Accountability at City Hall

During my four-year term as your City Councillor, I’ve worked with Council and Administration to strengthen accountability and transparency at City Hall. Accountability and transparency are two of the principles that guide public sector governance as well as integrity, stewardship, leadership, efficiency and customer service.

Calling for a Governance Overhaul

Calling for a Governance Overhaul

  I am more than pleased to say we are finally making excellent progress on the governance review! Mayor Gillingham understands the need for good governance and is not restricting progress, ad the former Mayor did. Key milestones that have been made: January...

Gillingham Follows Through On Vow to Cut His Cabinet

Gillingham Follows Through On Vow to Cut His Cabinet

Thank you to the media for covering this important issue.  CBC: Waverley West councillor back in, 2 Murray supporters out as Winnipeg's new mayor announces inner circle EPC Reforms: Mayor Gillingham’s Remarks Gillingham follows through on vow to cut his cabinet...

Crime Prevention in Waverley West Ward & Winnipeg

Crime Prevention in Waverley West Ward & Winnipeg

The pandemic has amplified many social issues in our city. More and more people are experiencing poverty, homelessness, and addiction. Many resort to criminal activities to support themselves and their addictions. I will work with the new Mayor and Council, and to...

WHY I Support Strategic Investments in Roads

WHY I Support Strategic Investments in Roads

I will work with Council to support investment in key economic trade routes – specifically Kenaston Boulevard and the extension of Chief Peguis Trail.  I have been and always will be a supporter of investing in economic trade routes. We need to focus on avenues of...

Poverty, Homelessness, Addiction and Crime

Poverty, Homelessness, Addiction and Crime

There is no quick fix to solving poverty, homelessness, addiction and crime. Being on City Council for two terms (8 years) and involved in many societal issues, I strongly believe all levels of government need to do a better job of working together and using resources...

Calling for a Strategic Plan

Calling for a Strategic Plan

I along with many Councillors have been calling on the Mayor to initiate a strategic planning process with all of Council. Winnipeg City Council has never engaged and delivered a strategic plan, yet – virtually every similar sized City in Canada has developed a...

Governance Update – 2022

Governance Update – 2022

The process to update the City of Winnipeg’s Governance model started in 2016 – the new Council of 2022-2023 is now tasked to finalize the City of Winnipeg Governance Review: On June 23, 2022 Council concurred in the recommendation of the Governance Committee of...

Flex Work, Downtown & Accountability

Flex Work, Downtown & Accountability

Photo Credit: CBC On Monday May 16,  2022, the CAO presented an overview of a Flexible Workplace Program to Councillors in the morning, then implemented the plan later that same day. To be clear, I fully support a flex work program, but it is important to taxpayers of...

Annual Accountability of Key City Staff Non-existent

Annual Accountability of Key City Staff Non-existent

In the ‘Question Period for the Mayor’ at the April 28, 2022 Council meeting, I asked why there have been no performance reviews for the statutory officers – he said the public services was working on developing ‘Objective Criteria’ – but . . . he had made a motion at...

Update: Governance Review 2021  

Update: Governance Review 2021  

The last time the City reviewed its governance model was in 1997 – 25 years ago. In 2016, I supported the call for a governance review. The review occurred and the Final Report was published in September 2021. Councillors have reviewed the report and have now...

311 Delays

311 Delays

April 20, 2022 Update: The Mayor and his Executive Policy Committee make all decisions related to 311. All Councillors do not have the opportunity to vote on or make amendments or recommendations for additional work to occur – when the report is published. 311 is the...

Review Urges Fix to Council Power Imbalance

Review Urges Fix to Council Power Imbalance

Photo Credit: MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Thank you Winnipeg Free Press for covering this important issue. Review urges fix to council power imbalance By: Joyanne Pursaga     Posted:  Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 A governance review found city council should...

City Budget Gets Final, Divisive OK

City Budget Gets Final, Divisive OK

Thank you Winnipeg Free Press for covering this important issue.  Call to boost ward allowances, add spray pads defeated City budget gets final, divisive OK By: Joyanne Pursaga     Posted: Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 Winnipeg's 2022 budget was approved Wednesday in a 10-6...

The Journey of Reconciliation

The Journey of Reconciliation

Over the past few weeks I had the honour of attending the Land Blessing Ceremony at the University of Manitoba – for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s permanent home and was witness to the Indigenous Naming Knowledge Circle’s opening ceremony, where...

Bill 64 Education Modernization Act

Bill 64 Education Modernization Act

My speech regarding Motion to Council Mme Speaker, Firstly – City of Winnipeg Councillors have the lowest office resources in all of Canada – I want that on the record. When you have the lowest office resources in all of Canada, you have to be very very selective on...

Apologies for Delayed Response Time

Apologies for Delayed Response Time

Please know my ability to provide quick timely turnaround to phone calls and emails is one of the biggest challenges I face in this role. I’ve worked in fields of customer service all my life, and know how critically important service delivery is to customers – and...

2021 Governance Review

2021 Governance Review

The last time the City reviewed its governance model was in 1997 – 24 years ago.  In 2016, I supported the call for a governance review. The review is now underway. This webpage contains a series of video’s I am producing related to the City’s governance model, and...

City Fitness Facilites

City Fitness Facilites

Photo Credit: S. Nason I’ve been receiving many phone calls / emails regarding the City’s Workplace Fitness Facilities being allowed to remain open when all other gyms have been closed. There is a fitness facility located in the basement of City Hall, and while I’ve...

Winnipeg CAO Search Continues

Winnipeg CAO Search Continues

Thank you to the Winnipeg Free Press for covering this important issue. Winnipeg CAO search continues By: Joyanne Pursaga     Posted: Jan 28, 2021 More than 18 months after the City of Winnipeg’s last chief administrative officer left the job, the role is still being...

Skating on Retention Ponds

Skating on Retention Ponds

Residents have been asking about skating on retention ponds. The beautiful ponds/lakes behind our homes or near neighbourhood parks. Please read this carefully: There are 44 retention ponds in the Waverley West Ward. These ponds are part of the land drainage system...

Impact Fees- October Update

Impact Fees- October Update

Photo Credit: CTV UPDATE from City of Winnipeg’s Director of Legal Services: Nov 5, 2020 Final details with respect to the refund process are being completed. This includes the process itself as well as the formulas that will be used to determine the amount of each...

City councillors still feeling left out after lost motion

City councillors still feeling left out after lost motion

Photo Credit: Kevin King / Winnipeg Sun All Councillors are elected to represent the citizens of the ward. I strongly believe poor decisions are made  - that negatively impact tax payers - when only almost half of Councillors are restricted from receiving pertinent...

Amber Flashing Lights, Leadership & Governance

Amber Flashing Lights, Leadership & Governance

Photo Credit: Brett Purdy/CBC The loss of a $1.7M gift of amber flashing lights is representative of a far greater problem at City Hall. This is just one example of many that has resulted in a negative impact on the tax payer. (list below) In my short time at City...

Impact Fees Update

Impact Fees Update

Residents are contacting me wondering what is happening with the refunding of impact fees charged on new home builds. Again, had the Mayor done proper due diligence back in 2016 – and not ‘rammed’ this fee in – we wouldn’t be in this position. You can well imagine,...

City Hall Negotiates with Starlight

City Hall Negotiates with Starlight

I use my website pages to primarily post information about LOCAL neighbourhood issues / concerns & activities. The main stream media does a good job of covering ‘City Hall’ issues for people interested in larger City issues. But in this blog, I would like to...

Starlight – Portage Place Motion

Starlight – Portage Place Motion

My speech at Council on July 23, 2020:   Madame Chair I’d like to move layover of this item & both motions till our September council meeting  - to allow proper scrutiny of the motion before us. I’m must say – watching this entire debacle is  giving me...

Financial Stability of the City  – Political Chain of Command

Financial Stability of the City – Political Chain of Command

Over the past few days residents have been asking me  - in a local emergency - who’s in charge of the City’s finances?   I’ve prepared a brief summary: April 3th, 2020  at a special meeting of Council, Council declared a Local State of Emergency for the City of...

Fiscal Responsibility – Southwest Rapid Transit

Fiscal Responsibility – Southwest Rapid Transit

For the past few weeks, since we’ve entered this new realm of COVID-19 , I’ve shared my concerns about implementing high frequency transit delivery vs a reduced service of the new Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor with the Mayor, CAO and Chair of Finance. Now I’m going...

23 Year Old Identifies $4.3 M Transit Error

23 Year Old Identifies $4.3 M Transit Error

How does a 23-year-old student union President find a $4.3 M ‘miscalculation’ in the City of Winnipeg budget and save the U-Pass program? This is a long blog full of information - for people who aren’t already in information overload (!?!). It’s an incredible...

Direct Impacts on South Winnipeg if Universal Buss Pass is Cut

Direct Impacts on South Winnipeg if Universal Buss Pass is Cut

As a member of Council, who was not part of the months-long daily budget deliberations, I was not able to have any direct input into many decisions made in the proposed four-year budget (2020-2023) It is only AFTER the draft budget is released that I and six other...

Impact Fees Should Pay for New Fire Hall

Impact Fees Should Pay for New Fire Hall

Photo Credit: Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files   The City has published the most recent financial update on the Impact Fee Reserve Fund, which identified that Waverley West new home-owners have contributed a total of $10,259,521.00 to the Impact Fee Reserve...

Mayor’s Budget Working Group

Mayor’s Budget Working Group

The City of Winnipeg is attempting to develop four years of balanced budgets – a multi-year budget. This is the first time the City is proposing to develop a balanced budget for four consecutive years (2020-2023). The Mayor has selected eight  Councillors to work on...

The Mayor and his Executive Policy Committee +2

The Mayor and his Executive Policy Committee +2

When Mayor Bowman speaks about ‘openness and transparency’ at City Hall - please reflect on this article, to accurately understand what ‘open and transparent’ means under this leadership; weekly behind closed doors briefings confidential information from department...

Access Denied: Expanded EPC

Access Denied: Expanded EPC

Photo Credit: MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Thank you to the Winnipeg Free Press for covering this important issue. Access denied: expanded EPC puts councillors, citizens outside looking in, Lukes says By: Aldo Santin         Posted: 12/20/2019 6:44 PM...

Your Input on Multi-Year Budget Planning

Your Input on Multi-Year Budget Planning

For the first time ever City Council will be attempting to develop balanced operating and capital budgets for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Over the past few weeks we have read about many proposed cuts to City services. As I and 6 other Councillors are not members of...

Closures-Amalgamation of Fire Halls in Report Not Being Made Public

Closures-Amalgamation of Fire Halls in Report Not Being Made Public

In September, 2016 the City awarded a $186,000 contract to consulting firm Emergency Services International to produce a ‘Standards of Response Coverage’ report. See: Fire Hall in Waverley West This report is identifying industry best practices in the field of...

Operational Improvements to 311

Operational Improvements to 311

Thank you to CTV for this in depth interview. SEE CTV News I know we can improve on the 311 Call Center interactions with residents seeking service or information. I’ve been working with a variety of the public service staff over the years to make improvements. I’ve...

City Council Committees 2019 – 2020

City Council Committees 2019 – 2020

See larger version of chart here  Today (November 6th) in accordance with Section 57.3 of the Procedure By-law No. 50/2007, the Organizational Meeting of Council was held at 9:30 a.m. The Mayor selected and appointed the Deputy Mayor, Acting Deputy Mayor and members...

Governance Review at a Snail’s Pace

Governance Review at a Snail’s Pace

I don’t believe the 20 year old  governance model the City operates under is serving the taxpayers well. I am hoping the City will complete the governance review and recommendations by 2020. October 26, 2016: Councillors Wyatt and Eadie brought forward a motion to...

Internal Operations & City Leadership

Internal Operations & City Leadership

I recently asked for a status update on the hiring of Winnipeg’s new Chief Administration Officer (CAO) and would like to share some thoughts with you on this important role. As you may be aware, this past June, the former CAO announced his retirement in February,...

When a Candidate Comes Knocking on YOUR Door . . .

When a Candidate Comes Knocking on YOUR Door . . .

  The Provincial election is September 10th and the Federal election is October 21st. There are many candidates knocking on doors looking for your support and there are many many issues to discuss! When a candidate comes knocking on your door, I encourage you to...

‘Trust has left the room’

‘Trust has left the room’

Thank you to the Winnipeg Free Press for covering this very important issue. Following the July 15th Property and Development, Heritage and Downtown Development meeting, it is still unclear when the report will become public. You may recall I requested a Public Report...

Open Letter To Premier Pallister

Open Letter To Premier Pallister

Mr. Premier, I am calling on you to take action and take action fast. Winnipeg’s economic engine is in a state of chaos. As a Councillor, and as part of a group of Councillors who do not control the majority of votes, I am asking you to accelerate your review and...

May 11th – City Hall Open House for Waverley West

May 11th – City Hall Open House for Waverley West

This is an invitation exclusively for residents who live in the Waverley West ward! Bring your family and join neighbours, friends and Councillor Janice Lukes for a tour of City Hall! Learn what City services are available to you, and how to ‘get action’ on important...

Civil Service Needs Overhaul

Civil Service Needs Overhaul

Thanks to the Winnipeg Free Press and reporters Ryan Thorpe, Aldo Santin and Larry Kusch for covering this important issue. Councillors call for change in wake of work culture investigation By: Ryan Thorpe          Posted: April 17, 2019   City councillors are...

Bulletin #4 Employee Conduct Investigation

Bulletin #4 Employee Conduct Investigation

Provincial Involvement   I don’t often share letters from levels of government, but I feel this is a very significant letter with a message that will ultimately have a positive impact on taxpayers: Letter from Minister Wharton to Mayor and City Councillors This...

Bulletin #3 Employee Conduct Investigation

Bulletin #3 Employee Conduct Investigation

April 16, 2019 - Speaking in support of Item 5: Employee Conduct Investigation, to Mayor and Executive Policy Committee   I want to thank Councillor’s Gillingham and Klein for supporting my motion at Assiniboia Community Committee, and would like to elaborate a...

‘City fires six property department employees in wake of internal probe’

Special Bulletin

To The Residents Of The Waverley West Ward & City of Winnipeg   The Winnipeg Free Press has printed an incredible story “City inspectors caught on camera” in today’s April 5th issue: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/…/sloth-in-the-city-plann… Please know I...

Symbolic Budget Vote For Councillor Equality

Symbolic Budget Vote For Councillor Equality

City Council passed the 2019 Operating and Capital Budget on March 20th. Two thirds of Council did not support the budget. I did not vote to support the budget but instead cast a symbolic vote against the budget to raise awareness on the critical need for ‘Councillor...

Statement On 2019 City Of Winnipeg Budget Process

Statement On 2019 City Of Winnipeg Budget Process

Today Councillor Klein and I called a press conference with media to express our concerns with the City of Winnipeg’s 2019 Budget Process. You can read my statement below – and read Councillor Klein’s statement.  I must say, it is virtually impossible to ensure an...

Portage and Main – My Comments

Portage and Main – My Comments

These comments are long overdue - the role of a Councillor is more than one issue - though I have written more than any Councillor on this topic - TRUST For my first term on City Council, I represented the largest ward in the City of Winnipeg (70,000+ people). During...

Explanation for Missed Water Treatment Plant Lawsuit

Explanation for Missed Water Treatment Plant Lawsuit

This has been a very difficult file in seeking accountability. Not for one second do I believe that in eight years, there was no ability for the Public Service to bring forward a formal report to any Committee informing Council that there were catastrophic failures at...

City’s First Integrity Commissionaire and a revised Code of Conduct

City’s First Integrity Commissionaire and a revised Code of Conduct

I’m very pleased to have supported the hiring of Winnipeg’s first ever Integrity Commissioner and to have played a role working  with the Integrity Commissioner and members of Council to develop the revised Code of Conduct for Councillors. I would  like to thank...

The Challenging Road in Seeking Accountability

The Challenging Road in Seeking Accountability

In the last three months at City Hall, I’ve found myself at the forefront seeking accountability on two multi-million dollar files: $30M Missed Lawsuit on the Deacon Water Treatment Plant Confidence in the Chief Administrative Officer Both of these files involve the...

Confidence in the City’s Chief Administrative Officer

Confidence in the City’s Chief Administrative Officer

Confidence in the City's Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) has come into question again with the handling of the Wilkes Avenue Alignment to William R. Clement Parkway Extension file. There has been extensive media coverage on this issue. I am highlighting my major...

Facilitating Better, Well Informed Decisions at City Hall

Facilitating Better, Well Informed Decisions at City Hall

On June 21, 2017, my Motion requesting administrative reports be available publicly a minimum of four business days before Committee meetings was debated at the monthly City Council meeting.  Ultimately, my Motion passed, but the Public Service will first be studying...

Poor Decision Making Process at City Hall – Time to Fix

Poor Decision Making Process at City Hall – Time to Fix

Poor Decision Making Process at City Hall - Time to Fix Councillors pressured into making multi-million dollar decisions in condensed time frames Office of Councillor Lukes - Media Release - June 19, 2017   Councillor Lukes is calling to change the amount of time...

Information Sharing – Problem Solving & The Cost to Taxpayers

Information Sharing – Problem Solving & The Cost to Taxpayers

At the May 24th meeting of City Council, I brought forward a Motion requesting the opportunity to schedule a meeting with the City's Departmental Directors if I required additional information on a report prepared for discussion at a Standing Policy Committee...

Working Towards Making Positive Change

Working Towards Making Positive Change

Honoured to Hold Position as Councillor By: Janice Lukes - South Winnipeg-St. Norbert City Councillor Ward Report Canwest Community News    Posted: 05/23/2017   I was elected by the citizens of South Winnipeg-St Norbert to be your representative at City Hall and...

Responding to Your Phone Calls and E-Mails

Responding to Your Phone Calls and E-Mails

There are peak times throughout the year when the volume of e-mails and phone calls our office receives between 60 to 100 each day!  Spring is definitely ‘a peak time’ with people inquiring about many city maintenance issues. This high volume of inquiries, combined...

Seeking Accountability and Transparency at City Hall

Seeking Accountability and Transparency at City Hall

"We are going to have a much more inclusive council than we’ve ever seen before," he said.  - Brian Bowman at City Council Inauguration Meeting, November 4, 2014  (Winnipeg Free Press)  "Mayor Brian Bowman abandoned a promise to change the way EPC members are...

Restricting Information to Select Members of City Council

Restricting Information to Select Members of City Council

Of all the blogs I’ve been writing since being elected in 2014, please find the time to read this one in detail. It highlights how information to make informed decisions on behalf of Winnipeg tax payers is being restricted at City Hall. I welcome your questions and...

Calling for a Civic Governance Review

Calling for a Civic Governance Review

WHAT IS GOVERNANCE? Simply put, governance* is the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).  Good governance has eight major characteristics. It is: participatory consensus oriented accountable transparent...

People, Projects, Partners and Process

People, Projects, Partners and Process

It's not about people, projects or development partners – it's about process.  Process matters. Proper process determines comprehensive, solid, well-informed decisions and results. As a Winnipegger, I was actively engaged with issues at City Hall 14 years BEFORE being...

People, Projects, Partners and Process

Civic Governance & Operational Review & Performance Assessment Motion

On October 26, 2016, Councillors Wyatt and Eadie brought forward to City Council a Motion speaking to Civic Governance, Operational Review and Performance Assessment: Civic Governance and Operational Review and Performance Assessment Motion Appendix A to Motion...

Internship Program – Councillor Janice Lukes

Internship Program – Councillor Janice Lukes

Internship Program:  Office of Janice Lukes, Councillor for South Winnipeg–St. Norbert Ward, City of Winnipeg We are now accepting applications for our January–April, 2016 session Application deadline is December 12, 2015 The South Winnipeg-St Norbert Councillor...

Welcome to My Year in Review!

Welcome to My Year in Review!

When I decided to run for City Councillor, I knew my years of experience working with community groups, levels of government, fund development projects, and business/community leaders in Winnipeg would be valuable in this role. A year later, I’m realizing this...

Mayor Strengthens Accountability and Capital Project Management

Mayor Strengthens Accountability and Capital Project Management

Demonstrating a continued commitment to increase accountability through greater openness and transparency, Mayor Brian Bowman today launched the Capital Expenditures Monthly Report, a new online tool that makes all active city infrastructure projects,  with associated...

Mayor Announces Improvements to Access to Information

Mayor Announces Improvements to Access to Information

To kick start international Right to Know Week, Mayor Brian Bowman today announced that, on a go-forward basis, public information released by the City through Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) applications, along with additional proactively...

Setting the Foundation to Communicate Change

Setting the Foundation to Communicate Change

I encourage you to read this excellent and accurate article Dan Lett has written (Winnipeg Free Press - July 29, 2015).   He especially hit the proverbial nail on the head with this comment: “Changing organizational culture is a difficult task.  There are many people...

My Actions to Improve Accountability and Transparency

I am aiming to improve accountability and transparency by: 1. Providing information to keep Winnipeggers fully informed (through my office, website, newsletters, social media, and working with other Council members to do the same); 2. Encouraging public participation...