Kevin Klein's Plan for Winnipeg

Kevin Klein’s Plan for Winnipeg

Kevin Klein’s Plan for Winnipeg


Kevin's platform is built on three things:

1. A safer city
2. Lower household bills
3. A City Hall that answers to residents

Public Safety

Public Safety

Public Safety

How will Kevin Klein make Winnipeg Canada’s safest city?

How will Kevin Klein make Winnipeg Canada’s safest city?

How will Kevin Klein make Winnipeg Canada’s safest city?

Winnipeg mayoral candidate Kevin Klein standing with a member of the Winnipeg Police Services in front of a police helicopter.

Kevin Klein will lead a four-year public safety plan with a task force headed by former Winnipeg Police Chief Devon Clunis, more police presence in neighbourhoods, parks and transit, and panic buttons on every Winnipeg Transit bus within two years.

Kevin Klein will lead a four-year public safety plan with a task force headed by former Winnipeg Police Chief Devon Clunis, more police presence in neighbourhoods, parks and transit, and panic buttons on every Winnipeg Transit bus within two years.

Why it matters

Why it matters

In 2026 there were 47 transit assaults; a poll found Winnipeg perceived as the most unsafe city in Canada; and 57% of Winnipeggers say the city has too few police officers.

In 2026 there were 47 transit assaults; a poll found Winnipeg perceived as the most unsafe city in Canada; and 57% of Winnipeggers say the city has too few police officers.

Kevin’s commitments

Kevin’s commitments

  • A public safety task force led by former Police Chief Devon Clunis, bringing together police, community leaders and businesses to build and carry out a four-year strategy

  • Panic buttons on every Winnipeg Transit bus within two years, connected directly to police dispatch

  • More police presence in neighbourhoods, parks and on public transit

  • Stronger action against drug dealing and criminal activity

  • Working with the Province on greater use of Drug Treatment Court, combining treatment with accountability

  • Making sure police have the resources they need, and residents get a response when they call

  • A public safety task force led by former Police Chief Devon Clunis, bringing together police, community leaders and businesses to build and carry out a four-year strategy

  • Panic buttons on every Winnipeg Transit bus within two years, connected directly to police dispatch

  • More police presence in neighbourhoods, parks and on public transit

  • Stronger action against drug dealing and criminal activity

  • Working with the Province on greater use of Drug Treatment Court, combining treatment with accountability

  • Making sure police have the resources they need, and residents get a response when they call

Announced: 18 September 2026 · Source: My commitment to making Winnipeg Canada’s safest city

Announced: 18 September 2026 · Source: My commitment to making Winnipeg Canada’s safest city

Safe Streets, Real Pathways Home

Safe Streets, Real Pathways Home

Safe Streets, Real Pathways Home

What is Kevin Klein’s plan for homelessness and public safety?

What is Kevin Klein’s plan for homelessness and public safety?

What is Kevin Klein’s plan for homelessness and public safety?

Winnipeg mayoral candidate Kevin Klein with members of the St. Boniface Street Links as he announces his Safe Streets, Real Pathways Home Plan.

Kevin Klein will set up a Mayor’s Office of Community Safety and Housing Outcomes within his first 30 days, start a time-limited managed-community pilot as a bridge to housing, and publish the results.

Kevin Klein will set up a Mayor’s Office of Community Safety and Housing Outcomes within his first 30 days, start a time-limited managed-community pilot as a bridge to housing, and publish the results.

Kevin’s commitments

Kevin’s commitments

  • A Mayor’s Office of Community Safety and Housing Outcomes within 30 days, bringing together City departments and community partners, with clear responsibilities and publicly reported outcomes

  • A time-limited, professionally operated managed-community pilot for people who can’t yet access housing, treatment or shelter: basic services, 24-hour professional management, safety protocols, individual assessments and direct pathways to transitional, supportive or permanent housing

  • This is not a permanent tent city, and it is not a substitute for housing

  • Consistent responses to violence, trafficking, intimidation, weapons and serious property crime, while never criminalizing people for being homeless

  • Targeted safety and stabilization plans for the hardest-hit neighbourhoods: enforcement, outreach, sanitation, lighting, fire and overdose prevention, support for residents and businesses, and connections to shelter, treatment and housing

  • Coordination between the City, the Province, Indigenous governments and organizations, police, outreach groups, businesses, housing providers and residents

  • A Mayor’s Office of Community Safety and Housing Outcomes within 30 days, bringing together City departments and community partners, with clear responsibilities and publicly reported outcomes

  • A time-limited, professionally operated managed-community pilot for people who can’t yet access housing, treatment or shelter: basic services, 24-hour professional management, safety protocols, individual assessments and direct pathways to transitional, supportive or permanent housing

  • This is not a permanent tent city, and it is not a substitute for housing

  • Consistent responses to violence, trafficking, intimidation, weapons and serious property crime, while never criminalizing people for being homeless

  • Targeted safety and stabilization plans for the hardest-hit neighbourhoods: enforcement, outreach, sanitation, lighting, fire and overdose prevention, support for residents and businesses, and connections to shelter, treatment and housing

  • Coordination between the City, the Province, Indigenous governments and organizations, police, outreach groups, businesses, housing providers and residents

Kevin’s words

“Winnipeg does not have to choose between compassion and safety.”

“Winnipeg does not have to choose between compassion and safety.”

Announced: 24 September 2026 · Source: My ‘Safe Streets, Real Pathways Home Plan’

Announced: 24 September 2026 · Source: My ‘Safe Streets, Real Pathways Home Plan’

Water and sewer rates

Water and sewer rates

Water and sewer rates

What will Kevin Klein do about Winnipeg’s water and sewer bills?

What will Kevin Klein do about Winnipeg’s water and sewer bills?

What will Kevin Klein do about Winnipeg’s water and sewer bills?

A bar graph of Winnipeg water and sewer rate increases.

Kevin Klein will freeze water and sewer rates immediately and put them under the Public Utilities Board, as in other Manitoba communities.

Kevin Klein will freeze water and sewer rates immediately and put them under the Public Utilities Board, as in other Manitoba communities.

The problem

The problem

Water and sewer rates keep rising while City Hall transfers more than $45 million a year from the utility to general revenue.

Water and sewer rates keep rising while City Hall transfers more than $45 million a year from the utility to general revenue.

Read the CBC News story

Kevin’s commitments

Kevin’s commitments

  • Freeze water and sewer rates immediately

  • Put Winnipeg’s water and sewer rates under independent oversight by the Public Utilities Board

  • Get Ottawa to commit its share of the $1.5-billion North End Water Pollution Control Centre project: finish the business case, connect it to housing, jobs and Lake Winnipeg protection, and push until the federal commitment is signed

  • Freeze water and sewer rates immediately

  • Put Winnipeg’s water and sewer rates under independent oversight by the Public Utilities Board

  • Get Ottawa to commit its share of the $1.5-billion North End Water Pollution Control Centre project: finish the business case, connect it to housing, jobs and Lake Winnipeg protection, and push until the federal commitment is signed

Kevin’s words

“Freeze water rates. Put them under independent oversight. Get Ottawa to finish the deal.”

“Freeze water rates. Put them under independent oversight. Get Ottawa to finish the deal.”

Announced: 29 September 2026 · Source: Stop treating your water bill like City Hall’s ATM

Announced: 29 September 2026 · Source: Stop treating your water bill like City Hall’s ATM

Fair elections

Fair elections

Fair elections

How will Kevin Klein make Winnipeg’s elections fairer?

How will Kevin Klein make Winnipeg’s elections fairer?

How will Kevin Klein make Winnipeg’s elections fairer?

Kevin Klein signs his nomination papers to become an official mayoral candidate for Winnipeg.

Kevin Klein will put rules on council’s agenda so voters, not whoever holds City Hall, decide elections, and the rules will apply to him too.

Kevin Klein will put rules on council’s agenda so voters, not whoever holds City Hall, decide elections, and the rules will apply to him too.

Kevin’s commitments

Kevin’s commitments

  • No municipal announcements in the final 30 days before election day. Emergency notices, safety warnings and legally required publications continue.

  • Unpaid leave for anyone in a mayor’s or councillor’s office who manages a campaign, once nominations close.

  • City communications speak for the City, not for people seeking another term.

  • The Integrity Commissioner takes complaints throughout the campaign.

  • City work plans follow the city’s needs, not the election calendar.

  • No council or committee meetings within 45 days of an election, except for natural-disaster emergencies.

  • An automatic post-election review by an impartial panel of experts.

  • The Chief Electoral Officer may not hold the role of CAO or CFO in the four years before or after an election.

  • No municipal announcements in the final 30 days before election day. Emergency notices, safety warnings and legally required publications continue.

  • Unpaid leave for anyone in a mayor’s or councillor’s office who manages a campaign, once nominations close.

  • City communications speak for the City, not for people seeking another term.

  • The Integrity Commissioner takes complaints throughout the campaign.

  • City work plans follow the city’s needs, not the election calendar.

  • No council or committee meetings within 45 days of an election, except for natural-disaster emergencies.

  • An automatic post-election review by an impartial panel of experts.

  • The Chief Electoral Officer may not hold the role of CAO or CFO in the four years before or after an election.

Kevin’s words

“These rules will apply to the next mayor and the next council, including me.”

“These rules will apply to the next mayor and the next council, including me.”

Announced: 27 September 2026 · Source: Voters, not City Hall, will decide future elections

Announced: 27 September 2026 · Source: Voters, not City Hall, will decide future elections

Vacant buildings

What will Kevin Klein do about Winnipeg’s vacant buildings?

Close-up of a weathered, boarded-up window.

Kevin Klein will make sure every vacant building in Winnipeg is repaired, reoccupied, rebuilt or taken down, with owners, not taxpayers, paying for the cleanup.

Why it matters

In 2024, Winnipeg firefighters responded to 274 vacant-property fires, including 123 vacant homes and apartments. The City is enforcing the vacant-building bylaw at 810 properties. It has collected about six cents on the dollar of more than $3.5 million in vacant-property fire charges, and it has not finished taking title on any of the 48 properties where it started.

Kevin’s commitments

  • Every vacant building is a file to close: repaired, reoccupied, rebuilt or taken down

  • No demolition fee if the owner rebuilds affordable housing on the same site

  • Every other demolition approval within 15 days

  • Lots that can’t be rebuilt right away are cleaned, seeded and kept as open ground

  • Buildings vacant more than two years face a doubled vacant-building charge, and a tripled charge after three years

  • Unpaid fire fees go on the property tax roll

  • Asking the Province for faster taking-title, with fewer loopholes

  • No new cost to the general taxpayer: owners who left the hazard fund the cleanup

Kevin’s words

“A boarded house is cover. A clean lot is not.”

Announced: 2 October 2026 · Source: A boarded house is cover. A clean lot is not.

Building trust in City Hall

How will Kevin Klein rebuild trust in City Hall?

Kevin Klein for Mayor K logo.

Kevin Klein will set three rules for City Hall: an independent ombudsman, community meetings in every ward twice a year, and a public cost, source of funds and kill-date for every new program over $5 million.

The problem

Winnipeg created Canada’s first municipal ombudsman in 1994 and closed it in 2002–03. Complaints now go to the Manitoba Ombudsman or die in 311. On files like the Granite Curling Club parking dispute, more than 11,000 transit complaints after the network redesign, and the Parker Lands court fight, residents had no local referee.

Kevin’s commitments

  • Revive an independent ombudsman, independent of the mayor and administration, with power to review service complaints and publish findings

  • Whistleblower intake and public reports

  • Any project that overruns its approved cost is investigated, with the findings published: the approved cost, the final cost, who signed the changes, and whether anyone is accountable

  • Community meetings in every ward twice a year, not campaign-season drop-ins, broadcast on Facebook so residents who cannot attend can watch and play them back

  • Every new program over $5 million gets a public cost, a source of funds, and a kill-date if the result is not met

  • Miss the target and the program ends or returns to council for a recorded vote

  • Fund the ombudsman first by not refilling the chief construction officer position, with the balance from existing consultant and legal lines, not a new tax

  • An ombudsman cannot veto council or guarantee any one outcome. It makes hiding a bad file harder.

Kevin’s words

“Trust is not a slogan. It is a set of rules people can see.”

Announced: 5 October 2026 · Source: Building trust in City Hall

2026 Kevin Klein Campaign

Authorized by Michael Silver, Financial Agent

Kevin4Mayor2026@gmail.com

204-312-0579

Privacy Policy

Winnipeg is located on Treaty 1 territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and the homeland of the Red River Métis.

2026 Kevin Klein Campaign

Authorized by Michael Silver, Financial Agent

Kevin4Mayor2026@gmail.com

204-312-0579

Privacy Policy

Winnipeg is located on Treaty 1 territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and the homeland of the Red River Métis.