All 12 candidates running for mayor of Winnipeg took part in a two-hour civic election forum Tuesday night to share their promises, plans and ideas to address the priorities of First Nations people in the city.

Candidates were given a chance to make a 90-second opening statement before facing questions from First Nations leaders. 

Issues included widening Kenaston Boulevard, interactions between First Nations people and police and security guards, as well as community crisis response models.

Around 85 people attended the forum held in the basement of the Manitoba Museum. It was hosted by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Southern Chiefs’ Organization, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and Treaty One Nations.

Speaking on behalf of Treaty One Nations, Sagkeeng Anicinabe Chief E.J. Fontaine asked the slate of mayoral hopefuls about a proposal to widen Kenaston Boulevard near Naawi-Oodena, the site of the former Kapyong Barracks. 

It is being transformed into an urban reserve with homes, businesses and other proposed amenities.

Incumbent mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham spoke of his support for the plan and said the budget and design have recently been updated. 

He said there’s three separate projects: the widening, underground sewer work and upgrades on the bridges near the Viscount Gort Hotel.

“Which are critical, they only have a few years of life left in them,” Gillingham said of the bridges. 

“To accommodate the capacity and the growth of that exciting development at Naawi-Oodena, we need to accommodate that through widening that road.”

Other candidates expressed support for the project, including Kevin Klein who said it’s not happening fast enough to keep pace with the work happening at Naawi-Oodena.

“This is going to be an historic piece of land in Canada,” Klein said. “My fear is that we don’t start working on the road for another five years. All the construction is done, everything looks beautiful and then we start tearing up the road.”

Michael Vogiatzakis said First Nations need to be involved in decisions, like the widening of Kenaston.

“If I become mayor there will be an open-door conversation on how we’re going to work Route 90, how we’re going to work the project that you’re working on and how we’re going to do it together,” Vogiatzakis said. 

Noah Redden, who acknowledged he’s gone on record in opposition to the expansion of Kenaston, argued adding lanes won’t improve traffic.

“That is a position I’ve held for a long time but in the interest of reconciliation I am willing to be a little more flexible on that. I would propose that we increase the amount of transit options to Naawi-Oodena.” 

He said rapid transit would better address traffic issues around the site to ensure “full economic output” of the area.

Johnny Calderon said he wants to focus on downtown revitalization but acknowledged more lanes will likely be needed on Kenaston.

Brad Gross reiterated his support for the widening.

“Kenaston has to be increased for sure, there’s a lot of traffic that goes south that’s just getting tied up,” Gross said. “It’s like a parking lot.”

Mazher Alam said the city is growing and traffic is a problem but would like to see bus rapid transit expanded before widening Kenaston.

Tracey Drexler said she supports widening Kenaston.

“True reconciliation must include economic reconciliation,” Drexler said. “When we talk about 'land back' in urban centres like Winnipeg it can’t just be a slogan, it must be a concrete municipal policy.” 

Don Woodstock said the Naawi-Oodena development “opened a can of worms that we need to address and address fast.”

“How are we going to expand it without the heavy cost? And how are we going to integrate it with the First Nations communities and let them be a part of it?”

The entire Kenaston project carries a price tag of $757 million, including the cost of widening the roadway, work on the bridges, sewer work, bike lanes and potential interest charges. 

Chris Clacio, who told the crowd he was inspired by urban Indigenous young people to run for public office, thinks the road needs to be widened but said there need to be more conversations about transit. 

Umar Hayat said growth would be stunted without adding more lanes to Kenaston.

Joshua Pagdato said he “would never derail efforts and collaborations involving Indigenous reconciliation” but he thinks the money could be better spent on other priorities, like helping people in Winnipeg get on the right track.

He also touted transit as an option to reduce congestion in the area.

The civic election is Oct.28.