Klein, Gillingham trade jabs over megaproject

In a televised debate on Wednesday, Winnipeg's mayoral candidates Scott Gillingham and Kevin Klein traded barbs over who was responsible for the rising cost of the North End sewage treatment plant overhaul. The project, initially estimated at $795 million in 2015, has ballooned to $3.2 billion. Gillingham accused Klein of failing to secure provincial funding for the plant, while Klein pointed out that Gillingham was Manitoba's environment minister in 2023 and did not advocate for additional provincial funding.

The NDP government has pledged $500 million for the plant, most recently in August 2022, when Brian Bowman was mayor. Before Klein became environment minister, then-premier Heather Stefanson announced $167 million for the second phase of upgrades in 2022. After the debate, Gillingham criticized Klein's column with the Winnipeg Sun and podcast, accusing him of being divisive and insulting Premier Wab Kinew and Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Klein dismissed Gillingham's claims as "deliberate misrepresentation." Both candidates have promised to hire additional police officers, with Klein demanding a set timeline and Gillingham estimating the hiring could take several years.