to stall the proposed development of Lemay Forest.
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Chambers, who was recently embroiled in a conflict over another development involving a friend’s property, has drawn the ire of residents for his actions. His recent reprimand for violating a Winnipeg Police Board policy has only added fuel to the fire.
During Monday’s Riel Community Committee meeting, the public voiced concerns about the controversial planned 5,000-bed assisted living facility. Kevin Toyne, a lawyer from Hill Sokalski Walsh LLP representing the developer, suggested that Chambers was in conflict as he had already decided about the development. Chambers said he needed to seek legal advice on the claim, delaying the decision to Sept. 6.
However, this is not the first time Chambers has been questioned about conflict on this matter. On June 18, Toyne sent a letter to Chamber and City of Winnipeg legal services saying, “We respectfully object to your participation and therefore request that you do not participate in the upcoming public meeting regarding DASZ 9/2024. Please advise as to your intentions by the close of business on Friday, June21, 2024.”
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Chambers’ departure caused the meeting to be cancelled due to a lack of quorum, as Councillor Matt Allard was absent for a high school graduation.
Many attendees expressed disappointment, including Louise Willow May, who posted on Facebook, “Councillor Markus Chambers recuses himself from the Riel Community Committee hearing on the Coalition to Save Lemay Forest. He says he needs legal advice to make sure he is operating ethically.”
Chambers’ decision to delay the meeting has not only affected the Lemay Forest development, but also a Qualico development for more than 1,000 homes that was set to be heard.
This delay could potentially hinder Mayor Scott Gillingham’s ambitious goal to build 8,000 units in the city this year, a goal that is already facing challenges with the recent downward trend in housing starts in Winnipeg. According to new data released by CMHC, building starts for multi-family units in Winnipeg are down 81%.
Adding to the concerns, a recent report to the Finance Committee revealed that the city’s permit department is lagging in revenue by approximately 10 million dollars. This significant shortfall suggests that fewer permits are being provided by the city, a direct result of the delays in the decision-making process.
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