Winnipeg city council approved the 2018 budget on Tuesday, and there were two key points receiving criticism from the public: parking rates and transit fees.
The budget passed by a vote of 11 – 5, with Councillors Browaty, Eadie, Dobson, Schreyer and Wyatt voting against the plan.
They said it didn’t reflect the needs and priorities of Winnipeggers, given the increased fees in a number of areas.
READ MORE: No bus route cuts, higher fees for parking on Winnipeg streets: amended city budget
The special meeting on the city’s finances began with councillors and delegates speaking out against the budget as proposed.
Despite a move to raise hourly street parking rates by an extra 50 cents on top of the initial dollar per hour to help fund transit, the city also ended up going ahead with a 25 cent hike in bus fares.
Winnipeggers living on low and fixed incomes said this will cut into their budgets, perhaps to the point they have to choose between putting food on the table, paying rent or being able to take the bus.
On the other hand, the Exchange District Biz’s executive director says higher parking fees would unfairly tip the scales against small business owners in the area. David Pensato told council he wasn’t against the budget, but feels the hike in parking fees would send people to malls, where parking is free.
“It punishes the good members of the public who choose to support the shops, services and cultural institutions of the Exchange District and tilts an already unlevel playing field for all downtown businesses to the point where it resembles something more like a ravine,” says Pensato.
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