Councillor pushes for Portage, Main plebiscite

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/04/28/councillor-pushes-for-portage-main-plebiscite-policy

IF the city wants to reopen Portage Avenue and Main Street to pedestrians in the future, all Winnipeggers should get another vote on the idea first, according to one city councillor.

Coun. Russ Wyatt will push for a policy that requires a plebiscite prior to opening the city’s most famous intersection to foot traffic and for council to follow the results.

Wyatt said he will raise a motion to that effect at the May council meeting, primarily over road safety concerns.

“When you open this intersection to pedestrians, you can expect injuries and fatalities and that’s my biggest concern. I want the citizens of Winnipeg to have a right to weigh in on this issue as they did before. And that will be council policy before any decision,” he said. Plebiscites are typically considered non-binding votes, which is why Wyatt wants the policy to commit city council to respect the results.

In 2018, 65 per cent of Winnipeggers who participated voted “no” to reopening the intersection to pedestrians; council has not taken action to permanently reopen it since.

Wyatt said he is concerned there may be a new appetite to restore pedestrian access.

Debate has raged on for years about allowing pedestrians to cross the street at the surface level of the intersection, something they haven’t been able to do since 1979. Supporters argue pedestrian access would help connect and revitalize downtown, while opponents argue it would snarl traffic and pose safety concerns.

The matter was thrust into the spotlight again this week as the city began seeking public feedback on options to enhance the intersection.

An online survey and open houses will seek input on a wide variety of ideas, including a sixth-floor-level “sky garden” circular walkway, “monumental” public art, a set of four lookout towers and multi-media lighting poles, along with simpler upgrades that would add trees and/or enhance paving.

None of the options would give pedestrians permanent access to cross the street at ground level.

While those ideas from a city consultant don’t include cost estimates, Wyatt said he is also concerned about the potential price tag.

“I don’t see why the ratepayers of Winnipeg should be subsidizing fancy lights and whatnot that could cost millions. I think there’s higher priorities in our city,” he said.

Others argue a policy that guarantees voters a say in the matter wouldn’t make sense.

“I think that’s preposterous. I think it’s an abrogation of their duties as elected councillors. We don’t have a plebiscite over the Chief Peguis (Trail) extension. We didn’t have a plebiscite over (building) Bridgwater. It’s just ridiculous,” said Adam Dooley, a spokesperson for the Vote Open campaign in 2018.

The city council process already allows the public to provide input on council and committee decisions through a delegation process, he said.

A Winnipeg-wide vote would also prevent the city from focusing on feedback from the intersection’s immediate neighbours, Dooley said.

“I think if this were a regular public works project, then the residents in the area would have a larger say than what they are having because they overwhelmingly want this to happen: pedestrian access at Portage and Main. And they’re being told they can’t have that because of votes from, mostly, the suburbs.”

Coun. Sherri Rollins said she doesn’t support the use of more plebiscites, stressing elected officials shouldn’t shirk their duty to make informed decisions on voters’ behalf.

“A simple yes/no (public) vote is just artificially narrow, so I’m not a fan of plebiscites in general. I really feel that they are anti-democratic. They don’t underline or emphasize the accountability that most of us believe is part of being in elected office,” said Rollins.

In a brief written statement, Mayor Scott Gillingham said he won’t support Wyatt’s motion.

“I don’t think the city needs another plebiscite on Portage and Main.”

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga