Bruce Oake addictions treatment centre clears final hurdle at city hall

A plan to convert the old Vimy Arena site into a 50-bed addictions-treatment centre has cleared its final hurdle at city hall.

City council voted Thursday to approve land-use changes that will permit the Bruce OakeRecovery Centre to rise on the decommissionedVimy Arena site on Hamilton Avenue, in the Crestview neighbourhood in St. Charles.

The council vote took place without debate at the January council meeting. A year ago, council was divided on an initial plan to transfer the arena site to the province for $1.

Dozens of supporters and opponents of the centre appeared before council subcommittees in the fall.

• Addictions-treatment centre clears first hurdle at city hall

Following the council vote, Mayor Brian Bowman said the treatment centre will be one portion of an addictions-treatment strategy that now involves two other levels of government.

He noted while Brian Pallister's Progressive Conservative government does not support safe-injection sites, there are areas where all levels of government can co-operate.

Transit shields approved

Council also voted Thursday to approve$3.15-million plan to install driver safety shields on all 630 Winnipeg Transit buses.

The vote was unanimous. Last week, council's executive policy committee amended the plan to require the work be completed before February 2020.

Winnipeg's transit union has been lobbying for a number of safety improvements following the on-the-job killing of Irvine Jubal Fraser in 2017.

On Wednesday, transit officials published a list of measures taken to date and city councillors were briefed behind closed doors on the status of future safety improvements.

Council public works chair Matt Allard (St. Boniface) read those measures out on the floor of council.

Convention centre money approved

Earlier in the meeting, council alsoapprovedplan to spend $4.85 million to improve fire prevention and bring washrooms up to code in the older, northern portion of the RBC Convention Centre.

Some of the money would come from the city'sdestination marketing reserve, a kitty built up with the proceeds from accomodation taxes.

Last week, Manitoba Hotel Association president and CEO Scott Jocelyn appeared before EPC to express reservations with this plan. Nonetheless, the mayor's inner circle voted unanimously in favour of the funding.

The council vote in favour of the plan was unanimous, with no debate.

Orlikow apologizes to council

The final vote of significance on council's 50-item agenda involved a report from the office of the integrity commissioner into the wayRiver Heights-Fort GarryCoun. JohnOrlikowdealt with Andrew Marquess, the developer of the Parker lands.

In the report, acting integrity commissioner GregoryLevineclearedOrlikowof allegations of breaching the city's code of ethics but suggestedOrlikowapologize to Marquess for two actions the commissioner deemed disrespectful.

The commissioner cannot compelOrlikowto apologize.

In an address to council, Orlikow nonetheless apologized for any perceived offence but insisted he was motivated by a desire to serve his residents.

"I do believe strongly my actions were in keeping with my duties as a city councillor," Orlikow said before recusing himself from a debate on the issue.

During that debate, Elmwood-East Kildonan Coun. Jason Schreyer said elected officials offend people all the time.