Provincial government wants independent review of Winnipeg's finances

The Manitoba government wants to help theCity of Winnipeg find cost savings.

Premier BrianPallistersaidhis government wouldofferan independent review of the city's fiscal performance during an address toa crowd of business leaders on Friday morning.

He said city hall should be as committedto reining in spending as his colleagues onBroadway.

"I think there's a real opportunity here for the city to benefit from the tremendous work that the team has done at the legislature in terms of getting better value for money," Pallistertold reporters after speaking at aManitoba Chambers of Commerce breakfast at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg.

City workers under scrutiny

Manitoba is willing to help finance the review with the city, butPallisterwouldn't say how much his governmentmight offer.

The premier said he plans to include Winnipeg in the province'sreview of how construction projects are approved and inspected, after hearing industry members complaintsabout delays.

The undertaking would also include an evaluation of the city's planning department, afterallegations recently arose of city building inspectors conducting personal business on the taxpayers' dime. The city is already conducting its own investigation.

Further, the premier said, the province is willing to sharethe expert advice it's received on cutting expenses and make it available to city hall, if Winnipeg wants it.

"We paid millions of dollars for the studies," Pallister said. "We think the city would really enjoy having the chance to take advantage of the material."

City should be eager: Pallister

Despite an obvious rift between the two governments on theirspending priorities, the premier expects the city to be a willing partner in these reviews and offers of advice.

"I'm not anticipating any reluctance," Pallister said."Look, the mayor is doing the best he can, with the experience he has, with the situation that he is managing.

"We certainly think that this is a goodwill extension of an offer to assume costs the city won't have to assume, and to save money that the city won't have to spend unnecessarily and without good results for taxpayers."

In response, Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said he's asked for help cleaningup a mess he inherited when he came into office, but he's metinaction from the Progressive Conservatives.

"We've been pushing the broom with one hand behind our back," he said.

Developers spearheading review: Bowman

He suggested the review into the city's planning department is being driven by developers, since the province's letter cited the concern ofindustry members.

Bowman says he is open to an independent review of the city'sfiscal performance, but he first wants a meeting with Pallister and for the province to commit to the public inquiry that city councilasked for in 2017 to investigate the construction of Winnipeg's police headquarters and other matters.

"Call a public inquiry before you call a provincial election," Bowman said.

The city has chided the province for weeks for its refusal to pay out$40 million for road renewal last year. The province says it's underno obligation to honour a funding commitment fromthe formerNew Democrat government.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew said the province is overstepping its bounds by focusing on the city's fiscal performance, when it could be helping Winnipeg to fix potholes by providing more funding.

Since Pallister was ushered into power in 2016, his government has strivedto keep spending under control.

The government is projecting a deficit of $360 million at the end of this fiscal year. The deficit exceeded$840 million when the NDP left office.

Read the province's letter explaining its offer to help: