As the city grows, questions are being posed about whether it’s moving in the right direction.

City Hall has plans to develop several new suburbs, but Sudhir Sandhu with Manitoba Building Trades thinks the focus should be on urban neighbourhoods.

"A lot of our older neighbourhoods have not seen a lot of reinvestment in terms of revitalizing the neighbourhood," said Sandhu.

Recently the city approved a development plan for an area called Precinct E. The area is in the northwest of the city, just east of Amber Trails and Pipeline Road.

Sandhu says suburban developments like that are too similar to bedroom communities outside Winnipeg. He says those communities draw people who want more space and lower taxes.

City councillor John Orlikow says a mix of urban and suburban development is the way to keep people in Winnipeg.

"We want to make Winnipeg an environment where people choose to live. They may choose to live in a much more metro setting, which is more the older Winnipeg, or they may choose to live in a little bit more of a suburban setting," he said.

Orlikow chairs the Property Planning and Development Committee. He said the city can’t force people to live within city limits, but he hopes detailed planning with options for many lifestyles will encourage people to live in Winnipeg.