Latest news with #WinnipegPoliceBoard
Winnipeg Free Press
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Councillor with correctional officer background poised to join police board
Coun. Evan Duncan will be nominated to become the next member of the Winnipeg Police Board. The Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood councillor notes a ratification vote will be held at Thursday's city council meeting, after council members informally recommended him for the job. If approved, he will fill a vacancy created when Mayor Scott Gillingham resigned from the board in June. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood councillor Evan Duncan will be nominated to become the next member of the Winnipeg Police Board at a ratification vote to be held at Thursday's city council meeting. 'For me, with my justice background… I hope that I can work with the (police) chief and his deputies and, obviously, the board to find some solutions to prioritize public safety first and foremost… to make sure that Winnipeg can improve upon the current state of safety because it's not good,' said Duncan. While he noted the police board is not permitted to direct specific WPS operations, Duncan said he would push for federal bail reform to reduce the risk caused by repeat offenders. 'I see that there are a lot of people that are out on our streets that are dangerous. I see a lot of people that are getting way too many chances and that ultimately lies with the federal government and the criminal code and how that's interpreted,' said Duncan. He also sees a need for efforts to improve the morale of front-line officers, noting police interactions are often recorded on video by the public and scrutinized. 'The job of police men and women is a very difficult one, so I think it all comes… down to the morale and making sure that when these folks are doing their job that they're being supported,' said Duncan. Before being elected as a city councillor, Duncan worked for Manitoba Justice. He first worked as a youth correctional officer and juvenile councillor. Following that, he took on a role in the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder youth justice program, then worked for the provincial government as an investigator in the security intelligence branch. Duncan stressed his job experience taught him that offering the right supports and resources is key to ensuring young offenders have the best chance at rehabilitation. 'My primary focus when I worked with youth in custody was how to set them up for success,' he said. The chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board believes Duncan will bring valuable experience to the role. 'Coun. Duncan has a background in justice coming from the province, more specifically with youth justice, and I think that's a strong addition on the board,' said Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River). Chambers said WPS has recently focused on tackling youth crime, including through Project Surge, which allows police to seek social supports for youths repeatedly involved in violent crime. 'I think (Duncan's background) will lend itself to some of the issues the board is facing now (with) youth crimes, violent crimes… We want to make sure we have a strategy in place,' he said. Wednesdays Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. Chambers said Duncan could also help identify proactive measures to support youth. 'Working with youth, identifying what their needs are (can help us)… make sure that youth have something to do in the community, as opposed to turning to crime and gangs,' he said. If city council approves, Chambers said Duncan's appointment would take effect immediately. X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne PursagaReporter Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne. Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
04-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Photo radar critics: slow down and pay your idiot tax
Opinion All hail the idiot tax. This week, the City of Winnipeg confirmed it is not only renewing its contract with a third party to provide photo radar equipment, but it is introducing a new generation of technology that would make it easier to install and capture better images. The current equipment consists of above-grade cameras on poles, and below-grade coils under the pavement. The cameras employ old technology, and the sub-grade equipment is degrading. Thus, it's time for an upgrade. The city's current equipment consists of above-grade cameras on poles, and below-grade coils under the pavement. The cameras employ old technology, and the sub-grade equipment is degrading. (Wayne Glowacki / Free Press files) The city, not surprisingly, is keen to get the new equipment up and running. The Winnipeg Police Service has long believed photo radar is a valuable tool that encourages people to drive more slowly in controlled areas that, in the process, makes city streets just a little safer. Coun. Markus Chambers, chair of the Winnipeg Police Board, noted that the ongoing operation of the system will pump millions of dollars into the city's cash-strapped coffers. The five-year contract, if approved by council, would cost about $25.2 million up front. However, the WPS believes it will net out $12.8 million in revenue after payments to the contractor are covered. That has prompted detractors, once again, to disparage photo radar as a 'cash grab.' Personally, I've never understood why someone would call a legally empowered program to fine people for doing something illegal a 'cash grab.' Are they suggesting that nobody should be fined doing anything illegal? Or, that we should advocate for responsible speed limits but do nothing to enforce them? Those questions remain largely unanswered by WiseUp Winnipeg, the diligent but otherwise aimless advocacy group of unknown magnitude that continues to publicly lobby against photo radar. The same goes for Christian Sweryda, a self-styled 'road safety researcher' and law student who was once tossed out of court by a judge for providing legal representation (he is not a lawyer) to an aggrieved driver fighting a photo radar ticket. Sweryda told the Free Press photo radar is 'a cash cow… It's just pure money coming in.' He's also focusing his masters of law thesis on an investigation into how the city has deliberately set speed limits too low on some streets to trap more drivers in the tentacles of the evil photo radar system. Beyond that one group and the one law student, there is no evidence of broad public opposition. That is not to say that people like photo radar; only that most of us realize that it is, as it has always been, a completely justifiable idiot tax. To understand why speed limits are important, and why photo radar ultimately makes so much sense, you need to think back to high school physics. Newton's Second Law of Motion tells us the force of an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. Or, when applied to automobile collisions, the larger a vehicle is and the faster it is going, the greater the force exerted on another object when they collide. Those other objects can be vehicles, telephone poles, light standards, bridge abutments and — last but not least — people. Despite our frustration with slow-moving school zones, or speed limits that seem to change from 50 km/h to 60 km/h and then back again with little rhyme or reason, the faster you go, the less time you have to take evasive action or avoid colliding with another object. Photo radar is, when all is said and done, a truly objective way to enforce speed limits. The fixed camera, on a poll or in a vehicle, records the speed of a passing vehicle. If that speed is above a certain tolerance — my personal experience is that it's hard to trigger photo radar if you're going less than 10 km/h over the speed limit — then the camera activates. Clean, clear and coldly efficient. No one likes getting that plain white envelope in the mail that contains a photo radar ticket. (And, yes, I'm speaking from personal experience.) All of us speed at one time or another, and if we don't pay attention, then photo radar is there to remind us that it's a bad and ultimately costly idea to speed. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Finally, a word about the money. Governments should always be motivated to use fines to produce a change in behaviour. The city fines people for dumping garbage in empty lots, letting a vacant house fall into disrepair and become a fire trap, and parking in a no-parking zone or lingering too long in an authorized spot. Are those cash grabs? The city is taking money away from people who break bylaws or other laws. If photo radar makes money for a cash-strapped police service, I'm all for it. I suspect many other Winnipeggers are as well. Never fret about taxes that punish idiots. Just try not to count yourself among their ranks. Dan LettColumnist Dan Lett is a columnist for the Free Press, providing opinion and commentary on politics in Winnipeg and beyond. Born and raised in Toronto, Dan joined the Free Press in 1986. Read more about Dan. Dan's columns are built on facts and reactions, but offer his personal views through arguments and analysis. The Free Press' editing team reviews Dan's columns before they are posted online or published in print — part of the our tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
17-06-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
McDonald's franchisee nominated to police board
A business owner hopes to raise his own concerns about repeated incidents of retail crime as a new member of the Winnipeg Police Board, while Winnipeg's mayor prepares to leave the oversight body. Mayor Scott Gillingham has nominated Amit Kapoor to join the board that oversees the Winnipeg Police Service, pending a final council vote. After being on the front lines of retail theft, Kapoor said he hopes to advocate on behalf of businesses in the new role. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Mayor Scott Gillingham has nominated Amit Kapoor, RIGHT, to join the Winnipeg Police Board that oversees the Winnipeg Police Service, pending a final council vote. 'There have been quite a few break-ins in my restaurants and people have come even in… broad daylight. Sometimes they are armed, and sometimes they're not, but they have threatened our guests as well as my staff,' said Kapoor, in an interview Tuesday. 'Once you're part of retail, you understand and you see what happens around you.' Kapoor, whose company Kapson Family Restaurants Ltd. owns several McDonald's franchises across the city, believes retail crime began increasing seven or eight years ago and is not limited to a specific neighbourhood or type of business. In addition to break-ins and threats, he said one of his employee's cars was stolen. While his restaurants now have multiple cameras and alarms, the business owner said further measures are needed to address the nagging issue. He said safety concerns have hurt some businesses and forced a few to close. 'I saw a couple of people shut their shops in downtown because of retail crime,' said Kapoor. He declined to discuss specific changes he'd like the police board to pursue, noting he's still learning about the role he would like to take on. In the meantime, Kapoor said he welcomes the business community's feedback on crime and safety. Coun. Markus Chambers, chairman of the police board, said Kapoor will offer valuable insight. 'Given the fact that we're dealing with retail crime, it's great to have that perspective on the board and somebody that can speak to the issue that retailers are going through currently … He also provides another perspective in terms of being from the Indo-Canadian community,' said Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River). The mayor noted Kapoor has been on the 'front line' of key public safety concerns. 'He's got a really good view and an understanding of what it means to work in the city of Winnipeg, run a business, the impact of public safety on businesses, and employees and customers. I know he'll bring a wealth of experience,' said Gillingham. Kapoor will fill the seat recently left vacant when Kevin Selch's term expired. Meanwhile, the mayor announced his own departure from the board. During his 2022 election campaign, Gillingham promised to seek council approval to join the board, pitching the move as a way to help hold WPS accountable on crime-prevention strategies. On Tuesday, the mayor said he's confident police Chief Gene Bowers is now tackling many of the goals Gillingham hoped to achieve as a board member. 'We have a chief… that really fulfils a lot of the vision that I laid out in my campaign platform, one who is a collaborative chief, one who is focused back on crime prevention,' he said. Gillingham noted leaving the board will allow him to focus on other key issues. 'We have got to get the third phase of the north end (sewage treatment) plant (upgrade) funded. We've got to talk to the federal and provincial governments about other key infrastructure projects that are growth-enabling and trade-enabling, and that includes (expanding) Kenaston/ Route 90 and the Chief Peguis Trail extension. We've got the new Transit network that's got to be rolled out… I'm going to pour my time and energy into those matters,' he said. While a member of city council is expected to replace the mayor, Gillingham said there's no set date for that appointment. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. Coun. Evan Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) said he is 'strongly considering' seeking the role. 'With my justice background, I think that I could bring some value to the board. I'm interested and I'll contemplate (that) over the next couple of weeks here before council considers people,' said Duncan. Prior to being elected, Duncan worked for Manitoba Justice in conflict resolution, often with youth as a councillor. X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne PursagaReporter Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne. Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
17-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Local businessman nominated to, mayor stepping down from Winnipeg Police Board
Social Sharing A local businessman could soon fill a vacant position on the Winnipeg Police Board. Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham nominated Amit Kapoor, owner of Kapson Family Restaurants, which operates several McDonald's franchises in the city, to serve as a citizen appointee on the board. Kapoor would replace outgoing member Kevin Selch, founder of Little Brown Jug brewing company, whose term has expired. In a news release, Gillingham said retail crime is a big concern for the city, and Kapoor's experience as a business owner dealing with public safety issues every day will be valuable to the board. The executive policy committee voted unanimously to move the nomination forward. It still needs final approval from council. Gillingham also announced he is stepping down from the board. Serving on the board was one of his promises when he ran in the 2022 municipal election. Gillingham said with a new police chief in place and a new strategic plan for the board in development, now is the right time to step down. Council will vote on who should replace Gillingham as their representative on the board.
Global News
10-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Safety groups to improve coordination, says Winnipeg mayor
Winnipeg's mayor is promising to improve inner-city safety by improving communication and coordination among the numerous safety groups already working in the area. Mayor Scott Gillingham called the Safe Winnipeg Initiative a 'blanket of safety' for Winnipeg's West End and Downtown. He toured some West End businesses Monday afternoon with Winnipeg Police Board Chair Markus Chambers, Daniel McIntyre Coun. Cindy Gilroy, Winnipeg West End BIZ Executive Director Joe Kornelsen, and other City of Winnipeg representatives. Angela Hyland has owned and operated Flowers in Bloom on Ellice Avenue for the past 10 years. She told Global News she's arrived at work to find graffiti scrawled on her storefront and has had to install shatterproof windows and a pricey surveillance camera system. Some potential thieves have climbed the brick wall into the shop's backyard. Even so, Hyland acknowledges that her business hasn't been targeted as often as many others in the area. Story continues below advertisement 'They can't make any money off of flowers,' she said. Still, she welcomes the idea of more efficient street patrols, from the Winnipeg Police Service or other agencies – for her and her neighbouring businesses' sakes. 'I want Ellice to become more vibrant,' she said. Mayor Gillingham said the initiative will see the Winnipeg Police Service's downtown foot patrols, the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, the City of Winnipeg's Community Safety Team, and the West End and Downtown BIZ's foot patrols sharing communication to make the best use of their resources and skills. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We want to make sure that we roll out a formal plan to make sure we are identifying the gaps and the overlaps in public safety,' Gillingham told reporters after the tour. 'Rather than have the overlap and the gaps, let's do a better job of coordinating all this so our downtown is safer, the businesses get the help they need, residents get the help they need, and the people that are struggling get the help they need as well.' For Cobra Collectibles owner Mike Paille, that help can't come soon enough. Paille has 65 cameras inside and outside his Sargent Avenue shop, but it still doesn't deter thieves. Paille told Gillingham he's seen some perpetrators wave at the cameras before targeting his business. Story continues below advertisement 'I really think working together is the only way we are going to stop the problem, because individually, nothing's really getting done,' Paille said. He gave Gillingham a file folder full of his concerns and accounts of incidents that he and other area businesses have experienced. He hopes it can inform the city's crime strategy. 'Here's everything we deal with as a business. Go through it and you can understand what we understand,' he said. Still, some businesses are skeptical of the plan. Subodh Vatsyayan and his family run Bread N Biryani, an Indian restaurant at the corner of Ellice Avenue and Maryland Street. The restaurant was not part of Gillingham's tour. 'We do not want to be collecting these,' Vatsyayan told Global News, holding five cards from Winnipeg police, each given to him by an officer responding to incidences of theft or violence. View image in full screen Subodh Vatsyayan of Bread N Biryani on Ellice Avenue holds cards, each one given to him by Winnipeg police officers following an incidence of violence or theft at his restaurant. Iris Dyck/Global News Vatsyayan showed Global News surveillance footage of a man entering the restaurant, picking up a chair and throwing it into the dining room before quickly running outside. He said break-ins to customers' and their own vehicles in their parking lot are common. He's delaying repairing a window cracked by a violent guest as claiming the damage through his insurance would raise his premium. Story continues below advertisement Vatsyayan says he sees some of the same offenders back on the street, saying 'there is no use' in better coordination without tougher penalties for retail crimes. 'No one wants to come here in the evening, they order online,' he said. Gillingham did not give a timeline as to when the initiative will be fully implemented.
