Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham speaks at an announcement on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (FILE)
Winnipeg’s population has surged by 65,000 in just three years, but city staffing levels haven’t kept up.
Mayor Scott Gillingham says that rapid growth is placing increasing strain on critical services. Gillingham highlighted the issue on Thursday ahead of the 2025 budget update next week, citing a nearly nine percent decline in city employees per capita over the past decade.
“In 2014, the City of Winnipeg had 125.7 employees for every 10,000 residents,” Gillingham said in a release.
“By 2024, that number dropped to 114.5 employees per 10,000 residents—a reduction of nearly nine percent. If we had maintained the same staffing levels per capita as in 2014, we would have over 900 more employees today delivering the essential services Winnipeggers rely on.”
The impact is particularly evident in public safety. The number of police officers per 10,000 residents has fallen from 20.3 in 2014 to 16.8 in 2023, while firefighter numbers dropped slightly from 12.1 to 11.4 during the same period. This decline reflects cost-containment efforts over the years but has raised concerns about the city’s ability to meet growing demands.
Compounding these challenges is the fact that most new tax revenue from Winnipeg’s population growth is allocated to federal and provincial governments.
As the city anticipates continued growth, Gillingham emphasized the need for reinvestment to support Winnipeg’s long-term success. The updated budget on December 11 is expected to outline actionable steps for improving service delivery, focusing on areas like infrastructure, safety, and community programs.
