Head of Winnipeg's inspection department retires, following scathing rebuke of staff

The head of the City of Winnipeg's inspection division is retiring.

The city confirmed the retirement of Stan Dueck, managerof thedevelopment andinspections division, in a statement on Friday, which is Dueck's last day.

Dueck's departure comes after a city investigation found some of the planning, property and development inspectors in his department were shopping, running errands and taking lengthy breaks during work hours.

Twentystaffwere fired, suspended or reprimanded, the city revealed this month, after a private group paid investigators to track the inspectors while they were supposed to be working.

In a statement, city officials thanked Dueck for his years of service and wished him well in retirement.

Alana Crocker now serves as the department's acting manager, effective today.

Winnipeg administrationhaslaunched a review of the property and planning department, but some councillors say it doesn't go far enough.

Coun.Janice Lukes(Waverley West) commendedDueck as a smart man with a considerable understanding of city bylaws and rules, but wonders if he was provided the meansto be a good manager.

"I think our whole issue in the planning department is more than Stan Dueck leaving," Lukes said. "I think it actually goes right to the top, to leadership at the top."

Lukesseconded a motion on Thursday that called for a deeper diveinto the problems at the property, planning and development department, but itwas defeated.