Winnipeg, MB - Changes to Executive Policy Committee (EPC) and other important committees will focus Council's efforts on managing the infrastructure needs of a growing, thriving city while also ensuring fiscal prudence, discipline, and careful stewardship of city resources, Mayor Brian Bowman announced today.
“Winnipeg’s population is on track to grow steadily and strongly over the next twenty-five years,” said Mayor Bowman. “A growing city needs to be supported with the right infrastructure at the right time, and we need to be building Winnipeg today for a population that is projected to exceed one million people so critical infrastructure is in place when we need it.”
“At the same time, we need to continue our efforts to address a structural deficit this Council inherited after a decade and a half of property tax cuts and freezes and the deterioration of our regional and local roads. Managing the infrastructure needs of a growing city while ensuring fiscal prudence and balance is going to require difficult decisions and strong leadership that transcends ward boundaries in the interest of building Winnipeg for the future, and a Winnipeg we can all be proud of,” said Mayor Bowman.
The standing policy committee structure of EPC remains unchanged. Committee chairs of each standing policy committee and membership of EPC will be composed of the following six members:
- Councillor Scott Gillingham (St. James-Brooklands-Weston): Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance
- Councillor Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre): Chair of the Standing Committee on Innovation
- Councillor Brian Mayes (St. Vital): Chair of the Standing Committee on Water and Waste, Riverbank Management and the Environment
- Councillor Marty Morantz (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Whyte Ridge): Chair of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works
- Councillor John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry): Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development, Heritage and Downtown Development
- Councillor Mike Pagtakhan (Point Douglas): Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Protection, Community Services and Parks
“I want to thank Councillor Lukes for all her time and commitment serving on EPC,” said Mayor Brian Bowman. “I look forward to continue working with her on ways to move our city forward.”
Replacing outgoing Winnipeg Police Board Chair Scott Gillingham will be Councillor Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan).
“I want to thank Councillor Gillingham for his strong leadership role as Winnipeg Police Board Chair,” said Mayor Bowman. “Councillor Gillingham has demonstrated an incredible amount of skill, decorum, and a keen ability to work well with many different people and organizations that do not always see eye to eye. His skills and his experience serving as Winnipeg Police Board Chair will serve him well in his new role as Finance Chair, and I look forward to working more closely with him,” said Mayor Bowman.
“I want to welcome Councillor Browaty into the role of Chair of the Winnipeg Police Board,” said Mayor Bowman. “This is a very demanding role, and Councillor Browaty’s years of experience on Council, Executive Policy Committee, and knowledge of City of Winnipeg budgets and processes will serve him well in this new leadership role.”
Mayor Bowman announced changes to the structure and appointments of Deputy Mayor and Acting Deputy Mayor. Historically, these positions have been assigned to EPC members. However, to increase the capacity and accessibility of these appointments, Mayor Bowman appointed two non-EPC members to these positions and elevated liaison responsibility for Veteran and Military Affairs to the Acting Deputy Mayor position.
Appointed Deputy Mayor is Councillor Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), and Councillor Matt Allard (St. Boniface) has been appointed Acting Deputy Mayor as well as Council Liaison for Veteran and Military Affairs.
"These positions play a critical role in promoting our city and building pride in who we are,” said Mayor Bowman. “Councillors Gerbasi and Allard are both relentless boosters of our city, and I look forward to working with them to continue building our city pride. I also look forward to working with Councillor Gerbasi in her current role as first vice-president and future role of President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and finding ways to continue building Winnipeg’s national profile and leadership role with municipalities across Canada,” said Mayor Bowman.
Councillor Allard will also assume responsibility as Council Representative to the Partnership for the Capital Region and Liaison for Transmodal Connectivity with the Capital Region. He will continue in his role as Council Francophone Liaison.
Committee membership and Council Liaison responsibilities will be composed of the following:
- Councillor Matt Allard (St. Boniface):
- Acting Deputy Mayor & Council Liaison for Veteran and Military Affairs,
- Council Representative for Capital Region & Liaison for Transmodal Connectivity
- Council Francophone Liaison
- Councillor Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan): Chairperson, Winnipeg Police Board
- Councillor Shawn Dobson (St. Charles): Council Representative for the Mayor’s Age Friendly and Senior’s Advisory Committee
- Councillor Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry):
- Deputy Mayor
- Chairperson, Winnipeg Housing Steering Committee
- Secretary of Urban Indigenous Opportunities
- Councillor Scott Gillingham (St. James-Brooklands-Weston): Council Liaison for Labour Relations
- Councillor Brian Mayes (St. Vital): Council Liaison for School Board and Youth Opportunities
- Councillor Mike Pagtakhan (Point Douglas):
- Councillor Responsible for Assiniboine Park Conservancy
- Council Liaison for Project Management
- Councillor Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan): Secretary of the End Homelessness Strategies
"It’s been an honour to serve as Winnipeg’s Mayor over the last two years,” said Mayor Bowman. “In order to build a city to support a population of one million people strong, we must make investments that position ourselves for the future and there is much more work to be done. I look forward to working with new members of EPC and all Councillors to move Winnipeg forward with the positive changes Winnipeggers voted for two years ago.”