The Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board has a long history of engaging mayoral candidates campaigning to be the next mayor of the City of Winnipeg. Representing over 2,400 REALTOR® Members, the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board has a vested interest in connecting with candidates to learn more about their plans on matters that affect the health of the real estate market and homeownership for Winnipeggers.
This is the next submission in our special weekly feature leading up to election day on October 26 called “A Conversation with 2022 Mayoral Candidates” where candidates share their vision. Scan the QR code above to listen to Idris Adelakun’s podcast interview.
By Idris Adelakun
Our great city, Winnipeg, needs a voice that can speak for everyone. This is what I stand for.
Are we going to continue to run the same cycle and expect a different result or are we going to focus on solving the evolving, complex problems and make everyone feel at home?
To reverse the trend we are seeing where more people are leaving our city to go to other provinces than coming here, we need to create more employment opportunities, bring in investors, support existing businesses to thrive, boost safety, provide good quality services, and make the city affordable. There is a need to improve on how we portray our city. Additionally, I will communicate with Winnipeggers regularly to know their concerns and address them.
We need strategies to attract business investment to Winnipeg. The city needs to be restructured. Business owners want to invest where they see the value. We need to create more lively spaces where businesses can open and thrive. Businesses need to be assured about safety, protection and affordable taxes. The private sector should be our focus because it will create more job opportunities for Winnipeggers.
To address the chronic shortage of residential dwelling units, as a professional engineer and certified project manager, I will collaborate with stakeholders to build affordable housing for Winnipeggers. First, we need to review our regulations to ensure we can create safe and affordable housing units ingeniously on time. Encouragement of infill housing and inclusionary zoning are necessary, but we must have a policy in place.
How will I build and lead a team at City Council to ensure we receive funding to support growth enabling infrastructure? As a certified project manager and transformational leader, I understand the impact of triple constraints in project management. Therefore, timely project completion is essential to generate revenue and support business investments. In addition, I will ensure enabling infrastructure is more available to support residential and commercial investment and consumer uptake.
Benchmarks and actions need to be taken to move key projects that sustain delivery of core civic services ahead faster. As a certified project manager, I will monitor our progress and measure performance on important projects. I will not only focus on scope and cost but also on time. I will review the progress reports and ensure we efficiently deliver services to the people ahead of schedule.
I have the strong belief that my skills are transferrable to the city’s top political gig. I’ve been managing projects, managing people, and managing teams. I lead. So, I believe that with all those experiences I’ve acquired, when I get this, I’ll be able to apply those to make sure we’re working together. It’s not something I can do on my own.
BIO: Idris Ademuyiwa Adelakun, Ph.D., P.Eng., PMP, CPEM, SFC, obtained his diploma from the Polytechnic Ibadan and B.Sc. from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He went on to complete his M.Sc. in biosystems engineering and a letter of accomplishment in supervisory management at the University of Manitoba. He received his Ph.D. in Leadership - Organizational Management from Carolina University, USA. He is a professional engineer, project manager, and a transformational leader. He has over nine years of experience in a Canadian business organization.
Visit idrisformayor.com for more information.
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Kevin Klein
Robert-Falcon Ouellette
Rana Bokhari
Rick Shone
Shaun Loney
Jenny Motkaluk
Listen to the Podcast version
The Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board is a non-partisan organization that works with all elected officials in support of our Members and a better Winnipeg for all its citizens. Nothing in the podcast or this publication should be seen as an endorsement of any candidate in Winnipeg’s civic election by the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board.