Winnipeg councillor wants parties to take action on problem landlords

With two more people meeting violent ends at buildings owned by a problematic Winnipeg landlord, one city councillor says whoever is elected government must address housing crisis and shutdown people who prey on the most vulnerable.

Daniel Raymond Garvey-Rodriquez died after being shot at this building in the 200 block of College Avenue and in late August Cory Roger Roulette died after he was shot at this building in the 500 block of Furby, both owned by the Penner family — sometimes operating under the name, Living Recovery Foundation of Winnipeg.

Earlier this year, after violent deaths other buildings owned by the landlord, CityNews reported on Coun. Cindy Gilroy’s call to have the buildings and tenants taken over by the province. She’s troubled more people have died, saying whoever is elected, needs to take immediate action on the Penner’s and other problematic landlords.

“It’s disturbing, because I know that there is something that we can do about it as governments. So I really want to encourage the leaders in this election, to really look at what they can do through their provincial government to provide 24-hours support systems into these places that we know we have issues and we need wrap around supports. We could be saving lives,” said Gilroy.

“The people that live in the community where these buildings are located are greatly impacted.”

On Thursday, PC Party leader Heather Stefanson was asked how her party would deal with problematic landlords and said if re-elected, her party would work with both law enforcement and community groups to address the issue calling it “a very important matter.”

“If there are issues within affordable housing that are police-related matters we’ll obliviously work closely with law enforcement moving forward and when it comes to affordable housing, we’ve spoken about that already, that we need to work with different levels of government to provide more supply in that area, we also need to be incentivizing the private sector to come forward as well,” said Stefanson.

CityNews tried to speak with Karin Harper-Penner, the founder of Living Recovery, but she declined questions.

NDP candidate for the Wolseley electoral district, who previously called for intervention at Living Recovery, said they would launch an investigation into the buildings if elected, saying the issue was compounded by government’s “willingness to turn their back.”

“The PC governments action over the last few years, when it comes to homeless folks, when it comes to the whole lack of housing, lack of supports, lack of treatment and addiction services, I think it shows a profound a lack of care, I think it shows a profound lack of understanding of the issues and what is needed to support people,” said Lisa Naylor, NDP candidate for the Wolseley electoral district.

Manitoba votes Oct. 3.