Portage Place mall, parades and green energy the focus on the campaign trail
A trio of mayoral candidates shared their plans for the city if they are elected mayor.
Rana Bokhari, Jenny Motkaluk and Scott Gillingham provided more details on some of their campaign hopes and promises.
Bokhari threw her support behind a new proposal to change Portage Place mall into a community-owned meeting and living space.
"While Portage Place has failed as a retail mall, where it hasn't failed is as a gathering space downtown, especially for the newcomer and Indigenous population," she said in a news release Wednesday.
A plan was presented last week to make the area a community centre that featured affordable housing and other amenities like a grocery store.
"The affordable housing aspect is of special interest to me, especially for newcomers with large families," she said. "It is so difficult for them to find housing where they can all be together."
She said she would like to see an Indigenous-led group develop the mall, but noted she would be open to all ideas to develop it.
Motkaluk was out for the third straight day, this time promising grants for parades and encouraging more festivals in Winnipeg.
"Events that gather people together to celebrate the things we love have a positive economic impact and support our values and lifestyle," she said in a release.
She said she would provide annual grants to Winnipeg's four largest parades if she becomes mayor.
Those parades are the Santa Claus Parade, Pride Winnipeg parade, The Manitoba Filipino Street Festival and the Nagar Kirtan parade.
"Parades and festivals are the kind of family-oriented activities that give everyone a chance to join their neighbour and celebrate the things they love."
Lastly, Gillingham announced plans to help with climate change goals, retrofitting city buildings for energy efficiency and adding green power production capacity.
His plan would see the Municipal Accommodations Division turned into Winnipeg Green Properties and Green Power. He said this agency would build partnerships to help retrofit city buildings and pay for solar and geothermal generation for some city facilities.
"We're leaving money on the table if we aren't more aggressive in our quest for green energy dollars in Winnipeg," Gillingham said in a release.
He said other cities have invested millions of dollars into retrofitting buildings for green energy, which he says has created jobs, saved money and reduced the carbon footprint.
Gillingham has set a goal of the city building up one megawatt of green energy in city-owned renewable generation capacity through Winnipeg Green Properties and Green Power by 2026.
"If a small community like the Fisher River Cree Nation on Lake Winnipeg can build a megawatt of solar generation for itself; surely Winnipeg can do the same in four years as a first step to much bigger projects."
Winnipeg's election will be held on Oct. 26.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
B.C. man used Bobcat as 'weapon' while chasing away homeless people, judge says
A B.C. man has been convicted of assault with a weapon after using a skid-steer Bobcat to chase two homeless people from his lawn, injuring one of them in the process.
'Nobody should be getting away with murder': Grieving mother speaks out after son killed in North Preston, N.S.
A grieving mother is speaking out after her 36-year-old son was shot and killed in North Preston, N.S., Wednesday night.