Where are Winnipeg’s conservative councillors? This question grows louder as city council continues down a path that raises taxes, increases fees, and inflates salaries while failing to find efficiencies or make meaningful cuts. Despite claims by some councillors to be conservative, their actions suggest otherwise. The policies they support and the budgets they pass resemble anything but fiscal conservatism.
In one of Winnipeg's strongest conservative areas, Councillor Evan Duncan has consistently backed Mayor Scott Gillingham since day one. Duncan, a rookie councillor, has supported every budget, including those that raise fees and make no serious attempts to cut spending. This pattern of rubber-stamping budgets with no call for zero-based reviews or fiscal restraint is not what conservatives do. Conservative leadership demands questioning spending, searching for efficiencies, and rejecting unnecessary increases in taxes and fees.
Another councillor who claims conservative values, Janice Lukes, has also been a reliable vote for higher budgets and escalating expenses. Lukes once expressed interest in running federally for the Conservative Party, but her local record does not align with conservative principles. Voting annually for budgets that increase spending and taxes without serious opposition is not stewardship of public funds; it is complacency.
Then there’s Mayor Gillingham himself, who once sought the provincial Conservative leadership. His record on city finances over 12 years tells a different story. Gillingham, alongside finance chair Jeff Browaty—a longtime political who served as Finance Chair for Brian Bowman’s administration—has offered few solutions beyond asking taxpayers for more. Instead of finding ways to reduce expenditures, their approach has been to increase salaries, inflate expense accounts, and look for new ways to tax residents. This is not conservative governance. It’s the kind of fiscal irresponsibility that deepens the public’s frustration with politics.
True conservative governance looks different. In Calgary, a group of five conservative-leaning councillors has shown what fiscal responsibility can achieve. They have proposed at least 20 initiatives aimed at trimming city spending. Their proposals include consolidating executive roles, cutting unnecessary travel expenses, and rethinking taxation policies to alleviate the burden on residents. These councillors understand that every dollar saved matters. Their collective effort could save Calgary over $70 million in operating costs and $4 million in capital investments. They are scrutinizing the budget, pushing for transparency, and holding the administration accountable. This is what real conservatives do.
Contrast this with Winnipeg, where the current administration has done little to address its fiscal challenges. While taxpayers face higher property taxes and rising fees for basic services, councillors fail to demand the same level of scrutiny seen in Calgary. They don’t question the necessity of every expense. They don’t freeze salaries or expense accounts, even as they declare the city “out of money.” Instead, they continue to grow the cost of government, passing the financial burden onto residents without solving the underlying issues.
This lack of accountability is further highlighted by council’s willingness to do Ottawa’s bidding. By pursuing drastic zoning changes to secure federal funding, they prioritize short-term gains over long-term stability. Real conservative leadership would challenge such federal interference, especially when it risks undermining local control and creating further financial strain. Yet Winnipeg’s so-called conservatives remain silent.
Fiscal conservatism requires discipline. It means saying no to bloated budgets and yes to tough decisions. It means challenging bureaucratic assumptions, scrutinizing every expense, and holding public servants accountable. It means freezing salaries and cutting unnecessary programs until the city’s revenue issues are resolved. None of this is happening in Winnipeg.
The city’s conservative councillors need to stand up and show that they are more than just a label. They must stop voting for budgets that do not reflect conservative values. They need to stop rubber-stamping administration’s proposals and start demanding real change. They need to freeze salaries, consolidate executive positions, and eliminate inefficiencies. These actions are not radical; they are responsible.
Taxpayers deserve representatives who understand the value of a dollar and who prioritize their constituents’ financial well-being over political expediency. They need councillors who will fight against tax hikes and unnecessary spending, not those who meekly accept the status quo. Winnipeg needs leaders who act in the interest of residents and businesses, ensuring a city that is financially sustainable and economically competitive.
The time for excuses has passed. Councillors who claim to be conservative must either start acting the part or stop misleading voters. Winnipeg needs real conservatives—leaders who are willing to make difficult choices, reject complacency, and hold city hall accountable. Anything less is a disservice to the people they represent.
Comentarios