Nov 8 2024- Coun. Gilroy Wants Encampments Moved, Bridges Fixed

The Great Canadian Talk Show

Cindy Gilroy has represented the West End ward of Daniel McIntyre for ten years. In Episode 30 you'll hear a fast-paced 20 minutes as we ask her about key issues facing Winnipegl.

Part 1- Marty Gold speaks briefly about his exclusive report in the Winnipeg Sun on November 7th -Province, CFS won’t discuss at-risk child reported at Mostyn Park encampment

7.20 Part 2- Cindy Gilroy isn't happy a council committee isn't acting on a report about a clean-up of the heaps of used needles, weapons and broken glass being found in kids playgrounds and inner-city parks.

"Every kid, when they go to a park, need to feel safe.... we have to find the money to keep them safe for kids."

Hear her comments about the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority abandoning needle return targets, yet maintaining discarded needles was "rare".

15.00- The safety of bus drivers and passengers has gone downhill but Gilroy believes the new transit service plan will help. She wants better lighting at stops, and getting cops and transit support workers riding the buses.

18.00- Asking about the future of the Arlington Bridge gets Cindy Gilroy fired up- "We need the bridge fixed".

Citing population growth in the North End, suburban councillors opposing paying the costs "are wrong... we need to focus on the other side of the city" and is worried about the closure "dismantling the community."

Noting the Louise Bridge is also disintegrating, she says "We have two bridges and we have no thought of even how we're going to deal with them."

20.25- Mayor Scott Gillingham is floating new fees and taxes to increase revenue but Gilroy isn't aware of the specifics. While she agrees in principle the city needs more cash, "I don't wnat to do it on the backs of people that are already struggling."

The increased fees for residential parking passes unfairly punishes inner-city neighborhoods like hers that can't afford extra charges and wants it reviewed. Asked about the pattern of tax dollars being wasted by City Hall projects, Gilroy says "There's definitely room for efficiencies."

25.30- CBC distorted what Gilroy said about riverbank homeless encampments and she sets the record straight.

"I have said we need a new encampment strategy that really dictates where we're going to allow them."

She talks about the concept of a shelter system that would allows users to come and go but keep their belongings safe.

Citing federal guidelines that forbids "just kicking people out," Gilroy wants more housing and services to address the underlying mental health and addictions at play.

"The citizens of Winnipeg want us to figure this out."

"It's not OK" for homeless camps to be interfering in the public's access to city parks. Gilroy wants to ensure "our parks are safe, our river fronts are free from fires... there is a way that we can do this but so far we haven't come as a council and had those hard discussions."

Related: ⁠How would Mayor Gillingham deal with a homeless camp in his backyard?

• E-Transfers, sponsor inquiries, comments and feedback can be sent to [e-mail]

29.45- Marty Gold tosses an idea at Coun. Gilroy about where homeless encampments can be moved to.

While Gilroy laughs at first, she stops laughing when told the province actually banned encampments on the Legislature grounds, shifting all emergency response costs to the city.

It also shifted all the danger onto law-abiding residents along the Red and Assiniboine rivers, instead of Wab Kinew and the NDP government sharing the burden.

33.33 Part 3- The episode wraps up with a reminder of the importance of the ActionLine.ca platform covering public affairs and producing unique reports and substantive interviews with Winnipeg councillors and other newsmakers.

• Listeners can help close the gap and contribute in November to the Season 5 Funding Drive, which is now at 80% of the target goal.
• Support independent investigations and analysis - Use the Paypal link at https://actionline.ca/2024/02/donate-2/