I don’t find that City Councilors, at least in Winnipeg, generally have anything useful to say. But to my surprise my very own brand new City Councilor, Scott Fielding, is saying exactly what I’ve been thinking for years. Mr. Fielding argues that the City has to put more priority on completing road work quickly, by working 24 hours and providing bonuses for early completion. I couldn’t agree more.

To me it is ridiculous that work that interrupts traffic on major thoroughfares is not given the highest priority for completion. Sure, it may cost more money to run 24 hours or pay bonuses, but to me it seems that would be much less significant than the damage that is done to the City’s reputation by having construction projects blocking roads all summer.

Here’s a good rule: If you’re doing something that disrupts traffic (including, or especially, buses) on Portage Avenue or Kenaston Blvd, you had better be in and out as fast as is humanly possible, even if you need to have every warm body in the province working on it.

It seems to me another improvement would be to focus on completing projects quickly, rather than undertaking multiple projects in parallel that drag on all summer.

I agree with Councilor Fielding: The City needs to focus on improving their practices and striving for excellence. In so many ways we expect and accept so little. I think it’s time we raise the bar.