Police drug blitz costly and ineffective, argues Winnipeg MP
Posted July 7, 2026 5:32 pm.
Last Updated July 8, 2026 11:25 am.
The 10-day blitz on open drug use launched by the Winnipeg Police Service has ended.
It saw an increased police presence in areas that have seen the issue become more prominent.
But one politician and some community organizations have spoken out against the tactics, saying the approach is not only costly, but ineffective.
The MP for Winnipeg Centre, Leah Gazan, says in addition to the cost for taxpayers, a tough-on-crime approach to a public health and safety crisis only pushes those most vulnerable further to the margins and creates a divide from vital resources.
“We don’t see a difference,” Gazan said. “However, what we have seen is people that were getting support at certain places to deal with mental health and addictions are getting swept in front of those places. They’re less likely to go there, which exacerbates public safety and public-health issues. It’s time to listen to experts in the field.”
According to Kate Kehler from the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, initiatives like this aren’t sustainable, and throw money at band-aid solutions instead of tackling more deeply rooted problems like poverty.
“We can’t afford a $370-million police budget that is just going to keep growing and take more and more of our tax dollars into that budget, because we know that 85 per cent of that budget is salaries and pensions,” Kehler said.
“Those people also have relationships to community-based organizations who are like, ‘what is going on here, we need to be able to find these people when we’re worried about them.’ If they’re not coming out of hiding because they’re afraid of you, we’re afraid we’re going to lose them, and that’s what happens when you push people more into the margins, they can actually experience a toxic drug crisis and nobody will see them in time to save them.”
CityNews reached out to Winnipeg police Chief Gene Bowers, who was unavailable to comment.
Stats from the first two days of the sweep showed 100 encounters and over 20 arrests. Police say stays are still being processed.
“Compassion does not mean accepting open drug use in transit shelters, parks and playgrounds,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said in a statement. “Manitoba needs more detox and addictions treatment services, and we need stronger action against the dealers and traffickers who are poisoning people in our community. But we also have a responsibility to keep public spaces safe and accessible for everyone.”
“It would really be wonderful if they would actually talked to the folks on the ground,” said Kehler. “I know some of them have very different approaches, and so it takes time to really sit at the table and build trust.”
