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This article was published 1/11/2010 (3621 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If it seems like Winnipeg does less for its citizens than other cities do, that's because it's true -- at least on paper.

This city spends less per capita on both services and infrastructure repairs than most other major Canadian centres, according to an economic overview obtained by the Free Press through access to information legislation.

At an internal leadership event in April, city economist Georges Chartier delivered a presentation called Our Changing City, which summarized economic, demographic and government trends. It included comparisons of government spending in eight Canadian cities: Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Saskatoon and Regina. Capital budgets for 2009 and operating budgets for 2008 were compared and adjusted for population size.

In both cases, Winnipeg ranked at the bottom of the spending pile. This city spent $525 a head on road, bridge, sewer and building repairs in 2009, compared with an average of $1,078 per person for the seven other cities. Edmonton, which spent $1,655 per person on infrastructure last year, ranked first. Meanwhile, Winnipeg spent $1,323 a head on services in 2008, compared with $1,878 per person in Toronto and $1,926 per capita in Edmonton. These figures were adjusted to delete services some cities do no offer.

Even though the comparison did not include Montreal and Vancouver, the presentation suggests the municipal government in Winnipeg is among the smallest in major Canadian cities.

Colin Craig, the Manitoba director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said he does not believe government spending in Winnipeg is low.

City salaries continue to increase above private-sector rates, said Craig, who bases his opinion on salary figures provided in the city's annual compensation disclosure.

"The city has been spinning this message for years: 'We've cut to the bone, we've cut to the bone.' But it's still easy to see from the outside there's room for improvement at city hall," he said.

Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt, however, argues that 12 consecutive property tax freezes have left the city unable to deliver basic services.

"If the operating budget was the lowest because we are the most efficient, that would be wonderful. But that's not the case, as we have slowly stripped the city of core services other municipalities take for granted," Wyatt said.

Winnipeg no longer maintains parks, pools and other amenities adequately. The public hasn't noticed because the cuts are incremental, he added.

Wyatt said Chartier's numbers are in line with figures presented to city council in 2009, when the Transcona councillor was in charge of finding ways to reduce an infrastructure deficit now pegged at $3.7 billion.

"Georges Chartier is very careful. He makes sure he matches apples to apples," Wyatt said.

"It's not a surprise to know we're underfunding infrastructure, when you can see it in such bad shape."

During the election, Mayor Sam Katz promised to attempt another property tax freeze. That may prove difficult, as the city relied on one-time transfers and proceeds from a lawsuit against Manitoba Hydro to balance this year's $818-million operating budget.

The operating budget increased $33 million from 2009 to 2010, mostly because of higher salaries.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

Proof is in the numbers

Winnipeg spends less on infrastructure repairs and services than most Canadian cities, according to budget data compiled by city economist Georges Chartier.

Per-capita capital spending in 2009:

Edmonton $1,655

Saskatoon $1,508

Toronto $1,068

Calgary $1,041

Hamilton $823

Ottawa $812

Regina $639

Winnipeg $525

Per-capita operating spending in 2008:

Edmonton $1,926

Toronto $1,878

Calgary $1,733

Regina $1,636

Ottawa $1,591

Saskatoon $1,548

Hamilton $1,382

Winnipeg $1,323

-- Source: Our Changing City