Leah Gazan, NDP Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre, has expressed serious health and safety concerns for the homeless community during the current extreme cold spell, which is projected to worsen into the weekend.
“We are currently experiencing a housing crisis that has resulted in a growing amount of our community who do not have a place to call home. We desperately need immediate investments in affordable, accessible social housing. Until such time, we need to ensure that individuals have warm and safe places to go. This also includes members who, for personal reasons, choose not to stay in homeless shelters” urged Gazan.
Earlier this year, the City of Winnipeg removed warming sheds donated to individuals living in the tent community to ensure they would have a warm place to go during winter months. In response, members of the community came together and set up teepees that were removed January 16th, 2020. The City of Winnipeg cited safety concerns as their reason for demolition.
On Thursday, Gazan contacted Deputy Mayor Markus Chambers indicating health and safety concerns she has for members of the homeless community.
“I have contacted Deputy Mayor Markus Chambers to find a way to ensure that all people, whether living in a house or not, have their safety needs met. As we have witnessed over the last few years, extreme weather conditions like this have resulted in a loss of life for citizens in the City of Winnipeg. We must do everything in our power to ensure this does not occur” stated Gazan.
On June 21, 2026, MP Gazan issued the following statement on National Indigenous Peoples Day
On June 16, 2026, NDP Indigenous Affairs Critic Leah Gazan issued the following statement on Bill C-37: