City Centre Community Committee
On July 3, 2025, Councillor Cindy Gilroy brought forward a motion at the City Centre Community Committee to tackle the growing issue of long-term vacant residential properties especially in core neighbourhoods like Daniel McIntyre.
The motion directs the Winnipeg Public Service to examine stronger tools to address properties that have sat empty for more than three years without any real effort to rehabilitate, occupy, sell, or rent them.
Vacant homes not only impact neighbourhood stability and safety. They also represent lost opportunities to provide much-needed housing in a city facing an affordable housing shortage. These neglected properties often attract vandalism, fire hazards, and illegal dumping, putting added strain on city resources and creating frustration for surrounding residents.
Councillor Gilroy’s motion calls for a detailed report that includes:
• Stronger restrictions such as forced rehabilitation orders, compulsory leasing (temporary public use with compensation), or municipal expropriation
• A legal review under the City of Winnipeg Charter, The Expropriation Act, and relevant property rights case law
• Consultation with cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, and U.S. cities like Minneapolis, Sacramento, and Chicago many of which have 2-year vacancy caps with clear action timelines
• An assessment of potential by-law changes and the cost of enforcing or expanding vacancy-related enforcement
The goal is simple: ensure homes don’t sit empty indefinitely while communities face housing pressures. This motion is part of Councillor Gilroy’s continued work to protect neighbourhood quality of life and to bring more properties back into active use for families, renters, and future homeowners.
