Mayor Brian Bowman intends to support a council motion Thursday for a referendum on opening Portage and Main to pedestrians.
The question would be included as part of this fall’s municipal election.
Bowman, who wants the concrete barriers removed and the intersection opened up, said he supports a referendum so that Winnipeggers can express their views about the future of Portage and Main.
“I have not changed my position on the benefits of opening up Portage and Main,” the mayor said Wednesday. “I see no reason why we wouldn't let Winnipeggers voice their views on this issue. There's I don't think any denying that it's a polarizing view, people feel very passionately about Portage and Main both in favour of opening it up to pedestrians or keeping it closed to pedestrians."
Bowman has previously said he took a clear position on the issue in the 2014 election campaign and received a strong mandate.
The plebiscite would be non-binding but Bowman said he’d honour the results either way.
“I’ve indicated I will treat the referendum as binding.”
The idea for a referendum was brought forward by councillors Jeff Browaty and Janice Lukes who say Winnipeggers haven’t had a chance to officially weigh in on the issue.
As it’s worded now the referendum question would ask voters: “Do you support the opening of Portage and Main to pedestrian crossings? Yes/No.”
The street level crossing has been closed to pedestrians for nearly four decades.
Those who want the intersection reopened say it would help make downtown more vibrant, walkable and accessible to everyone.
Those opposed have raised concerns about the cost and effect on traffic.
University of Winnipeg, Associate Professor of Political Science Aaron Moore is surprised Bowman’s supporting the call for a referendum.
“I kind of think for Bowman this was actually a bad decision,” said Moore. “I don’t think he had to move on this.”
“The problem for me, the precedent this set, is this is a very area-specific development. The people that are going to be the most impacted are the people downtown and the people who commute to that area. A large part of the population in Winnipeg will not be impacted. For me, it’s very similar to the Waverley underpass or to the Archibald/Marion underpass – we don’t have referendums about those. Should people in Janice Lukes’ ward, for instance, have ability to make a deciding vote on this given that they’re probably not frequenting the downtown or driving through it to work. That’s a bit of a problem.”
Moore said infrastructure projects that are specific to certain parts of the city should be left to city councilors to decide on.
“Democracy is voting for these individuals to be informed in making the decisions for the public.”
