No water privatization without referendum: Winnipeg councillor

A Winnipeg city councillor plans to put forward a motion that no part of the city's water and sewer system could be sold without a referendum.

Coun. Harry Lazarenko on Wednesday said his motion set for next week's council meeting should clear up confusion about the city's plan to enter into a private-public partnership to manage the water supply.

"If this motion of mine is passed, and I am positive that it will, then we would not be able to do any privatization of the municipal water utility without a referendum subject to the provincial government making amendments to the [city] charter," Lazarenko said.

He said he can't imagine how any council member would vote against the motion because it would ensure the utility's assets remain in public hands.

The city wants to partner with one or more private-sector companies to manage water services, as well as garbage pickup and recycling.

The public-private partnership was approved Wednesday by the executive policy committee after it heard 30 presentations from concerned groups and individuals.

Under the plan, the provincial Public Utilities Board would set rates that customers pay to the new organization. A board of directors operating at arm's-length of the city would run the utility.

However, Mayor Sam Katz said the assets would remain "100 per cent city owned."

City councillors will vote on the utility proposal July 22.