Budget Negligence: City Leaves Pollution Control Centre in Limbo

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Budget Negligence: City Leaves Pollution Control Centre in Limbo

March 14, 2024

Winnipeg – Manitoba Building Trades sounds the alarm following the release of the City of Winnipeg’s Preliminary Budget 2024 which allocated zero dollars towards the final two phases of the North End Water Pollution Control Centre (NEWPCC). The organization’s Executive Director, Tanya Palson, appeared at today’s Water and Waste Special Budget meeting. She pushed councilors to be transparent on their plans to finance the final two phases of NEWPCC, which will have a price tag of over 1 billion combined. 

“It raises questions about the city’s ability to strategically manage infrastructure projects,” states Palson, “There is a lot of community and environmental advocacy wrapped around this project. It feels like we’ve been blindsided.” 

The Water and Waste Preliminary 2024 Capital Budget does allocate an additional 45 million to the first phase of NEWPCC, however Phase 2 Bio-Solids and Phase 3 Nutrient Removal are not listed in the budget at all.  In 2022 Council moved that the revised cost estimate be referred to the 2024-2027 Multi-Year Budget Process. The cost had more than doubled to over 900 Million from the original approved Biosolids budget of 550 Million. This cost does not even include projections for Phase 3.  

“Is the plan to go with our hands-out other governments and expect them to put up 1 billion dollars for a municipality that has no plans for a financial contribution of its own and a questionable handle on what the final cost will be?” asks Palson.   

This past summer Manitoba Building Trades came out against the low diversity targets for the project workforce which was set at 5 per cent.  Today, the organization has asked that the City act quickly to amend this prior to the budget passing and provide a transparent, sustainable financing plan for NEWPCC to the public.  

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Manitoba Building Trades (MBT) represents the common goals of over 10,000 construction and trades professionals across our 13 member unions. We promote the interests of our member unions and engage in project partnerships to deliver safe, skilled and highly productive labour.   

Contact: 

Director of Public Affairs: Ariel Dunsmore, 431-588-6780/adunsmore@mbtrades.ca