Manitoba·NewSome Winnipeg business groups warn parts of a new parking strategy, which aims to modernize how the city manages its curb space, risk working against the strategy’s intended goals. Paid evening parking could hurt businesses, says CEO of Downtown BIZCameron MacLean · CBC News · Posted: Nov 06, 2025 7:27 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.A parking sign in Winnipeg’s Exchange District shows an extended parking time limit, from two hours to three, as part of a pilot project lengthening parking time limits on streets near Red River College Polytechnic and the Centennial Concert Hall. (Justin Fraser/CBC)Some Winnipeg business groups warn parts of a new parking strategy, which aims to modernize how the city manages its curb space, risk working against the strategy’s intended goals. Leaders of both the Exchange District Business Improvement Zone and the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ told the public works committee on Thursday they’re relieved to finally see a comprehensive parking strategy. But they argue some recent decisions, and the possibility of expanded paid parking hours, could make life harder for downtown businesses.Exchange District BIZ executive director David Pensato said he’s disappointed the city launched a pilot project that changed parking rules in October without consulting the organization, which represents nearly 500 businesses in the area. That pilot extended the time limit forpaid on-street parking from two hours to three in parts of the Exchange District.The pilot, which covers several blocks near Red River College Polytechnic and the Centennial Concert Hall, is meant to make it easier for students and arts patrons to stay in the area longer. But Pensato said that “defeats the purpose of on-street … paid parking, which is to encourage turnover and to not have employees taking up the spots all day long,” he said.He also warned councillors about vague language in the strategy that suggests the city could eventually extend paid parking into the evening hours — an idea he says central Winnipeg businesses have long opposed.”When we were asked about that back in 2017 and 2018, our member businesses were clear they would revolt until such time as [paid] parking was added to other popular commercial destinations,” Pensato said. “They could see the logic in it at some point, but when we’re competing with areas that don’t have any paid parking, it’s a very tough pill to swallow.”WATCH | Downtown business groups concerned about new parking strategy:Downtown business groups wary of new parking strategyThe city says its new parking plan will modernize how Winnipeg manages its streets, but downtown business groups warn some changes — including a three-hour parking pilot and possible evening fees — could hurt local shops.The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ shares that concern. Chief executive officer Kate Fenske said paid parking is concentrated almost entirely downtown, while other busy commercial districts can offer free parking.”When we look at where paid parking is in our city, it is the bulk of downtown, also around hospitals,” Fenske said. “That can be a deterrent sometimes for people supporting the businesses here.”Fenske and Pensato also want to see a portion of parking revenue reinvested into the areas where it’s collected to fund improvements such as tree-planting, sidewalk repairs and street furniture.Coun. Janice Lukes, the chair of the public works committee, said she supports that idea in principle.”If you’re going to put parking meters on Corydon [Avenue] or if you’re going to put them on Centre Street [in the Bridgwater neighbourhood], in areas that have never had it before, I think a bit of a carrot-and-stick approach” is needed, she said.”Maybe a percentage of the [parking] revenue does go to improving the areas.”Lukes said she also expects city staff to consult extensively before making any future changes to parking hours or rates.The parking strategy still requires council approval. Staff will spend the next year gathering data from the Exchange District pilot before recommending whether longer time limits, or expanded paid hours, make sense elsewhere in the city.ABOUT THE AUTHORCameron MacLean is a journalist for CBC Manitoba living in Winnipeg, where he was born and raised. He has more than a decade of experience reporting in the city and across Manitoba, covering a wide range of topics, including courts, politics, housing, arts, health and breaking news. Email story tips to cameron.maclean@cbc.ca.
Downtown business groups wary of Winnipeg’s new parking strategy
