City seeking new powers to collect fines against derelict Winnipeg property owners

The City of Winnipeg wants new powers to enforce fines against owners of derelict properties.

A new report asks the provincial government to change laws to allow it to add all fines issued under the Municipal By-law Enforcement Act and the Provincial Offences Act to the owner's property tax bill.

The city also wants the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to refuse to renew or issue licences to people with outstanding fines.

The number of vacant and derelict properties in Winnipeg has grown in recent years, particularly in the inner city.

Currently, provincial legislation limits the types of costs the city can add to an owner's property tax bill. While expenses for emergency demolition work can be added, other fines and fees — like those for garbage and other unsanitary conditions — cannot.

Those other fines go to collection agencies when owners fail to pay, and they often go uncollected, said Daniel McIntyre Coun. Cindy Gilroy.

She says the city needs additional collection power to deal with problem properties.

"If you're not held responsible, you're not going to care. So I think that this is one step further to making sure that people start taking ownership of their properties, because if not, those costs are going to impact them," she said.

Gilroy says there are many properties in her ward where owners have simply refused to pay fines issued by the city.

The chair of Winnipeg's property and development committee agrees the city needs new tools to collect fines.

Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Sherri Rollins says there are significant amounts of money the city can't collect.

"I'm usually 100 per cent at work for the beautification of Winnipeg, to have a livable and healthy city and neighbourhoods, and this is the tool I need for the tough-as-nails approach that I've been pursuing on behalf of my ward and wards right across the city," she said.

The city has taken a number of steps in recent months to toughen its enforcement of vacant and boarded-up buildings, including expediting demolition permits and forcing owners to install security fences, lighting and cameras.

The city also started charging owners for firefighting costs at vacant buildings.

The City of Winnipeg Charter Act spells out the city's powers to issue and collect fines. The public works committee will debate whether to ask the province to change the law at its meeting next week.