Why I’m Fighting to Reclaim Our Neighbourhoods
The City has just released a major report on long-term vacant and derelict properties, and it confirms what so many of us have been saying for years: these neglected buildings are hurting our neighbourhoods, draining city resources, and putting families at risk.
As your councillor, I’ve been pushing hard for stronger tools, real accountability, and meaningful action to address this issue. And after reviewing this report, I am more committed than ever to ensuring Winnipeg stops letting properties sit empty for years and starts using every tool we have to bring them back into safe, productive use.
For me, this work is about more than boarded windows or abandoned lots.
……It’s about safety.
……It’s about housing.
……It’s about dignity.
And it’s about ending the cycle of neglect that has weighed down communities like Daniel McIntyre, the West End, William Whyte, and so many others across our city.
The Problem Is Growing, And It’s Hitting Vulnerable Neighbourhoods the Hardest
Vacancy in Winnipeg has risen 45% in under four years , increasing from 543 vacant homes in 2021 to 788 in 2025.
Neighbourhoods with fewer resources, including areas with high Indigenous, newcomer, and low-income populations, are being hit the hardest. In William Whyte alone, problematic properties nearly doubled from 110 in 2024 to 228 in 2025.
This is not just a neighbourhood issue.
It’s a citywide challenge with serious consequences.
Every long-term vacant house becomes a magnet for……
- Fires
- Break-ins
- Squatting
- Illegal dumping
- Ongoing safety concerns for the entire block
To put this into perspective: Winnipeg’s Fire Paramedic Service responded to 232 fires in William Whyte in just one year, costing taxpayers $14.5 million. Meanwhile, Sage Creek had only 3 fires in that same period.
This is the cost of inaction.
This is the cost of letting properties sit empty.
And it’s exactly why I’ve fought so hard for change.
Why I’ve Been Fighting So Hard on This File
For years, I’ve said the same thing: Winnipeg needs real tools to tackle long-term vacant properties — and we need to actually use them.
This report proves that.
Stronger enforcement when owners refuse to act
This includes using “taking title without compensation” for owners who repeatedly ignore vacant building by-laws. This tool has worked before, and we must use it again when needed.
Faster intervention, not five year delays!
Right now, properties can sit in tax arrears for up to five years before anything happens. The new recommendations shorten that timeline, something I have pushed for repeatedly.
A stronger Empty Building Fee that actually discourages vacancy
Instead of waiting until year three, the recommended model starts at 1% in year one and increases up to 5% annually. Cities across Canada use this approach successfully, it’s time Winnipeg did too.
A structured City-led acquisition program
We need a formal pathway to accept distressed properties from owners who want to transfer them to the City. This allows us to remediate them and bring them back into housing.
Partnerships that turn empty lots into homes
Working with Manitoba Housing, Purpose Construction, and Build Inc. beginning in William Whyte will create pathways to affordable homeownership and meaningful neighbourhood renewal.
This Isn’t Just Housing Policy, It’s About Stability and Community Pride
Vacant properties undermine everything around them: safety, property values, and trust in the City’s ability to act.
Residents have been raising concerns for years, and I’ve taken those voices into every committee meeting, into Council chambers, and into every motion I’ve brought forward.
Now, this report finally gives us a roadmap to move from vacancy to renewal.
Key Actions I’m Supporting at Council
Here’s what I’ll be fighting for…..
- A stronger, escalating Empty Building Fee
- Reduced tax sale timelines
- Increased use of “taking title without compensation”
- A dedicated reserve fund for vacant and derelict properties
- A formal acquisition program for distressed homes
- Partnerships to build affordable, ownership-focused housing
- Better alignment with the Housing Accelerator Fund and poverty reduction work
These actions aren’t hypothetical they’re real solutions ready to move forward.
We Need Action, Not More Delays
For too long, Winnipeg has watched vacancy grow while other cities put modern tools and real accountability measures in place.
This report gives us the chance to catch up, and to finally do right by our neighbourhoods.
I will support these recommendations because I believe in safe, stable, thriving communities. And I will continue fighting for the tools we need to clean up neglected properties, strengthen our housing options, and bring true renewal to the places that need it most.
Winnipeg deserves neighbourhoods that feel cared for, safe, and full of possibility again.
And I’m not stopping until we get there.
