WAPSO Lobbying Effort Leaves Mark on Final Process

In December of 2020, the City of Winnipeg voted to proceed with upgrades to the North End Sewage Treatment Plant, providing its share of a civic, provincial, and federal funding program.

Contributing $268 million dollars was a requirement to access provincial and federal funds totaling $589 million. The federal government stepped up without strings attached to the City’s plan, however in May of 2021, the provincial government balked.

The province put forward an ultimatum that the City had to investigate the use of a Public-Private Partnership, as the City’s original plan contained no such provision. The project seemingly stalled until late November and early December 2021.

With a change in leadership from Brian Pallister to Heather Stefanson at the provincial level, the province dropped it’s P3 requirement. Much of the work was done behind the scenes, however WAPSO/IFPTE Local 162 was able to put it’s mark on the process in early December.

Having just finished the 2021 IFPTE Manitoba Legislative Action Conference, leadership from WAPSO were able to press the case for a process without a P3. MLAs from the Manitoba NDP and Liberal Party took the time to meet with WAPSO and hear their concerns. Both parties agreed that a P3 should not be a requirement for the project and would make the case where necessary.

On December 16, City Council voted to move forward with the original submission, without a P3. The final hurdle had been crossed, much to WAPSO president Richard Mahe’s relief:

“It is great that Winnipeg is finally getting these much needed upgrades without a P3. Protecting Lake Winnipeg and the environment is always a high priority for WAPSO members, but it has to be done right. It’s just unfortunate this process had to be delayed by ideology. Hopefully future projects don’t face these types of delays.”