Report on Winnipeg's finances shows $83 million shortfall, plus more for transit

A newly released report reveals the City of Winnipeg ended 2022 with a shortfall to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.
The figures are from the city’s unaudited financial status report, which looks at the tax-supported operating budget.
It noted the city had an $83 million budget shortfall by the end of 2022, with an added $5 million deficiency from transit alone.
Officials say the shortfall can largely be blamed on the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and over-expenditures in snow and ice operations, which it says cost $52 million more than was budgeted for in 2022.
This includes $8.4 million spent in December alone.
Meantime, the city budgeted $41.3 million for anticipated COVID-19 financial impacts in 2022, but pinpointed an additional $12.4 million was needed for the year.
Some good news – the transit shortfall was ‘greatly reduced’ after the province allocated $19.4 million to the city from the federal government’s fund to support municipalities facing transit shortfalls. From that pot, $9 million will be used for the 2022 fiscal year, with the remainder helping to pay for operations this year.
In a statement, finance committee chair Jeff Browaty said the rainy day fund will be used to cover the shortfall. However, he notes it will leave the city’s reserves greatly depleted.
“Winnipeg residents can look forward to learning what the City’s plan is moving forward with the release of the 2023 Budget Update this week,” he said.
Winnipeg's full financial update can be read on the city’s website.
Meantime, the city will release its 2023 budget update on Feb. 8.
CTV News Winnipeg will have full coverage.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Donald Trump indicted; 1st ex-president charged with crime
Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, prosecutors and defense lawyers said Thursday, making him the first former U.S. president to face a criminal charge and jolting his bid to retake the White House next year.

Police find 6 bodies, including 1 child, in St. Lawrence River
The bodies of six people, including one child, were found in the St. Lawrence River Thursday afternoon after an air search involving the Canadian Coast Guard, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police said.
'Nova Scotians' sense of safety was rocked': RCMP failures dominate inquiry's final report into 2020 mass shooting
A long list of failures by Nova Scotia RCMP leadership and policing systems dominate the final report into Nova Scotia's April 2020 mass shooting.
Meet the Canadian astronauts up for a seat on the Artemis II mission to the moon
This Sunday, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will announce the four astronauts that will be blasting off to fly around the moon for the Artemis II mission, one of whom will be a Canadian astronaut.
Gwyneth Paltrow not at fault for ski collision, jury decides
Gwyneth Paltrow won her court battle over a 2016 ski collision at a posh Utah ski resort after a jury decided Thursday that the movie star wasn't at fault for the crash.
Memes, ski etiquette and that missing GoPro video: Highlights from the Gwyneth Paltrow trial
When two skiers collided on a beginner run at an upscale Utah ski resort in 2016, no one could foresee that seven years later, the crash would become the subject of a closely watched celebrity trial.
Facebook users consume more fake news than users of Twitter, other social media sites: Study
When it comes to election misinformation on social media, Facebook takes the cake, according to a new study which found heavy Facebook users were far more likely to consume fake news than Twitter or other social media sites.
People may buy less alcohol when stores have non-alcoholic drinks on sale, study suggests
Researchers believe the availability of non-alcoholic drinks can help to combat drinking problems.
EXCLUSIVE | Security increased for prime minister's advisers after break-and-enter incidents
Ottawa Police are investigating an attempted break-in at the residence of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's national security adviser, the second such incident involving one of his top aides in recent months.