COVID-19 'heaviest weight' on Winnipeg mayor as pandemic's death toll mounts

A sombre Brian Bowman sees 2020 as a year defined by one thing and it isn't multi-year budgets or road repair.

It's the COVID-19 pandemicthat hangs overWinnipeg's mayor, as the number of city residents who have died from the disease has passed 400, and more than 14,000 have been infected.

"Those numbers are growing each day, so that'sbeen for sure the heaviest weight on me," Bowman told CBC News in a year-end interview several days before Christmas.

As he reflects on what the city has done to cope with the pandemic, Bowman says he regrets not making one decision sooner.

"Webrought in mandatory masks at city facilities and transit buses in August. If I could go back, I would have pushed to have that earlier," he said. "Ithink it may have had a positive impact tomotivate all of us to do more and to do it sooner."

The pandemic, he says, is the greatest crisis he's lived through.

"Most of us will get through this pandemic and it will be something we'll talk with our kids and our grandkids about.

"But there is a lot of people who are going to have some empty chairs around the table next Christmas [and]in the holidays to come."

'Unprecedented power grab' byprovince

In news conferences over the past ninemonths, Bowman has cautiously expressed frustration with communication between the city and the provincial government on health orders, andguidance on how tointerpret or enactthem.

The relationship hasn't been helped by the almost utter lack of contact between Bowman and Premier Brian Pallister. The pair last spoke directly in April "not for a lack of trying on my end," Bowman says.

"Wehave [tried] and will continue to try to facilitate those direct interactions between the two of us," he said, adding he understands the current strain on the premier.

"I have no doubt this has been a very difficult year for him and for his ministers. I have always appreciated the opportunity and I think our province has benefitedwhen we are able to connect personally and directly."

In spite of that diplomatic assessment, Bowman is blunt onthe province's impending Bill 37.

The legislationThe Planning Amendment and City of Winnipeg Charter Amendment Act would make dramatic changes to the way land-use decisions are made in municipalities such as Winnipeg and the surrounding capital region.

"It's an unprecedented power grab, there's no doubtand there have been concerns that municipalities all over Manitoba have been voicing," Bowman said with a slight edge to his voice.

He plans to speak at a provincial committee hearing on the legislation in the new year.

"I was hoping that we'd see a lot less red tape, a lot less bureaucracy, in this specific bill," the mayor said. "There's a tremendous amount of power that will be placed in unelected, unaccountable decision makers that will kind of increase that extra layer of red tape."

Not a 'lame duck'term

After six yearsas mayor, Bowman told reportersin October he would not seek a third term.

He doesn'tlike the idea of beinga lame duck, andhe barely bristles when asked whether the announcement will hamper his ability to lead until a 2022 election.

"When I said that I think Manitoba has too many career politicians and I don't want to be one of them, I really meant it," Bowman said.

He says he'll continueto expand the city's role in coping with addictions, mental health and homelessness issues.

And while he's a little coy on the subject, he alsoappears ready to take a second stab at introducing a growth feeon new developments.

Growth fee may be plantedagain in 2021

Efforts to set a development fee on new housingsuffered a significant setback in 2020, after a court ruled the city's approach to imposing its fee was offside.

Bowmanacknowledgesthere was a stumble in the first attempt to bring in the impactfee, but believes it's necessaryto help build the city's infrastructure as it expands.

"Every neighbouring municipality, and cities across Canada, have a form of growth fee," he says.

He also notes the court decisionaffirmed the city has the right to implement a fee on growth, "so there is a path forward," he says.

A second attempt will involve substantial inputfrom developers.

"We're going to continue to have dialogue in the new year. And I'll just say stay tuned."

Where to next?

Speculation about Bowman's future predates his announcement he would not run again.

Rumours abounded among political observers and those inside the business community thatBowmaneither had his sights set on provincial or federal politics, or was in line for a prestigious posting courtesy of the Trudeau Liberal government.

In the summer,CBC News asked Bowmanwhether he had been contacted by the Prime Minister's Office or anotherarm of the federal government for a job elsewhere. He vehemently denied any such contact.

During his year-end interview, the mayorreiteratedhis lack of interest in running for any other position.

"I don't have aspirations to run provincially or federally. And I think I'm in the best political office in the country here," Bowman said.

Asked where he might land, he mused about returning to his law career, but left the door open to other directions.

"I'll keep you posted," he said. "But right now my focus is on COVID and seeing this community through this storm."