Winnipeggers split on growth fees, poll suggests

Public opinion is split almost down the middle when it comes to whether the City of Winnipeg should charge growth fees to pay for new development, a new poll suggests.

The Probe Research poll, which was conducted for the Winnipeg Free Press, found 49 per cent of respondents support Mayor Brian Bowman's proposal to introduce fees for the city's development and construction industry, while 45 per cent oppose it. Five per cent of respondents said they were unsure.

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Opposition to growth fees was a bit stronger than support, with 28 per cent of respondents stating they strongly oppose the plan, while 21 per cent said they strongly favour it.

Among those who support growth fees were middle-age survey respondents and those earning more than $100,000 a year. Respondents living in the city's northeast were most opposed compared to other parts of the city.

Probe Research surveyed a random sample of 600 adults across Winnipeg by telephone between Sept. 13 and 26. The results are considered accurate within plus or minus four percentage points 19 times out of 20 if the entire population had been polled.

Bowman's proposal, if approved, would add $18,300 to the cost of an 1,800-square-foot residential home and also increase costs for commercial and industrial developments.

Local developers have argued the fees would cause house prices to rise and prompt buyers to look outside city limits.

Council's executive policy committee voted last week to put the plan on hold for an undetermined period of time to allow more discussions with councillors, developers and the construction industry.

Bowman has not ruled out the idea of bringing in the fees sometime next year, depending on the outcome of those talks.