Fatima Bashir’s main way of getting around was the bus, but since the new changes, she plans to buy a car.
asserted
she → get → car
“Buying a car wasn’t even in my plan…but now they’re (buses) late and I’m walking more now,” said Bashir, at a bus shelter on Osborne Street.
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Bashir → buy → Street
The City of Winnipeg unveiled the largest change to its transit system on June 29, 2025.
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City → unveil → June
The system features a spine-and-feeder model, which is composed of rapid and express lines as the central Primary Transit Network that forms the spine.
asserted
that → feature → spine
Community and connector routes links riders to a main line, which is called a feeder route.
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which → link → line
The new system has around 4,000 bus stops from 5,200 before the changes.
asserted
system → have → changes
Many Winnipeggers feel mixed about the city’s transit, with some saying they want to go back to the old transit system.
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they → feel → system
Bashir said she wants the old transit system back.
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she → say → system
“It’s not nice…
asserted
It → ’ → ?
So many people are complaining about this new system.
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people → complain → system
No one is happy about it,” she said.
asserted
she → say → it
Feasibility to switch to old transit
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Mike Vogiatzakis, a mayoral candidate, pitched to change transit back within 30 days in office, at a news conference in August.
asserted
Vogiatzakis → switch → August
Don Woodstock also pledged to “immediately cancel” the transit plan upon taking office but doesn’t mention how it will impact the current routes, according to his campaign website.
uncertain
it → pledge → website
The city has spent around $20.4 million towards the implementation of the new network.
asserted
city → spend → network
It would take “millions and millions of dollars to convert back to the old system,” said Janice Lukes, Public Works chair.
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Lukes → take → system
Lukes said the new grid-like transit routes are built to grow with Winnipeg’s growing population and size.
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routes → say → population
James Van Gerwen, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505, said he doesn’t see any logic behind going back to a system that was broken.
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that → say → system
Van Gerwen is calling for more buses and funding to support bus drivers to make transit better.
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transit → call → drivers
He and other advocates are also pushing for a different funding model which requires the province to step up funding for transit.
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which → push → transit
‘Catastrophic’ brake failure led to Columbia Icefield rollover that killed 3 people
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that → lead → people
Montreal announces new metro security measures, 5% service increase
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Montreal → announce → measures
- Mark Carney to attend ‘Forever Canadian’ rallies ahead of Alberta referendum
The 50-50 funding agreement is an operational bill for transit to be split between the province and the city.
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transit → attend → province
This model was scrapped 10 years ago, and provincial funding for transit has remained stagnant, according to the Climate Action Team Manitoba.
uncertain
funding → scrap → Manitoba
“We continue to increase support for municipalities year after year,” said a provincial spokesperson on behalf of Glen Simard, minister of Municipal and Northern Relations.
asserted
spokesperson → continue → Relations
The province did not address specific questions about the 50-50 funding model.
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province → address → model
Functional Transit Winnipeg is advocating for more financial support from the province.
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Winnipeg → advocate → province
Kyle Owens, president of Functional Transit Winnipeg, said re-adopting the funding model means transit will be more reliable with frequent service and expansion of routes.
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transit → say → routes
It’s an easy way to get attention and get people engaged in transit to talk about the old system and the old routes, but Winnipeg Transit isn’t going back,” said Owens.
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Owens → ’ → system
Lukes said next year the city plans on having the supporting infrastructure: benches and shelters installed to the new stops.
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infrastructure → say → stops
Around 40 new bus shelters will be installed by the end of 2026, and there are 84 shelters with polycarbonate glass panels throughout the city, according to a city spokesperson.
uncertain
shelters → instal → spokesperson
An Abacus Data poll (formerly Probe Research) shows around a quarter of Winnipeggers want safety and security needs to be addressed on buses.
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needs → show → buses
The Aporia
