Another special interview for a long weekend, as Episode 44 brings a conversation with Carmen Prefontaine, seeking the city council seat in Elmwood-East Kildonan on October 25.
8.40 Part 2 – First-time candidate Carmen Prefontaine brings over 16 years of experience as a City of Winnipeg employee, along with her current union leadership role, to her campaign. She says her decision to run stems from a long-standing in the the community and to her connection with the late Coun. Jason Schreyer.
She thinks city councillors “don’t have the same hands-on experience with the system the processes…. I have a very in-depth knowledge of the processes that go on, especially the budget and fiscal matters.”
14.20 – Prefontaine speaks about her meeting with the Firefighters union and how the city could have hired permanent staff “and save us money in the long term” instead of paying for overtime and added Workers Compensation Board claims.
“I’m very much about getting the basics right and meeting the needs that we have before doing frivolous projects and shiny new builds of things.”
18.30– Prefontaine discusses the Louise Bridge in her ward and compares it to the repairs and reopening of Portage and Main. “I think it’s odd that there was a plebiscite on that issue… I don’t know why it was done and not adhered to.”
For her family, the new Transit schedules and routes are “very challenging” despite being close to Henderson Hwy,
29.34 Part 3 – What made Prefontaine decide to run? “It’s always kind of been in the back of my mind,” citing her work on other campaigns and serving on various boards.
Hear her views of crime in the ward, community policing, support for housing, and homeless encampments. As for the installation of $300,000 gym equipment in Juba Park being an example of vanity project spending, Prefontaine says, “I will actually agree with you on that.”
As for the installation of $300,000 gym equipment in Juba Park being an example of vanity project spending, Prefontaine said, “I will actually agree with you on that.” Hear her explain why she feels “there’s no antisemitism occurring” within CUPE and why she is not an anti-Zionist.
More about her campaign can be found at Carmenprefontaine.ca.
1.00.15 Part 4 – A pitch to support the Winnipeg Sun and our Season Six funding drive; a reminder our interview with candidate Abel Gutierrez can be listened to at http://actionline.ca/2025/08/aug-5-2025-council-candidate-abel-gutierrez-talks-about-elmwood-ek/
Read our column last Wednesday in the Winnipeg Sun– Home Care revamp accelerates anticipation of Asagwara’s exit
