From the Free Press:
NDP backbencher Jim Maloway was savaged on the floor of city council Wednesday as Mayor Sam Katz and three of his allies took turns bashing the veteran Elmwood MLA and his vision for the Disraeli freeway.
A debate about financing for the Disraeli rehabilitation degenerated into a nasty free-for-all as Katz suggested Maloway was a coward, Deputy Mayor Brenda Leipsic questioned the MLA's office expenses and Couns. Bill Clement and Russ Wyatt accused the seven-term politician of opportunism -- all because Maloway is on a crusade to widen the freeway from four to six lanes.
The actual issue that appeared before council was a plan to pursue a public-private partnership to repair the decaying Disraeli Bridge and Freeway, as initially proposed in early 2007.
City accountants believe it will be cheaper to ask a private construction consortium to design, build and finance the repairs for the 1.1-kilometre roadway and then maintain the structure afterwards. The city's public works department has estimated the three-year rehabilitation will cost $125 million to $160 million.
After a 75-minute debate, council voted 11-4 in favour of the public-private partnership, or P3. Left-leaning Couns. Lillian Thomas, Dan Vandal, Harvey Smith and Jenny Gerbasi voted against the plan, primarily because they question the long-term financial benefits of P3s.
But Thomas, Vandal and North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty also asked whether it would be wiser to replace the four-lane, single-span Disraeli Bridge with two new spans bearing three lanes each-- a plan promoted by Maloway in a public advertising campaign.
That appeared to set off Katz and some of his allies, who remain annoyed with Maloway for wading into the debate over the closure of Kelvin Community Centre in January 2007.
"I wish he had the courage to come here and make a presentation," the mayor said. "This MLA has been around for years. He's a career politician. Why he's not in cabinet, you can draw your own conclusion, but I think we have a problem with representation in (that riding)."
Leipsic slammed Maloway for using public funds to mount an advertising campaign, while Clement and Wyatt suggested the Elmwood MLA is a lazy opportunist.
Attacks on politicians are not uncommon on the floor of council, but the targets are usually present in the chamber. Maloway, who could not appear at city council because the Manitoba legislature was in session, said he can handle anything Katz and his deputies can throw at him.
"They're a vicious group, but they know I have them on the run," he said, calling the mayor a "bully who likes to get his way."
While he acknowledged a six-lane, two span Disraeli Freeway might cost $350 million SEmD more than double the current estimated pricetag SEmD he said Winnipeg has not even bothered to find out if the provincial government is interested in splitting the bill.
"The city has not even asked us to participate, because they want to hand it over to their friends in the private sector," he said, describing the existing Disraeli plan SEmD which calls for a 16-month bridge closure SEmD a disaster for residents of northeast Winnipeg.
Maloway said the vast majority of Elmwood, East Kildonan and North Kildonan residents agree with him. But he does not enjoy the support of all left-leaning members of council.
Gerbasi, who has close ties to the provincial NDP, said it would be financially irresponsible to spend an extra $200 million to twin the Disraeli Bridge just to avoid a 16-month traffic headache -- and environmentally irresponsible to create more motor-vehicle capacity.
bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca