{"id":949135,"date":"2026-10-28T07:52:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T07:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/949135\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T07:52:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T07:52:14","slug":"mayoral-candidates-make-their-case-on-election-eve-winnipeg-free-press","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/949135\/","title":{"rendered":"Mayoral candidates make their case on election eve \u2013 Winnipeg Free Press"},"content":{"rendered":"

One mayoral candidate crisscrossed the city to drum up support Tuesday, while another squeezed in a last-minute campaign pledge and others met with key supporters, one day before voters elect their next Winnipeg city council<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Incumbent mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham, the perceived front-runner among decided voters in the latest Abacus Data poll, planned to visit all 15 Winnipeg wards to make his final pitch to voters.<\/p>\n

While incumbent candidates traditionally have a major advantage in Winnipeg, Gillingham stressed he takes nothing for granted.<\/p>\n

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(Mikaela MacKenzie \/ Free Press)<\/p>\n

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Mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham visits Mordens\u2019 of Winnipeg Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the candidate with the experience, with the required partnerships with senior levels of government and Indigenous governments to continue moving our city ahead. And, so, I\u2019m asking Winnipeggers for another term of office,\u201d said Gillingham, who first became mayor in 2022.<\/p>\n

He said his plan for another four-year council term would be to build on positive momentum.<\/p>\n

\u201cOther opponents in this race have spoken very negatively about Winnipeg and their view is really kind of \u2018tear it down, start over, start fresh.\u2019 My view is that we\u2019ve got a lot of good going on. Yes, we have problems, but we have a lot of good going on. Let\u2019s keep building Winnipeg together,\u201d said Gillingham.<\/p>\n

A 3.5 per cent property tax hike he promises to levy next year would ensure city council can keep current service levels and add investments to address population growth, he said. Gillingham pledges to keep property tax hikes within about three-quarters of a percentage point of the inflation rate for the rest of his term, if re-elected.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the candidate with the experience, with the required partnerships with senior levels of government and Indigenous governments to continue moving our city ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kevin Klein, the runner-up in the latest mayoral poll, urged Winnipeggers who want change to avoid \u201cvote-splitting\u201d by not supporting any other candidates other than him that are challenging Gillingham.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am the only candidate who can defeat Scott Gillingham tomorrow. With 12 candidates on the ballot, vote-splitting is a real risk. A vote for any other candidate is a vote for four more years of the status quo,\u201d said Klein.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am ready to move Winnipeg forward with change that makes sense. I\u2019m asking for that chance,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Klein criticized Gillingham for raising taxes \u2014 including a 5.95 per cent hike in 2025 that marked the largest single-year increase in decades \u2013 persistent challenges with homelessness and addictions and delayed projects.<\/p>\n

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Ruth Bonneville \/ Free Press<\/p>\n

Kevin Klein holds a media scrum at his headquarters Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

He accused the current mayor of dragging his feet on construction of the long-planned East of the Red RecPlex.<\/p>\n

Last year, the city completed a preliminary design for that major aquatic and recreation facility, which estimated it would cost about $156 million. Construction could begin between 2028 and 2030, if council approves and funds the work, the site says.<\/p>\n

\u201cA vote for any other candidate is a vote for four more years of the status quo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Klein did not offer an exact target date for construction but said he would devise a much less tentative timeline soon, while also seeking funding from senior governments for the facility, if he\u2019s elected.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to see construction start before the end of my four-year term,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Gillingham said the RecPlex is a priority but city council had to prioritize the $3.1-billion North End sewage treatment plant upgrade above all other capital projects in recent years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very close to having the North End funding secured. And then we move to the other projects,\u201d the incumbent said.<\/p>\n

Gillingham described raising taxes as necessary to properly fund city services and said Winnipeg is making strides to deal with its challenges, including attracting more housing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWinnipeg is growing, we\u2019re advancing. You know, we have some momentum. So, I completely, completely dismiss Mr. Klein\u2019s erroneous comments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Klein also shared a new pledge Tuesday, promising to alter prices for city recreation programs.<\/p>\n

His plan would remove current flat-rate discounts for seniors and instead offer reduced rates solely to those with lower incomes. He said the change would affect Leisure Guide programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to make sure that seniors have the ability to stay connected with others, (and) they have the ability to use our swimming pools, to use our recreation facilities. I don\u2019t want their financial position to keep them out of those,\u201d said Klein.<\/p>\n

He would also seek new recreation discounts for kids in low-income households.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re investing in young people \u2026 There\u2019s going to be a return on that investment, for sure,\u201d said Klein.<\/p>\n

He promised to complete a more detailed strategy to implement those changes within three months of being elected. Klein said removing discounts that currently apply to all seniors could help offset lost revenue due to income-based discounts, while the city could seek provincial support to reduce youth fees.<\/p>\n

Mike Vogiatzakis and Noah Redden, who tied for third place in the Abacus poll, were also busy on the campaign trail Tuesday.<\/p>\n

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(Mike Sudoma \/ Free Press files)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people will make the choice on who Winnipeg\u2019s next mayor will be, and I\u2019ll be OK with it either way,\u201d mayoral candidate Mike Vogiatzakis says. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Vogiatzakis said he was spending the day doing interviews, preparing for an election night gathering and meeting up with some of his most devoted volunteers to thank them for their work.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy volunteer team has been just amazing. They call themselves my angels, for some reason,\u201d he said with a laugh.<\/p>\n

He described his feelings on Tuesday as \u201ca little intense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEither way, whatever happens, the people will make the choice on who Winnipeg\u2019s next mayor will be, and I\u2019ll be OK with it either way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Redden\u2019s campaign gained sudden momentum after the Abacus survey put him in third place with 14 per cent support, despite originally having been a lower-polling candidate.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, he said the numbers had generated \u201crenewed interest\u201d in his campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s been a lot more to do than in previous days,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He planned to spend Tuesday at Old Market Square in the Exchange District for a meet-and-greet with supporters and anyone with questions about his campaign before knocking on doors to speak with a few more voters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m hoping to just be visible in the area for people to come talk about the election, what they want to see in the city, and just generally be available,\u201d said Redden.<\/p>\n

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(Mikaela MacKenzie \/ Free Press)<\/p>\n

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Noah Redden conducts an interview in Old Market Square Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Mayoral candidate Don Woodstock released a costed platform Tuesday, which states there\u2019s no need to raise property taxes under his financial plan.<\/p>\n

Instead, the plan banks on spending $127 million less on external engineering firms and third-party contract oversight and saving $50 million a year by recycling road materials, among other changes.<\/p>\n

Woodstock said he would freeze water and sewer rates, hire more police and firefighters to cut overtime costs and rely more heavily on city lawyers, instead of external ones.<\/p>\n

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(Mike Deal \/ Free Press files) <\/p>\n


\nMayoral candidate Don Woodstock released his costed platform Tuesday.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Mayoral candidate Umar Hayat promised to restore the St. Boniface Cathedral, if he\u2019s elected.<\/p>\n

That proposal would seek heritage grants, community partnerships, public consultation and a long-term feasibility plan to protect the landmark, which the city lists as a historical resource.<\/p>\n

Chris Clacio, Tracey Drexler, Johnny Calderon, Joshua Pagdato, Brad Gross and Mazher Alam are all also running for mayor.<\/p>\n

Election day is Wednesday.<\/p>\n

-With files from Malak Abas<\/p>\n

joyanne.pursaga@winnipegfreepress.com<\/p>\n

X: @joyanne_pursaga<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Joyanne<\/p>\n

Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter
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Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One mayoral candidate crisscrossed the city to drum up support Tuesday, while another squeezed in a last-minute campaign…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":949136,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194296],"tags":[49,48,22073],"class_list":["post-949135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-winnipeg","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-winnipeg"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=949135"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949135\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/949136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=949135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=949135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=949135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}