Manitoba

Bowman pledges to open Portage and Main to pedestrians

While one mayoral candidate is getting a lot of attention for derogatory comments made by his wife, others are charging ahead on the campaign trail, setting their sights on Winnipeg’s downtown.

Mayoral candidate Brian Bowman outlines plans to get more people downtown

Brian Bowman says he plans to open Portage Avenue at Main Street to pedestrian traffic by 2019. (Sean Kavanagh/CBC)

While one mayoral candidate is getting a lot of attention for derogatory comments made by his wife, others are charging ahead on the campaign trail, setting their sights on Winnipeg’s downtown.

On Monday, mayoral hopeful Brian Bowman promised to tear down pedestrian barricades at Portage Avenue and Main Street by 2019.

Bowman also said if elected, he’ll develop a seasonal pedestrian mall in the Exchange District.

The announcement was the first in a series Bowman plans to make on revitalizing Winnipeg's downtown.

Mayoral candidate Robert Falcon Oullette also spoke publicly on Monday, saying Winnipeg was a city divided by race and economic potential. He said the city needed a mayor to represent all Winnipeggers.