Bird-friendly window standards to remain in Winnipeg

Winnipeg city councillors have backed off on a plan to remove bird-friendly window standards on new buildings.

The City of Winnipeg is not moving ahead with removing guidelines to ensure new buildings built are safe for birds.

During a special city council meeting on Wednesday, council backed away from its plan to rescind the bylaw.

Councillors proposed the requirements, which went into place in 2024, should be removed in Dec. 2025, over concerns it would slow down Winnipeg housing developments and drive up material costs.

Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) introduced an amendment to the bylaw, which was approved, requiring bird-friendly window treatments up to 16 metres above ground level or to the top of the mature tree canopy - whichever is higher – to the director’s satisfaction.

During the meeting, Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) noted the city had received more than 700 comments against the plan to remove the amendments.

“Certainly people indicated that this is a concern for the people of Winnipeg,” he said.

“As it has been indicated, it is a balance, so I think that we’re balancing here.”

Alison Conrad with Bird Friendly Winnipeg, spoke out against the bylaw during the meeting and urged council to keep it.

“We don’t want you to waver,” Conrad said. “Organizations and individuals across the city are ready to provide education and support to the city and developers to reduce those barriers, show you this isn’t too expensive and not too difficult. This is possible. We can have housing, and we can support biodiversity and our birds.”

- With files from CTV’s Harrison Shin