I was listening to Hal Anderson on CJOB Thursday as he shared stories from people frustrated by their experiences with City of Winnipeg services. Jim Toth, another host on CJOB, shared his own concern about a dangerous hole near his home that people could fall into and be injured. He pointed out something many of us have discovered: when the city gives you a timeline of 90 days, it’s not 90 calendar days; it’s 90 working days. Assuming 21 working days in a month means the city could take more than four months to address even basic issues. This seems to be the standard for city services today, and it’s no surprise that residents are fed up.
During my time as a city councillor, I witnessed countless complaints that fell into the void of the city's bureaucracy. One complaint that sticks out in my memory is about a tree limb hanging over a sidewalk, blocking a resident's path. The official response estimated it would be addressed no later than 2031. Yes, you read that right—2031. It was a typical response from a city that seems to operate under the slogan: "We’re not happy until you’re not happy."
A more recent example is the case of Corydon Auto Body, a long-standing small business on Corydon Avenue run by Marcia and Wes Redekopp. The Redekopp’s have been in business for 50 years, contributing to the local economy and employing residents. Yet, when faced with a sewer issue, they were left holding the bag, or in this case, a $32,000 bill for a repair that seems to be the city’s responsibility, or is it?
The issue started in the spring of this year when Corydon Auto Body experienced a sewer backup. Knowing their responsibilities, Marcia and Wes contacted several companies to investigate. They hired Cox Construction, who discovered that the shop wasn’t properly connected to the city’s main sewer line. Despite this, the city told the Redekopp’s it wasn’t their problem. Instead, they were directed to Beaver Construction, which had done work on the street in 2021. When I contacted Beaver Construction, their general manager, who requested anonymity, said, “We were doing a water main renewal, not working on sewers.” They only received formal notice from the city about the issue on October 3rd.
The Redekopp’s have been trying to get help from their city councillor, Sherri Rollins whose office has been communicating via email, but with no resolution. In an email to Rollins’s assistant on October 31st, Marcia wrote, “We have provided pictures and documentation from Cox Construction confirming there was no pipe connecting us to the city main. On the other hand, the city does not have to prove the pipe was installed and connected? As a small business, we struggle to pay property taxes well over $45,000 a year. This extra $32,000 has really affected our bottom line.”
When I reached out to Councillor Rollins for comment, her response was typical of what we’ve come to expect from city officials. She told me, “There is not much I can say about this because it is a legal matter.” I ask if legal action had been taken by the Redekopp’s, she said she couldn’t confirm whether it was a legal issue. I noted that the Redekopp’s had filed a claim with the city of Winnipeg, and Rollin’s said, “We aren’t the center for conflict resolution at that point; it’s a different process.”
It’s disheartening to hear Marcia’s frustration. “We have been paying over $40,000 in tax for years,” she said. “What service do I get from the city? We just spent $46,000 in taxes and now $32,000 for this repair.” It’s a valid question, one that every Winnipeg taxpayer should be asking: What exactly are we paying for?
Back when I was on City Council, Mayor Brian Bowman, his Finance Chair Scott Gillingham, and several other current council members voted to make homeowners and business owners responsible for sewer pipes all the way to the connection point. This was part of a plan to save the city money by shifting costs onto the taxpayers, forcing them to pay for decades of neglected maintenance and aging infrastructure. Wes Redekopp understood this responsibility and was prepared to pay for a repair, but he rightfully questions why he should have to cover the cost of an issue that appears to be the city’s fault.
The Redekopp’s, like many small business owners in Winnipeg, have been left to bear the burden of the city’s aging infrastructure and lack of accountability. The city seems more interested in funding pet projects and new initiatives than addressing core services like road repairs, sewer maintenance, or basic street cleaning. Millions are poured into projects that do little to solve the real issues facing residents and business owners. Instead of focusing on essentials, the city pushes these costs onto taxpayers, forcing them to cover the gaps left by poor management.
Winnipeg is the only city in Canada that still charges a business tax. This extra levy, combined with ever-increasing property taxes, drives businesses away from the city to the suburbs. Now, Mayor Gillingham is eyeing new ways to squeeze more revenue out of taxpayers, including potential taxes on online deliveries and added fees on alcohol sales. It’s as if the city’s strategy is to tax every possible avenue without corresponding service improvements.
Are we getting our money’s worth? The answer seems to be a resounding no. The exodus of residents and businesses to surrounding municipalities is proof enough. Taxpayers are customers, and they’re leaving because they don’t feel they’re receiving value for their money. Instead, they are saddled with higher costs, fewer services and growing crime while dealing with a city government that appears more interested in finding new revenue streams than fixing existing problems.
The situation with the Redekopp’s is just one example, but it’s emblematic of a larger issue. Small businesses, the backbone of our local economy, are being squeezed out by a city that seems determined to make things as difficult as possible. When a business that has paid tens of thousands of dollars in taxes each year for decades gets hit with a $32,000 bill due to the city’s negligence, it’s clear something is very wrong. It’s time for a change in approach.
The slogan “We’re not happy until you’re not happy” feels less like a joke and more like an accurate reflection of how our city operates. As taxpayers, we should demand better. We deserve a city government that takes responsibility, delivers real value, and understands that it exists to serve the people, not the other way around. Until that happens, the frustration will only continue to grow, and more residents and businesses will look for better options just outside the perimeter.
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