REINVENTING CIVIC GOVERNMENT
The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce is of the belief that change is needed to ensure the public is better represented and is more engaged in the political process regarding the future direction of the city. The Chamber believes there is not only a need for change in the make-up of city council, but that change can be made at city hall to provide greater efficiency and accountability to the citizens of Winnipeg.
In examining how our civic government operates and how it can improve, the task force focused on three specific areas: structure, efficiencies and authority.
Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Recommendations:
| Government structure - Impose term limits on the mayor and city councillors regarding their length of tenure in office.
- Consult with the public on whether representation can be better achieved through a model in which the mayor and all councillors are elected by citizens as a whole or the current model based on a ward system.
- Implement ballot questions in connection with municipal elections in an effort to receive greater input on policies.
Government efficiencies - Establish a Commission on Efficiencies that engages the public in an effort to determine if the services provided by the City are being offered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
- Change the process for pursuing alternative service delivery and make the ASD Committee a full standing committee of council to ensure accountability and transparency.
Government authority - Provide the City with the legislative flexibility (provincial) to: adjust civic revenue models to better link revenue to economic performance (without increasing the tax burden on citizens) and reduce reliance on property taxes by implementing growth-related tax sources.
- Consider diverting a percentage of GST/PST to municipal governments.
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Adopted by The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce board of directors, April 2006