Manitoba

Mayor disappointed by council opposition's 'political approach' to transit safety

Mayor Brian Bowman accused opposition city councillors of trying politicize the issue of transit safety in the wake of the killing of driver Irvine Jubal Fraser.

Brian Bowman questions why six councillors didn't approach public works chair instead of issuing press release

Winnipeg Transit buses displayed a rest-in-peace message in March in honour of the funeral of slain operator Irvine Jubal Fraser, whose badge number was 521. Winnipeg's mayor is accusing council's opposition of politicizing the city's response to his death. (Lyzaville Sale/CBC)

Mayor Brian Bowman accused opposition city councillors of trying politicize the issue of transit safety in the wake of the killing of driver Irvine Jubal Fraser.

Winnipeg's mayor said Wednesday he is disappointed council's unofficial opposition chose to decry the pace of the city's response to the death of Fraser, who was killed on the job in February.

A report about transit-safety improvements is due at public works committee later this month.

On Tuesday, Couns. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), Janice Lukes (South Winnipeg-St. Norbert), Ross Eadie (Mynarski), Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan), Shawn Dobson (St. Charles) and Russ Wyatt (Transcona) issued a statement decrying this response as inadequate and demanding the creation of a transit-security force as well as freeing up drivers from the responsibility to enforce fares.

The six are not part of "EPC + 2," Bowman's unofficial party of supporters, which includes members of executive policy committee plus Couns. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) and Matt Allard (St. Boniface).

Following Wednesday's executive policy committee meeting, Bowman said he values his colleagues' input but wonders why they issued a press release instead of speaking directly to public works chair Marty Morantz (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Whyte Ridge).​

​"Having the thoughts of members of council, or anyone for that matter, is something that should be welcomed. It's disappointing, of course, the councillors took a political approach as opposed to a collaborative approach," Bowman said in a scrum at city hall.

"Coun. Marty Morantz has been doing good work. There's a report that will be forthcoming for all of council to consider. I would encourage those members of council yesterday that were expressing their views to pick up the phone and walk down the hallway in this case to speak to their council colleague."

Amalagamated Transit Union Local 1505 president John Callahan said he is more optimistic following a meeting Tuesday with transit officials. (CBC )
The opposition councillors issued their statement after Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 president John Callahan expressed dismay Winnipeg Transit had not consulted the union adequately about the forthcoming report.

City spokesperson Kailey Barron said in a statement a meeting took place March 28, but Callahan said that was a sharing circle, not a formal consultation.

Callahan said Tuesday he is now optimistic his union's concerns are being heeded, after Morantz brokered a meeting with Winnipeg chief transportation and utilities officer Dave Wardrop, acting Winnipeg Transit director Greg Ewankiw, and Randy Tonnellier, transit's acting operations manager.

Bowman, Chipman meet on 'public safety'

​Winnipeg's mayor met last week with True North Sports & Entertainment chair Mark Chipman as part of what Brian Bowman described as an "alliance" on public safety.

The meeting took place Thursday and was not related to the skywalk incident where the police shot a man wielding a home-made spear, the mayor said.

Former deputy police chief Dave Thorne and other individuals were in attendance, said Bowman, who declined to provide more details.