Brief
Kevin Klein pledges to freeze Winnipeg water and sewer rates for two years
Klein also wants the Public Utilities Board to set future rates and plans to boost planning staff.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Mayoral candidate Kevin Klein announced he will cancel the planned water and sewer rate increase for 2026 and freeze the fees for two years, according to the Winnipeg Free Press.
What happened
Klein said the current rates have risen sharply, citing a $168.03 increase on April 1 2025, a further $44 rise on Jan. 1 2026, and a projected $68 jump on Jan. 1 2027 unless provincial and federal funding is secured for the North End sewage treatment plant upgrade.
What the reports add
The article notes Klein would ask Manitoba’s Public Utilities Board to set Winnipeg’s future water and sewer rates, a role currently held by city council. He also promised to increase planning, property and development permit staff by about 25 percent during peak construction periods and to assign a dedicated case worker to each building application.
What was said
“I think we have to freeze them right now because we’ve seen (a substantial increase) in the last four years. We are facing some of the most difficult financial times for families right now,” Klein told the Winnipeg Free Press.
“Winnipeg is the only (Manitoba) city that doesn’t have to go to the Public Utilities Board to increase water and sewer rates. This is how we build back trust. We go to the Public Utilities Board, we present our case and we allow them to make that decision,” Klein added.
How it came about
Klein’s proposal follows a series of rate hikes that have pushed the typical household’s annual water and sewer bill from $1,226 in 2022 to $1,624 in 2026. The candidate positions the freeze as a response to rising costs for families and as a way to restore confidence in municipal utilities.
Key facts
- Kevin Klein promises to cancel the 2026 water and sewer rate hike and freeze fees for two years. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- He proposes that the Public Utilities Board set future rates, a power now held by city council. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Klein plans to boost planning and development permit staff by about 25% during peak construction periods. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Sources
- [1] winnipegfreepress.com — originally reported as “Klein vows to freeze water, sewer rate for next two years”
