A local city councillor wants to get to the bottom of an important local issue in St. Boniface: What is making it smell?

Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) brought forth a motion at Riel community committee last week asking the city to investigate the source of the odours coming from Windsor Park and St. Boniface.

Allard said it was a complaint he heard often at the doors while campaigning this summer, particularly from old St. Boniface residents.

"It is very common, everyone in the area has their theories about what is going on and has experienced it," he said. "(For example) It is barbecue season, on a summer day when you are hoping for a pleasant afternoon and you have these not-so-pleasant smells going on."

Theories for the source of the smell include the nearby meat processing plant, the mushroom plant, or sewer issues related to older infrastructure is what Allard has been hearing from residents.

He said the likely culprit will be found in the nearby Mission Industrial Park.

"Basically I want to take all this information that we already know and I want a formal assessment made by the administration," he said.

The motions asks the administration to find short- and long-term solutions to mitigate the issue. In the shorter term, he wants to see more of these plants inspected to ensure they are complying fully with bylaws and provincial regulations.

"That's the type of thing we could do right away, just to ensure industry is complying in terms of what they are allowed to do with the current uses," he said. "Let's ensure everyone is following the rules."

The motion heads to the city's property, planning and development committee on Tuesday.

kristin.annable@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @kristinannable