When it comes to spending on major capital projects, Winnipeg residents are almost evenly divided between three major options.

Winnipeggers were asked to choose the City of Winnipeg’s top priority between three different areas of focus:

  • Widening and expanding major roadways, including Kenaston Boulevard/Route 90 and Chief Peguis Trail
  • Building more rapid transit routes throughout the city
  • Building/renovating recreation facilities and other amenities that improve quality of life

Winnipeggers are slightly more likely to be in favour of investments in recreation facilities, but nearly one-third each want to see the City prioritize building better major thoroughfares and creating more rapid transit lines.

chart showing Winnipeggers' preferences for spending on major projects

Support for investing in recreation centres is quite consistent in all areas of the city. Those in suburban areas in north Winnipeg stand out for being more likely to prioritize expanding roadways and are less interested in rapid transit. Those living in central neighbourhoods are more likely than others to want more rapid transit lines, but fewer than one in five prioritize widening major roads like Route 90 and Chief Peguis. Those in suburban communities south of the Assiniboine River, however, are evenly split between wanting to have wider roads and wanting more rapid transit routes.

Winnipeggers' preferences for spending on major projects - by area

Younger and less affluent Winnipeggers are more likely to want the City to build more rapid transit routes, while older and wealthier Winnipeggers are more likely to want more investment in recreation facilities and similar amenities. There is a significant difference in priority by provincial party support, with those who support the Progressive Conservatives much more likely to be in favour of expanding roadways and those who favour the New Democrats more likely to want money used towards rapid transit.

About the Probe Research Omnibus

For more than two decades, Probe Research has undertaken quarterly omnibus surveys of random and representative samples of Manitoba adults. These scientific telephone surveys have provided strategic and proprietary insights to hundreds of public, private and not-for-profit clients on a range of social, cultural and public policy topics. The Probe Research Omnibus Survey is the province’s largest and most trusted general population survey.

Disclosure Statement

Probe Research is a member of the Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) and confirms that this research fully complies with all CRIC Standards including the CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards and Disclosure Requirements. Learn more at: https://www.canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca/standards/por/

Methodology

Probe Research surveyed a random and representative sampling of 600 adults residing in Winnipeg between May 31 and June 13, 2023.

With a sample of 600, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results are within ± 4.0 percentage points of what they would have been if the entire adult population of Winnipeg had been surveyed. The margin of error is higher within each of the survey’s population sub-groups.​

The sample consists of 289 Winnipeggers randomly recruited via live-agent operator and 311 Winnipeggers randomly recruited via Interactive Voice Response (IVR).   All respondents completed the survey on an online platform.

Modified random digit dialing, including both landline and wireless numbers, ensured all Winnipeg adults had an equal opportunity to participate in this Probe Research survey.

Minor statistical weighting has been applied to this sample to ensure that age and gender characteristics properly reflect known attributes of the city’s population. All data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical analysis software.​