Winnipeg's mayor stands firm on ending severances

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman saidhe's ready for what could be a lengthy debate over political severances and salary top-ups for committee chairs, but he's not backing down.

In his weekly chat with Information Radio's Marcy Markusa, Bowman saidhe expects some resistance from councillors at the council meeting on Dec.10.

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The executive policycommittee did not vote oneliminating political severances last week. Instead,the motion will be debateddirectly on the floor of city council tomorrow.

Some councillors have said they do not qualify for employment insurance and may have difficulty finding work after leaving political life.

Bowman said councillors are well paid, with committee chairs making over $100,000 per year.

"For me, I'll be putting some money aside over the next four years so that when and if I move on then I'll have some transition money," Bowman said. "But it is a political payout and I think Winnipeggers expect us to make good on that campaign pledge."

Bowman will have less resistance on cutting the top-up for committee chairs.

He said it's time to deal with spending.

"I would obviously respect that with my own expenses in terms of you know, cutting the amount of money that's being spent on alcohol and taking staff out for lunches," Bowman said. "I mean there's a lot of things that have been happening there that with a fresh set of eyes I think we can do better at spending money more responsibly."

Meanwhile, Bowman saidfor people who are concerned about frozen pipes this year, staff are already speaking with people who may be at risk.

But,he said, staff are also better prepared this year.

"We learned a lot last year and we're seeing some of those lessons being played out now and we're going to continue to look for ways in which we can mitigate what Mother Nature is going to throw at us," Bowman said.

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If people who had frozen pipes last year have not heard from the city yet, Bowman said they can call 311 or go to the city's website for more information on preventing frozen pipes this winter.