Today, the Executive Policy Committee tabled the Preliminary 2025 Budget Update at a special meeting.
We’ve known for some time that the City of Winnipeg is facing cost pressures and financial challenges, but it’s also facing continued population growth and demand for emergency services. The Winnipeg Police Service is also facing impacts due to the effects of our ever-growing city.
Even though I had asked for more officers, I sympathize with the challenges the city faces. Today’s announcement that the preliminary budget includes funding for 36 new officers – 18 in 2025 and 18 in 2026 – is great news. If approved, these new officers would result in two additional General Patrol cars, the first time in more than 20 years that the number of General Patrol cars has increased.
The population and sprawl of the city have outpaced our resources. In 2023, our cop-to-pop hit an all-time low of 167.5 officers per 100,000 people. Coupled with increases in calls for service, it’s not surprising that our queue hit a record high of 440 calls waiting for response on August 31, 2024, and continued to average 300 calls on any given day. Overtime funding has helped alleviate some of the pressure, but a more sustainable solution is necessary.
While I have been front and centre in the push for more officers, it truly has been a collaborative effort. I appreciate all of the work of the Executive team and am grateful for the support of the Winnipeg Police Board, Mayor Scott Gillingham and the City’s Budget Working Group.