Newly elected Winnipeg councillors to prioritize transit

Nine new councillors are headed to City Hall. For some, their next steps include plans for Winnipeg Transit. Councillor-elect Ray Dubois says he wants bus stops in front of seniors homes restored. About 1,200 were eliminated in last year's overhaul of the service. I don't want to hear that someone's mother or loved one had to walk two blocks in the wintertime with their walker or three blocks and then fell and broke their hip. Dubois says concerns about transit outpaced all other issues in St. Norbert-Seine River. I'm going to kick up some dust and see if I can make enough noise to get them to at least consider You know, some of the most vulnerable in our community. In Old Kildonan, Councillor-elect Greg McFarlane heard similar concerns from seniors and youth. He argues the overhaul was necessary, but says it still isn't working for everyone. Transit should be for everyone. And right now, I think what I'm hearing is that people aren't going to, especially now that students can go on the bus and they get their bus pass covered, I think that's a big step. Some kids still don't want to take the bus. They don't feel safe. The city launched its community safety officer program in 2024. Mayor Scott Gillingham campaigned on adding more of these transit officers. They can detain people but don't have the full authority and weapons of a peace officer. McFarlane wants them to have more authority. Kelly Ryback is the incoming councillor for St. James. I believe we have to increase. The patrols that we have, but there's a concern on the cost and what they're able to do. It could be time for an actual transit police division or more actual police officers on buses. Others say they want to concentrate on restoring a 50-50 funding arrangement between the city and the province. Rosanna Hempel, CBC News, Winnipeg.