Gord Steeves (CHRISD.CA FILE)
Winnipeg mayoral candidate Gord Steeves is clarifying his position on bus rapid transit after seemingly back-pedalling on Friday to comments he made earlier in the campaign.
Steeves said he will not support the second phase of BRT, which would eventually see the route head south from Jubilee Avenue to the University of Manitoba.
He says one of the main reasons he can’t support it is because the $600 million project will require a five percent property tax increase.
“I believe that I am not like the others,” Steeves said. “I want to always keep an open mind and have the ability to make better decisions for all taxpayers of Winnipeg when new information becomes available.”
The former city councillor said he changed his stance on the Parker Lands BRT plan because of the new information he became aware of in June.
Steeves said he is not opposed to BRT as a whole and has previously supported previous plans, but can’t get behind a phase that requires an additional $100 million and takes a longer route, while also costing taxpayers more.
