A pair of new public opinion polls show that Winnipeggers believe the city urgently needs more funding to address burgeoning challenges in infrastructure, public safety and homelessness.
The recent surveys, one commissioned by the mayor’s office and another for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, show that current funding in these areas isn’t meeting the demands of the city’s growing population.
The polls suggest that most city residents would like to see more money flowing from the province and the federal government to address Winnipeg’s pressing needs.
Construction of the new North End Sewage Treatment facility in June. (John Woods / Free Press files)
“Winnipeggers are clear — they want a stronger partnership between the City and senior levels of government to ensure our infrastructure and services can meet the needs of our growing city,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said in a release Monday. “This is a shared responsibility, and we need the funding mechanisms to deliver for our residents.”
About 38 per cent of residents believe the city is headed in the right direction, and 40 per cent feel that direction is off track, the Abacus Data poll from FCM showed after canvassing nearly 400 adults living in Winnipeg in late August and early September.
Key concerns among residents included the rising cost of living (55 per cent) and health care (40 per cent). Just over half of residents polled viewed their quality of life as positive, with quality of roads (81 per cent), snow and ice removal services (77 per cent) and crime rates (75 per cent) weighing on those surveyed.
A notable 69 per cent, meanwhile, feel housing affordability has worsened in the past year, with 71 per cent citing increases in homelessness and 68 per cent feeling there’s been a spike in drug and opioid addiction.
The City of Winnipeg poll by Probe Research found that Winnipeggers were evenly split on whether municipal governments should be handed the power to charge new taxes, although more strongly oppose the idea (20 per cent) than strongly support it (13 per cent).
More than half of the 480 people surveyed said they agree the city needs additional funding for essential services.
Three-quarters of respondents believe spending priorities should be on repairing infrastructure including roads, bridges and public facilities, while 67 per cent prioritize homelessness support and 56 per cent emphasized public-safety spending.
scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca
Scott Billeck
Reporter
Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott.
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