Winnipeg Labour Council

Community Meetings Challenge EOC Report

Left to right - David Sauer, Professor Christopher Leo, Professor Ian Hudson and WLC President Larry Pelzer were among those available to answer questions at the meetings.

Winnipeg's Economic Opportunity Commission (EOC) wants to cut $56 million in business taxes. That will inevitably mean public services will be cut and Winnipeg citizens will pay more for what you get. The EOC report proposes to close, reduce, contract out or privatize city services.

The EOC included a Chamber of Commerce representative, business lobbyists, a construction company spokesperson and a former city councillor. They were appointed by the mayor to get input from the private sector and civic administration. The Commission was not representative of the Winnipeg public and did not consult everyday taxpayers and citizens.

"Citizens of Winnipeg were denied a chance to examine and comment on the EOC report," said Winnipeg Labour Council President Larry Pelzer. So the Winnipeg Labour Council and the Canadian Labour Congress held of a series of community public meetings that all citizens of Winnipeg were invited to attend.

Winnipeg: Public not Private

The meetings were held to raise awareness of what is happening at City Hall and to stop the privatization that is being planned. Resource people were available to talk about the EOC report. People attending those meetings have had many questions and comments about the EOC proposals.

Donna MacDonald is serving at the moderator at the public meetings

All Winnipeg citizens will see a reduction in the city amenities and services they depend on if the EOC proposals are accepted. There will be less money for recreation centres, libraries, health inspections, snow removal and animal control to name a few important services at stake. If the EOC's cuts are implemented, everyone in Winnipeg will lose.

First to pay the price will be the city workers who will lose their jobs. Next will be other workers who will be forced to work more for less. Ultimately, even small business people will lose as they will not have a vibrant urban economy to fuel their sales.

The EOC's recommendations have been directed to each civic department for consideration in the 2008 budget. Soon after services could be reduced and fees for other services increased. It is imperative that people become better informed now about what is being planned.

Want More Information?

A number of organizations have issued information about the EOC recommendations. Two were prepared by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. One looks at the question of "Economic Opportunities for Whom", who would benefit financially if the EOC's recommendations are implemented. (PDF - two pages, 640kb) The other CCPA Fast Facts publication, "Risky Business", looks closely at the financial numbers and the risks inherent in this type of plan. (PDF - two pages, 470kb)

The union that represents most City of Winnipeg employees, CUPE Local 500, has a page on their Web site that outlines some of the issues from their perspective, and provides details on how you can help fight the implementation of the EOC recommendations. (View page)

You can view the full final report of the EOC, "Improving Our City's Competitiveness", that was presented to the City. (PDF - 48 pages, 2mb). Also available are comments that Mayor Sam Katz made in a speech to the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce on August 1, 2007. (PDF - six pages, 39kb)