Klein promises revamped system for mental health, wellness calls

Kevin Klein is promising if elected to pair advanced care paramedics and mental health clinicians in SUVs to respond to some wellness checks, with a goal to treat more patients on scene.

Three such units, with one of each of the specialized staff per vehicle, would be added in each of his first three years in office, the mayoral candidate says.

Through a pilot project, they would help patients primarily with non-violent mental health issues, as well as some less serious medical concerns, if needed.

“The paramedic treats. The clinician connects the patient to care that is not a hallway bed. Together they can cancel the ambulance and the fire truck,” a press release put out by his campaign says.

The changes would spare many patients from spending hours in emergency waiting rooms and free up emergency vehicles for more serious calls, said Klein at a Friday press conference.

“An advanced care paramedic has more ability to treat a patient than a normal paramedic that you will find on an ambulance or a fire truck. They can treat people on scene. They can release patients on scene,” said Klein.

The service would be tested from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, during the trial period. Klein expects it would prove effective, then be expanded.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crews have faced growing demands in recent years, responding to 136,198 separate incidents in 2025. That number has risen every year since at least 2020, when 104,250 incidents were reported, the service’s annual report notes.

Of the 136,198 incidents last year, 114,700 were medical in nature, with a fire crew and ambulance both responding to 61,356.

Klein said he’s heard complaints from people who waited an hour or longer for an ambulance.

The plan calls for the province to pay an unspecified amount to hire the paramedics and clinicians and cover half the cost of the SUVs. The city would spend $720,000 over three years.

Incumbent mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham also held a press conference Friday, which focused on comparing Klein’s platform promises to his own.

Gillingham claimed several of his competitor’s pledges simply “follow” the lead he and city council have already taken, including adding more police officers and ramping up enforcement for vacant buildings.

“He’s repeatedly committed to doing things that we’re already doing at city hall,” he said.

Gillingham said Klein’s promise to free water and sewer rates for two years came several months after a city council decision to freeze them in 2027. However, the council decision will only take effect if the province and feds each provide $500 million for the final phase of the $3.1-billion North End sewage treatment plant upgrade.

When asked about the differences between the two candidates’ promises, Gillingham said that only raises the question of how his competitor would make up the lost rate revenue.

Klein is now accusing Gillingham of saving changes and projects to take affect after the election campaign that he should have completed earlier.

“We are not copying what he does. He has done nothing for four years. He had an opportunity to freeze water rates or keep water rates lower. He did not,” said Klein.

Meanwhile, mayoral candidate Mike Vogiatzakis said he would clean up city streets, if elected.

On Friday, Vogiatzakis said local businesses could pay to add more garbage and recycling bins — which the city would empty, to help prevent litter — in exchange for free advertising.

He would also lobby the provincial government to let city council abolish its executive policy committee. The mayor appoints EPC members, who get pay bumps. Critics of the system say they also enjoy more access to information and more power than their non-EPC colleagues.

“I want to get rid of the inner circle and I want every councillor to have a voice,” said Vogiatzakis.

Provincial legislation requires the city to have an executive policy committee, so the city could only make the change if the province allowed it.

Don Woodstock, who is also running for mayor, said he would “overhaul” snow-clearing, if elected.

He said his plan calls for city crews to no longer block private driveways with windrows, instead using hydraulic flaps to trap snow before dumping it elsewhere.

It would also aim to better co-ordinate snow-clearing on sidewalks and streets to prevent the latter from dumping snow on freshly cleared walking paths and set a target to repair, or pay for, plow damage to curbs, driveways and other property within 30 days.

Election Day in Winnipeg is Oct. 28.

joyanne.pursaga@winnipegfreepress.com

X: @joyanne_pursaga