A proposal to lower speed limits in Winnipeg neighbourhoods is moving forward at city hall, but it’s already facing pushback from the province and around the council table.

The plan would reduce the default residential speed limit from 50 km/h to 40 km/h after a city pilot project tested lower speeds in several neighbourhoods.

Before council can fully debate the idea, Mayor Scott Gillingham says the province needs to decide whether it will amend the Highway Traffic Act to allow the change.

“I think the natural step is to send it to the province … for their consideration as to whether they want to change the Highway Traffic Act or not,” Gillingham told reporters Tuesday.

Winnipeg can lower speed limits under current legislation, but only by changing them street by street, a process that would require council to pass bylaws and city crews to install new signage on each street. Gillingham said that approach would be too costly.

“It would be … over $10 million, a sign on pretty much every street, which I’m not in favour of in any way,” he said.

The mayor suggested it’s premature for council to debate the policy before hearing back from the province.

“Any discussion at council prior to knowing whether the province will change the Highway Traffic Act is kind of a bit of a waste of time, frankly,” Gillingham said.

The city is asking the province to amend the legislation so municipalities such as Winnipeg could set their own default speed limits through a bylaw rather than relying on individual street signage.

Premier reluctant to make change

Premier Wab Kinew has indicated he’s reluctant to make that change. Earlier this month, he told CBC News the city already has the authority to lower speed limits on its own.

“No, they can do it on their own,” he said in an interview.

Kinew also raised concerns about making a legislative change that could apply across Manitoba, including smaller communities with different road conditions.

Even within city hall, there is disagreement about whether lowering residential speed limits is the right approach.

Coun. Jeff Browaty said he doesn’t support the proposal, arguing it targets the wrong issue.

“My concern with the reduced speed limits is it’s really addressing something that isn’t a problem,” he said.

Browaty said most serious crashes occur on major and regional roads, not residential streets, and suggested lowering speed limits won’t address dangerous driving behaviour.

“It’s imprudent drivers — not the speed limit — that is the problem,” he said.

Instead, Browaty pointed to changes in road design, such as narrowing streets or adding curb extensions, as more effective ways to slow traffic where needed.

Supporters of the proposal argue lower speeds can reduce the severity of collisions and make neighbourhoods safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Public works committee chair Coun. Janice Lukes pointed out Kinew had previously said he wouldn’t consider eliminating daylight saving time but later said the province is considering surveying Manitobans on the idea. 

“I’m hoping he’s going to look into the studies that are produced on lower speed limits, and he’ll change his mind and look into this,” she said, speaking during the executive policy committee meeting Tuesday.

“I know it’s a politically sensitive topic, but the facts are there.”

The committee voted in favour of referring the question to the province, with Browaty as the only member opposed.

The proposal is expected to go before full city council for a final vote next week. If approved, the question of whether Winnipeg can implement a lower default speed limit will ultimately rest with the province.