Winnipeg's potential will not be realized if we continue to impose punitive measures on those who want to invest here

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The City of Winnipeg has introduced a plan that would require developers to hand over 8% of their land when undertaking large-scale residential redevelopment projects.

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The purpose is to create privately owned but publicly accessible green spaces, such as parks, plazas, or community gardens. This is framed as a way to increase green space and reduce city maintenance costs. It appears to be a well-intentioned move to boost the city’s biodiversity and offer more public spaces. But scratch beneath the surface, and it becomes clear this is a deeply flawed plan that will likely harm future development in our city.

Developers are already facing numerous challenges when trying to build in Winnipeg. Housing starts have decreased by more than 20% from last year. Adding the burden of losing 8% of an investment, while taking on the costs of upkeep and maintenance, will undoubtedly discourage more builders from wanting to invest here. It’s not just a matter of giving up land as these green spaces will need to be maintained. This means costs for security, snow removal, and general upkeep will fall on the developers, creating a long-term financial burden.

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