Former Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz testified that he instructed officials to manage costs for a new police headquarters project that ultimately exceeded the budget by over $70 million.
Former Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz has testified at a public inquiry regarding the controversial development of the city's new police headquarters. Katz revealed that he had directed city officials to manage the escalating costs of the project, which had already surged tens of millions of dollars over budget by the summer of 2011. Despite his instructions to adhere to an agreed-upon maximum price, the committee overseeing the project failed to find solutions to control expenses, leading to further financial overruns.
The inquiry is critical in assessing the management and financial oversight of the Winnipeg Police Service's headquarters, which was ultimately completed with a staggering over-budget amount exceeding $70 million by 2016. Katz's involvement and his claims of directing cost-control measures will likely be scrutinized as the inquiry seeks to understand the breakdown in financial governance and so that appropriate accountability measures can be determined for future projects.
Additionally, the situation is further complicated by a civil court finding that former chief administrative officer Phil Sheegl accepted a bribe of $327,000 from a contractor involved in the project, raising questions about corruption and misconduct within the city's administration. The inquiry aims to shed light on these issues and their implications for public trust in city governance and future project management practices.
