Winnipeg mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham has pledged to establish long-term staffing targets for police officers and firefighters, aiming to increase their numbers relative to the city’s growing population. This initiative, if re-elected, would involve setting benchmarks to match or exceed 2016 per capita staffing levels for these essential emergency services.
Gillingham highlighted the significant population increase in Winnipeg, noting that the city has grown by approximately 80,000 residents in the past four years. “The city has grown by 80,000 people in the last four years…. What I’m proposing is a thoughtful, methodical, strategic, long-term staffing plan to make sure that we have the right resources for the growing city that we have,” he stated on a Wednesday.
The proposed plan would involve asking city council to set these new staffing targets in the upcoming year. Following this, the city would gradually increase the number of positions over a period of five to 10 years. This phased approach is intended to ensure the growth is affordable and sustainable. “That would be done over time, phased in over time, thoughtfully, methodically, at a rate that we could afford,” Gillingham explained.
Specific Staffing Targets Proposed
Under the proposed targets, Winnipeg would aim for a ratio of approximately 196 police officers per 100,000 residents, a notable increase from the current figure of around 170 officers per 100,000. For firefighters, the goal is to reach about 120 per 100,000 population, up from the current 112 per 100,000.
Based on Winnipeg’s current estimated population of 850,000, these targets would translate into an increase in the police force from roughly 1,443 officers to 1,666. The number of firefighters would rise from approximately 975 to 1,020. It is important to note that these figures are preliminary and may not fully account for specialized roles within these services that might not require proportional increases based solely on population growth.
Addressing Ambulance and Paramedic Services
In addition to police and fire services, Gillingham also committed to seeking provincial funding for eight additional ambulances and 120 more paramedics. This commitment aligns with long-standing requests from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS).
Support from Firefighter Union
The United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg (UFFW) welcomed the mayoral candidate’s pledge. Nick Kasper, president of the UFFW, stated that the union has been actively advocating for increased staffing resources and enhanced emergency response capacity for years. He noted that current resources have not kept pace with population growth and escalating service demands. “Today’s (election pledge) is an important acknowledgement of that challenge… and a commitment to work towards a measurable long-term solution,” Kasper said, emphasizing the significance of Gillingham’s commitment.
Other Mayoral Candidates’ Proposals
Mayoral candidate Don Woodstock has also put forward proposals concerning public safety staffing. Earlier in the week, Woodstock announced his intention to hire 100 additional firefighters and 50 more paramedics within two years if elected. He argued that this expansion is crucial to reduce the current reliance on overtime, which he described as unsustainable and detrimental to staff well-being.
Woodstock’s platform also includes plans for acquiring more specialized equipment, bolstering mental health support for WFPS staff, and establishing new fire-paramedic stations in rapidly developing areas like North McPhillips. He believes these measures could help eliminate the substantial overtime expenditures, which have reportedly cost the city around $10 million annually in recent years.
However, Kasper of the UFFW expressed that the savings from one year of overtime would likely not be sufficient to fund the proposed addition of 100 firefighters, estimating the annual cost for such an expansion at approximately $13.3 million.
Focus on Transit Safety
Mayoral candidate Tracey Drexler has focused her campaign pledges on improving Winnipeg Transit. She proposed declaring security an emergency and expediting the transition from partial to full driver safety shields. Drexler also intends to introduce dedicated Transit police officers and “peaceful greeters” to enhance safety for transit operators and passengers.
“Our Transit operators deserve to come home safe at the end of every day, but right now they’re working in fear,” Drexler stated, highlighting the concerns of transit employees. The proposed greeters would assist with fare collection and monitoring, while Transit constables would be responsible for responding to threats and making detentions or arrests. Drexler has not yet provided specific numbers for new positions or cost estimates for her transit safety proposals.
Candidate Nomination Period Opens
The announcement of Gillingham’s pledge coincides with the opening of the nomination period for the mayoral election. Candidates must gather signatures from at least 250 registered voters to appear on the ballot, with the deadline set for the following Tuesday afternoon. Chris Clacio was the first candidate to successfully complete this nomination process.
Other registered mayoral candidates include Mike Vogiatzakis, Umar Hayat, Mazher Alam, Joshua Pagdato, Johnny Calderon, Noah Redden, Brad Gross, and Gagandeep Bawa. Zac Uminski, who had registered, withdrew his candidacy on Wednesday.
Mayoral candidate Kevin Klein, a former city councillor, indicated that his first platform announcement would be made later in the week, stating that he believes there is ample time to present his vision for Winnipeg.
