A group of community organizations unveiled the results of a recent advocacy campaign focused on the regulation of the City of Winnipeg’s water and sewer rates. Last month, the Manitoba Seniors Equity Action Coalition, Canadian Association of Retired Persons, Consumers Association of Canada and Harvest Manitoba launched the initiative titled “This PUB’s For You Pledge.” As part of this campaign, the groups asked candidates running for mayor and city councillor to support the passing of a motion that would call on the Government of Manitoba to include Winnipeg water and sewer rates under the authority of the Public Utilities Board (PUB). “Public utilities are effectively monopolies. Consumers have no other choice than to use the services of the monopoly utility provider. The utilities face no competitive pressure,” explained Peggy Barker of the Consumers Association of Canada at a news conference on Friday. “The PUB was created to provide oversight, accountability, transparency, opportunities for public participation to scrutinize utility expenditures – both capital and operating – and rate setting approval.” On Friday, one month after the campaign was launched, the groups provided an update on the initiative. Of the 12 mayoral candidates, the coalition says six agreed to sign the pledge, including Mazher Alam, Christopher Clacio, Umar Hayat, Kevin Klein, Mike Vogiatzakis and Don Woodstock. The other six candidates did not respond. Of the 54 candidates running for city councillor, 22 candidates made the pledge while two were undecided and 30 didn’t respond, according to the group. Moving forward, the group said they are going to wait for the results of the election and meet with city council.
