Mayor welcomes new Safeway to Osborne Village
Need more business investment to create jobs

WINNIPEG - MARCH 16, 2005 - Committed to changing attitudes toward business at City Hall, Winnipeg, Mayor Sam Katz today welcomed the grand opening of the new Canada Safeway in Osborne Village as a step in the right direction for the city.

“This store represents a major investment in our city,” said Katz. “I know it was a long process, but we now have a new store serving thousands of residents in the area, and a major investment that will create jobs and support the community. I think we need to see more openings like this, and that is why we are moving to cut business taxes, freeze property taxes, cut red tape, and create a city that’s open for business.”

The new Safeway store represents a $10 million investment in Winnipeg, and has been under construction for 6 years, following an exhaustive community consultation process.

“Every year, Safeway invests more than $40 million in our city, and this investment supports over 5,000 jobs. That’s millions of dollars that support the very fabric of our city each year,” said Katz. “City Council needs to do more to create an environment for this kind of investment. Business – and jobs – are the foundation that supports not only important government programs, but also provides the tax base that will help close our infrastructure deficit.”

Safeway is one of the city’s largest employers, and generates more than $120 million in economic activity and contributions to the Winnipeg economy every year.