Building owner receives six-figure fine for vacant house fire in Winnipeg
Owners of nine vacant buildings that burned down have been hit with a wide range of fines, with one amount surpassing six figures.
Two weeks ago the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service announced it had started charging the owners following a bylaw change at Council in January.
Now the WFPS has released the value of the fines. Five of them run between $4,778 to $7,718. The remaining four range between $27,565 to $103,772.
Only one on the fines - worth $4,778 - has been paid in full.
A document from the City of Winnipeg shows outstanding fines for owners of properties damaged by fire.
The move to charge the owners the cost of fighting fires in the empty houses and buildings comes as the city grapples with a rise in these types of blazes.
Last year, Winnipeg saw 84 vacant property fires, up from 64 in 2021, and 41 in 2020. So far this year, 32 have been reported.
Councillors and the WFPS say the want to see the empty buildings fixed up for people to live in to help revitalize areas of the inner city. Many of these vacant homes are prone to fire, vandalism and other crimes.
Last week, Councillors Cindy Gilroy and Vivian Santos put forward a motion to have property owners charged the cost to clean up sites where piles of rubble remain for more than six months following demolition.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre writes to GG calling for House recall, confidence vote after Singh declares he's ready to bring Liberals down
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, imploring her to 'use your authority to inform the prime minister that he must' recall the House of Commons so a non-confidence vote can be held. This move comes in light of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh publishing a letter stating his caucus 'will vote to bring this government down' sometime in 2025.
BREAKING At least 2 dead and 60 hurt after a car drives into a German Christmas market in a suspected attack
A car plowed into a busy outdoor Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday, killing at least two people and injuring at least 60 others in what authorities suspect was an attack.
Judge sentences Quebecer convicted of triple murder who shows 'no remorse'
A Quebecer convicted in a triple murder on Montreal's South Shore has been sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole for 20 years in the second-degree death of Synthia Bussieres.
'I understand there's going to be a short runway,' new minister says after Trudeau shuffles cabinet
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau added eight Liberal MPs to his front bench and reassigned four ministers in a cabinet shuffle in Ottawa on Friday, but as soon as they were sworn-in, they faced questions about the political future of their government, and their leader.
BREAKING Fake nurse Brigitte Cleroux sentenced for B.C. crimes
A woman who impersonated nurses in several provinces has been sentenced to seven years in prison for offences in British Columbia – where she illegally treated nearly 1,000 patients across multiple communities.
Poilievre to Trump: 'Canada will never be the 51st state'
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is responding to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s ongoing suggestions that Canada become the 51st state, saying it will 'never happen.'
Toronto officials warn of possible measles exposure at Pearson airport
Toronto Public Health (TPH) is advising of another possible measles exposure at Canada’s largest airport.
Bail denied for Winnipeg woman accused of killing animals in online videos
Warning: This story contains disturbing details. Discretion is advised. A Winnipeg woman accused of making videos of animals being tortured and killed that were sold on the dark web was denied bail.
Party City closing in U.S., Canadian stores remain 'open for business'
The impending closure of all Party City locations in the United States will not extend into Canada.