Mayor disappointed by council opposition's 'political approach' to transit safety

Mayor Brian Bowman accusedopposition city councillorsof tryingpoliticize the issue of transit safety in the wake of the killing of driver Irvine Jubal Fraser.

Winnipeg's mayor said Wednesday he is disappointed council's unofficial opposition chose to decry the pace of the city's response to thedeath of Fraser, who was killed on the job in February.

A report about transit-safety improvements is due at public works committee later this month.

On Tuesday, Couns. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), Janice Lukes (South Winnipeg-St. Norbert), Ross Eadie (Mynarski), Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan), Shawn Dobson (St. Charles) and Russ Wyatt (Transcona) issued a statement decrying this response as inadequate anddemanding the creation of a transit-security forceas well as freeing up drivers from the responsibility to enforce fares.

The six are not part of "EPC + 2," Bowman's unofficial party of supporters, which includes members of executive policy committee plus Couns. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) and Matt Allard(St. Boniface).

Following Wednesday's executive policy committee meeting, Bowman said he values his colleagues' inputbut wonders why they issued a press releaseinstead of speaking directly to public works chairMartyMorantz(Charleswood-Tuxedo-WhyteRidge).

"Having thethoughts of members of council, or anyone for that matter, issomethingthat should be welcomed. It's disappointing, of course,thecouncillorstook apoliticalapproachas opposed to acollaborativeapproach," Bowman said in a scrum at city hall.

"Coun.MartyMorantzhas been doing good work. There'sareportthat will be forthcoming for all of council toconsider. I wouldencouragethosemembersofcouncil yesterday that wereexpressingtheir views to pick up the phone andwalk down thehallwayin this case to speak totheircouncilcolleague."

The opposition councillors issued their statement after Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 president John Callahan expressed dismay Winnipeg Transit had not consulted the union adequately about the forthcoming report.

City spokesperson Kailey Barronsaid in a statement a meeting took place March 28, but Callahan said that was a sharing circle, not a formal consultation.

Callahan said Tuesdayhe is now optimistic his union's concerns are being heeded, after Morantz brokered a meetingwith Winnipegchief transportation and utilities officer Dave Wardrop,acting Winnipeg Transit director Greg Ewankiw, and Randy Tonnellier, transit's acting operations manager.

Bowman, Chipmanmeet on 'public safety'

Winnipeg's mayor met last week with True North Sports & Entertainment chair Mark Chipman as part of what Brian Bowman described as an "alliance" on public safety.

The meeting took place Thursday and was not related to the skywalk incident where the police shot a man wielding a home-made spear, the mayor said.

• Man shot by police in Winnipeg skywalk charged with assault, weapon possession

Former deputy police chief DaveThorneand other individuals were in attendance, said Bowman, who declined to provide more details.