City report recommends roads money for emergency fund

CTV’s Jeff Keele has more on a proposal to help refill the City of Winnipeg’s rainy-day fund.

The City of Winnipeg could use surplus roads money to partially shore up the rainy day fund.

A report to the mayor’s executive policy committee recommends council approve an $18.4 million transfer to the fund.

The report said $15 million would be used from the accelerated regional street renewal program, the remaining $3.4 million would come from the rapid transit and Pembina Highway underpass project reserve.

The rainy-day fund, formally known as the Financial Stabilization Reserve, has a balance of $25.9 million as of the end of 2025, well short of the $85.1 million minimum city threshold.

If council approves this, the emergency fund would still be short.

The transfer of money requires two-thirds of council to sign off on the plan.

The report says this is a one-time measure that would not increase property taxes and would not impact infrastructure projects approved for last year or 2026.

The rainy-day fund was depleted during the COVID-19 pandemic.