City examining bylaws after emergency evacuation of St. James apartment complex
![Birchwood Terrace Residents were told to evacuate Birchwood Terrace, located at 2440 Portage Avenue, after an inspection showed the building was severely deteriorating in various locations. (Joseph Bernacki/CTV News Winnipeg)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/5/10/birchwood-terrace-1-6882086-1717023716969.jpg)
Winnipeg’s mayor says the city is looking at whether legislation should be changed after residents were evacuated from a St. James apartment complex due to unsafe conditions.
The city ordered an evacuation two weeks ago of Birchwood Terrace over concerns it could collapse.
About 250 residents were displaced from the Portage Avenue building.
Mayor Scott Gillingham says there are ongoing discussions between the city and province about the site.
“This is an opportunity for us to take a look at what we do and how we do the work at the City of Winnipeg and our policies and procedures in concert with the Province of Manitoba, to see if anything needs to be amended or to change them,” he told reporters at a news conference Wednesday.
“I'm very open to those discussions with the province, and our staff is having those."
Mayor Scott Gillingham is pictured at a May 22, 2024 news conference at Winnipeg City Hall. (CTV News Winnipeg)
Currently, the onus falls on owners to inspect and maintain their properties. Some have questioned whether government should enact stricter laws to ensure property owners abide.
Gillingham pointed out that the structural issues at Birchwood Terrace were initially identified by the property owner carrying out an inspection.
“Don’t underestimate the requirement of a building owner in our bylaws to maintain their property in such a way that it meets code compliance, that it meets safety regulations, that it meets fire code compliance, as well,” he said.
“It’s not just a passing suggestion.”
Property owner Ladco previously told CTV News Winnipeg it had gone above and beyond to maintain the building over the decades. It said the deterioration was not visible, as it was covered by plaster and cement.
The company noted the problems were only found after a column appeared to be damaged.
- With files from CTV’s Jeff Keele
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6939697.1719286227!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Top Cats: Panthers win their 1st Stanley Cup, top Oilers 2-1 in Game 7
The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions for the first time in franchise history, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Oilers' McDavid wins Conn Smythe Trophy after Game 7 loss
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has been awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the NHL playoffs after an incredible post-season that finished just short of a Stanley Cup.
Votes in Toronto byelection counting very slowly, Liberals narrowly ahead of Tories
Conservative candidate Don Stewart remained hopeful late Monday despite trailing his Liberal opponent in the Toronto-St. Paul's byelection where results were extremely slow to come in.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will plead guilty in deal with U.S. that will allow him to walk free
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will plead guilty to a felony charge in a deal with the U.S. Justice Department that will allow him to walk free and resolve a long-running legal saga that spanned multiple continents and centred on the publication of a trove of classified documents.
Canada's population forecast to reach 63 million, as people over 85 set to triple
New projections by Statistics Canada suggest the nation's population could reach 63 million by 2073.
opinion Princess Anne's enduring popularity: her equestrian excellence, Canadian connections and an escaped kidnapping attempt
In light of the news that Princess Anne's trip this week to Canada was cancelled because of an injury, royal commentator Afua Hagan looks at the princess's contributions as a royal figure that extend far beyond traditional ceremonials.
14-year-old boy facing 2 counts of first-degree murder in connection with Rexdale shooting investigation
A 14-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a “mass shooting” outside a school in Etobicoke earlier this month that took the lives of two men and wounded three others, police say.
Sask. speaker officially resigns from Sask. Party caucus
Speaker Randy Weekes officially tendered his resignation from the Saskatchewan Party Government Caucus – following an extended saga that saw Weekes accuse government MLAs of harassment.
Teen girl pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of Toronto homeless man
A fourth teen accused in the fatal stabbing of a Toronto homeless man has pleaded guilty.