The news gets worse. It appears some Dolloramas, Shoppers and other pharmacy and grocery stores are hanging on by their finger nails in those same areas. By the end of 2026, it is possible that every convenience store, grocery, pharmacy and gas station in certain areas could be closed. The issue is spreading from neighbourhood to neighbourhood.
After suggesting there would be an uptick in 7-Elevens for the city, the company is abandoning certain areas because it is a struggle every day. Some councillors are suggesting it is because 7-Eleven prices are too high. They are convenience stores, not Walmart. However, no store no matter the low price, can withstand removal of products from their shelves at this scale and the level of violence that can often happen.
The city and the province have a real problem on their hands. If the burnt out and empty buildings are not making it clear, the lack of banks, grocery stores, convenience stores and other businesses makes it plain to see. And the problem just extends down every major road as those looking places where they can take things with seemingly no consequence.
A lot of sympathy can be given for people who are suffering. That won't stop the problem now. Addiction is so prevalent now that what is in stores is used as currency. As any family who has tried to support a family member with addiction, it can be impossible at times for them to take whatever they can in the house to support that need. If no family can sustain that indefinitely, neither can a business.
Tom Broadbeck at the Free Press says businesses might have to control who comes into stores like the liquor stores do. Already drastic security measures such as rolling door and window covers are in place like Beirut. This doesn't help if your place is set on fire. While the police have caught many arsonists, protection rackets and repeat offenders, it hasn't been enough to stop what may be the worst of summer. The huge drug bust by police might see addicted people act more desperately. Still, the trafficking of Mexican cartel and bikers gangs can't continue to bring worse and worse drugs into Manitoba. It seems shortsighted to let them continue just because addicted people will seek out other stimulants.
It is unclear if a safe injection center or a sobering centre with a 72 hour hold will work or help the way the government thinks it might. Most charities are struggling right now to keep up. Some might criticize that they are religious and they screw it up. Still, they the ones who donate. Some are saying we need a collectivist society where housing, food and transport are all free. That may well be helpful. But will all those things overcome addiction? So many people who have homes with supports still reject them in favour of substances. It is heartbreaking.
This is a crisis at this point. The election is in the fall. Crime will be an issue. The loss of stores, housing, safety will be issues. And yet no prominent left or right of center candidate are stepping forward so far and no councillor will ever give up their seat because they have to resign from council to run. Talk is cheap. We have a lot of people who seem to want to bypass other elected areas straight to mayor. There are some who have sought other offices but turning up every four years just for mayor seems to happen often. Unless your name was the late Nick Ternette who was an urban activist all his life, it seems a vanity project.
The campaign is likely to be about crime. Mayor Gillingham will be on the defensive if an entire area of the city collapses from businesses fleeing. Blaming the businesses is going to not stop them from closing.
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