Opening Portage & Main – How Councillors Receive Information to Make Decisions

Oct 13, 2017

City Councillors have been provided with only 7 business days to review multiple reports on the Opening of Portage and Main, a multi-million $$$ initiative:

Winnipeg City Council will vote on this report in 7 business days on Wed., October 25, 2017
The timeframe and total cost of the project is NOT known; however, just the removal of the barricades is estimated at $6+ Million
I’ve not received any briefings, and no briefings are scheduled to answer Councillors’ questions
Wish me luck on having the City’s Chief Administrative Officer or Public Works Director answer questions which I or other Councillors may have between now and October 25

Here’s the timeline at City Hall on how we received information on October 13 about Opening Portage and Main:

12:42 pm Receive Media Advisory from Mayor’s Office that Mayor is holding a press conference at 1:30 p.m. on “Opening Portage and Main” at the Portage & Main Concourse

1:02 pm Councillors receive email from City Clerk that the Executive Policy Committee’s October 18th agenda and the Portage and Main Report is posted for the public

1:03 pm Councillors receive News Release from City Communications Director that Portage and Main Report is published

1:04 pm Media and the public receive News Release from City Media Department that Portage and Main Report is published

1:12 pm Media and Councillors receive email from Mayor’s Office stating Clerks forgot to post a Traffic Study AND that today’s Media Conference is delayed until 1:45 p.m

Councillors have 7 days to:

Review multiple reports; and
Clarify any questions with the City’s CAO or Public Works Director; and
Consult and gather feedback from the constituents we represent ……. before we vote on this multi-million $$$ project.

After 20 years of operating under the City’s current governance model, I believe it’s time we update how we receive information and make decisions.

For more details on Opening Portage and Main, see the City of Winnipeg’s website: