Six months of free transit, a round-the-clock drone fleet and an AI “pothole predictor” are among the ideas Umar Hayat is pitching in his second run for Winnipeg mayor. Hayat, a real estate agent, finished sixth in the 2018 race with just over one per cent of the vote, or more than 2,200 ballots. In an interview with CTV News Winnipeg’s Senior News Anchor Maralee Caruso, Hayat said his strategy for the Oct. 28 election is to target undecided voters with a short, specific platform rather than lengthy policy documents. If elected, he said he would freeze property taxes. He is also promising six months of free transit for all riders and a rebate on water bills. As for how the city would pay for the promises, Hayat said the money should come from growing local businesses and attracting investment rather than relying on homeowners. “We need to create jobs. We need to bring investment,” he said. He said the city should raise revenue “through businesses, not your own personal hard-earned money.” Hayat is also calling for a return to the city’s old transit routes, which changed in June 2025 when the city launched what it called the largest overhaul of the transit system in its history. He said that would bring riders back. “Safety for riders and safety for the drivers is very important for me,” he said. Hayat is also proposing a pothole predictor, an AI tool meant to flag trouble spots on city roads before they become major problems. He estimated the cost at $2 million. Hayat said reducing crime is the key to reviving downtown and the city’s businesses, which he described as looking like “a ghost town.” He wants to expand the city’s network of CCTV cameras and deploy a round-the-clock fleet of drones, saying many cameras are already in place and pointing to Dubai as a model. “We need to reduce the crime. We don’t feel safe,” Hayat said. Hayat also said he would advocate for tougher laws for repeat offenders. “Repeat offenders, no bail for them,” he said. “Either these drug dealers or the drug cartels (are) going to live in Winnipeg, or myself.” He said his campaign has so far relied on social media but adds voters will soon see his signs on major streets. Hayat is one of 12 mayoral candidates CTV News will profile in sit-down interviews ahead of the Oct. 28 election. The full interview can be viewed online. With files from CTV News’ Maralee Caruso
