Did you know the City of Winnipeg’s 2022 budget offers nothing new to address Climate Change?

As you know, broad and immediate action on climate change is required from all levels of government, including the City of Winnipeg.

The budget does not reflect the need for investment.

Based on an assessment of the City’s operations, three things have been identified that could increase the City’s impact:

1. The Office of Sustainability (OOS) should report to the highest level possible within the city. This will ensure that a climate action lens is applied to all decision-making. Suggest they report to the Chief Administrative Office (CAO).
2. To be successful in meeting its climate targets, and to reflect the importance of climate action and other matters of environmental stewardship, the Office of Sustainability needs substantially more personnel and an increased budget.
3. Create a Community Advisory Council on sustainability and hire a coordinator position within the Office of Sustainability to manage it.

AN OPEN LETTER OUTLINING THESE ASKS WAS SIGNED BY 62 ORGANIZATIONS AND SENT TO CITY HALL THURSDAY NOVEMBER 18th 2021 PRIOR TO THE BUDGET’S RELEASE.

Though the budget at present does not demonstrate the necessary investment, the window is not yet closed.  In a recent energy efficiency assessment done by Efficiency Canada, Manitoba came 8th out of the ten provinces.  Waiting another year would put the city further behind than it is already infamously lagging.

The Office of Sustainability is currently buried within the Department of Water and Waste and has significantly fewer staff than other, similarly sized Canadian cities.  A key part of the Climate Action Plan that was adopted by the City in 2018 is the establishment of a Community Advisory Council. This council has yet to be created and there are no current plans to do so.  These investments do not have a big price tag.

If you agree and would like to support more investment and action on climate from the City of Winnipeg, please sign this open letter.

By uniting our voices, we increase the likelihood of the City taking action to lower GHG emissions and increase Winnipeg’s climate resilience.  Spread the word!

On Friday, December 10th starting at 9:30AM there is the “Executive Policy Committee to hear public delegations on budgets” and if you are so inclined it would be great to have a number of speakers supporting these calls for action.  Here are details on how to sign up.

Budget will be voted on Wednesday December 15th 2021.

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS