Winnipeg council passes city's operating budget

Winnipeg councillors voted 11 to 5 in favour of passing the city's 2008 operating budget on Wednesday.
 
Mayor Sam Katz introduced the budget by acknowledging that it was a "mammoth challenge" to balance the budget and extend the city's property tax freeze into its 11th year.

Several councillors said there would be a price to be paid for that, and they were not happy.

Councillors debated motions to restore $400,000 to the city's public art program, spend millions more for aboriginal youth and low-income housing, and restore reserve accounts for libraries, recreation programs and wading pools.

All their motions failed.

The hotel industry has spoken out against a new five-per-cent hotel tax that will go into effect June 1.

Supporters of rapid transit have also called for more funding for that project, while the business community called on the mayor to make good on a promise to eliminate the business tax, which was frozen in the budget.

Protester's Hitler sign sparks outrage

Before the council meeting got underway, about 80 people demonstrated outside Winnipeg City Hall on Wednesday morning, protesting against aspects of the budget.

The protesters, representing the Canadian Union of Public Employees and a group called Winnipeg is Not for Sale, argued that the continued freeze on property taxes will erode city infrastructure and services.

The groups were also upset with suggestions the city could move toward more public-private partnerships.

One demonstrator brought a placard depicting Mayor Katz as Adolf Hitler, prompting outrage from both protesters and city hall officials.

The protest groups involved hurried to distance themselves from the man, saying they did not know who he was and found the picture disgusting and offensive. Katz is Jewish, the son of Holocaust survivors.

Both groups say the mayor is owed an apology, but it should come from the protester himself. He left city hall shortly after the controversy erupted.