Beehives in Winnipeg's downtown to get a closer look

It's the bees' knees for beekeepers.

The city will look into allowing beehives downtown after the property and development committee decided Tuesday to get more information on the issue.

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Committee chair Coun. John Orlikow said residents have to be kept safe, but Winnipeg needs its bees.

"We have a huge problem with bees. I'm very happy to hear that the bee population went up a bit this year. But again, without bees, we fall apart.So we need to keep the bee population going," he said.

"I don't think downtown will be the only place that will work. That's only a couple of beehives. We'll have to figure out a way to facilitate that but also things like Monarch butterflies. They're also in jeopardy. As climate change comes forward and really is impacting our city, we have to have policies that can adapt to that."

Orlikow said beehives could potentially be located where population is sparse, such asecologically sensitive areas or in-fill agricultural lands.

He also referred to Coun. Russ Wyatt's suggestion that industrial land could be considered.

"Trying to promote, in a safe way, the bee population to resurge will be great. And with malathion going bye-bye I'm hoping that's going to help as well, uplift the bee population as well."

City administration is to report back with recommendations for amending zoning bylaws.