Orpheum building demolished for new lot

The City of Winnipeg has approved the demolition of the 89-year-old Orpheum building downtown for a new surface parking lot, despite Mayor Sam Katz’s year-old pledge to freeze new parking lot development. The lot will serve clients of Yoga Public, the Fort Garry Hotel’s new yoga centre. Katz stuck to his re-election campaign promise, however, and said he remains dedicated to reducing vacant lots and hopes to introduce incentives for developers who build on them. The mayor told the Winnipeg Free Press the new lot is actually an expansion of an existing lot. Yoga Public will open Dec. 5, and its parking lot will be fenced and lit at night.

City council approves fee hikes

City council has approved the garbage and recycling master plan that adds $50 annually to residents’ water bills. The plan will see homeowners using automated carts by next October. Council also approved the city’s guarantee to loan Gem Equities $10 million for townhouse and apartment development at Fort Rouge Yards. Also, frontage levies increased by $1.20 a frontage foot, working out to $60 more for most homeowners. Swim and skate recreation program fees increased by 10 per cent while other programs rose by 20 per cent. Finally, replacing a dog licence tag will now cost you $3. Licences for sterilized dogs rose to $27 and $62 for unsterilized animals.

Manitoban group against proposed crime bill

Local groups are angry the proposed federal Safe Streets and Communities Act could unfairly target women and aboriginal people. The bill includes removing house arrest as an option for conviction in serious and violent crimes and adding more time before offenders can apply for pardons. The Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba told the Winnipeg Free Press the bill could see more women being held in jail. Aboriginal restorative justice provider Onashowewin said the bill would affect aboriginal people the most since they are “so highly over-represented in the prisons and jails.” Another critic of the bill said it “will dump more people into an already overtaxed system.”

Daryl Reid new Manitoba legislature speaker

NDP Transcona MLA Daryl Reid was elected speaker of the Manitoba legislature by MLAs last Thursday. NDP MLA George Hickes was first elected to the position in 1999 but did not seek re-election in the Oct. 4 provincial vote and is retiring. By tradition, the newly elected Reid was led to his seat by Conservative leader Hugh McFadyen and Premier Greg Selinger. Electing the new speaker was the first order of business in this legislature’s session.

Gerrard: to resign or not to resign?

Though senior Liberal members want leader Jon Gerrard to resign, the Canadian Press has learned he is considering keeping the job. At a meeting, three party members will allegedly call on him to share his departure plans. One Liberal insider said, “It will be sad if he tries to hang on.” The 64-year-old leader has mentioned he will announce in time his future with the party, but one source said he might run again. Gerrard holds the only Liberal seat in the legislature. The Oct. 4 provincial election was the fourth under his leadership, and he faces an automatic leadership review over the next two years.

Published in Volume 66, Number 9 of The Uniter (October 26, 2011)