CancerCare Headquarters Expansion Courtesy of Big Tobacco

In 2016, Premier Greg Selinger announced CancerCare Manitoba's expansion as part of a series of announcements ahead of the election. He subsequently lost the election and Pallister cancelled the expansion and instead introduced cuts and consolidation. This past election in 2023, the NDP under Wak Kinew also promised CancerCare's expansion. This time the NDP won and the insurance policy to carry it forward was the longtime lawsuit against tobacco companies by all the provinces over the costs to the healthcare system as a result of smoking. Manitoba's share, expected in the next 12 months, is likely to be half a billion.

The above illustration was the plan in 2016. It was to take over the land of the former space across the street and voila, a new building. A cost wasn't really talked about, however, the Women's Hospital that was just built cost $233 million and took from 2007 till 2019 to get done. These things don't come quickly or cheaply. 

The new Calgary cancer hospital is to cost $1.5 billion. I don't expect those type of costs for the new CancerCare building in Winnipeg but the plans might be more expansive than originally forecast. The space where Manitoba Clinic was is quite big. In the last 10 years, CancerCare has raised tens of millions from donations so they have been awaiting this project for some time.

The Calgary hospital expansion asked the people what should be included aside from the clinical needs. The building design is beautiful and has many aspects of greenery and design to please those going through a tough time. The present CancerCare building is nice but not exactly beautiful. The area across the street has been used for lunch events and the like but no one has to remind people just how unfriendly the streets have been the last few years around HSC.

The HSC and adjoining University of Manitoba downtown campus occupy 39 acres. Two hotels are associated with the complex, Canadian Blood Services is across the street and the Cadham Provincial Laboratory along with the Manitoba Clinic are adjacent. The National Microbiology Laboratory is a baseball throw away.  Still, compared to Toronto where City Hall, the provincial legislature, the University of Toronto, the hospital sector, the law courts and Eaton Centre are all very close, HSC is much farther away from downtown. Winnipeg is very spread out. And HSC resides in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Canada.

One new hospital is not going to rehabilitate a whole neighbourhood. It certainly hasn't for the new Women's Hospital but it certainly has improved the maternity care in Manitoba. What is needed though is a CancerCare Hospital that feels safe and secure both inside and out. When the General Hospital expanded out to William Avenue, it lost a lot of green space. The Children's Hospital borders right up to the sidewalk and is not very street friendly. It is just a wall with high windows.

If there is any hope for the area, sympathy for the street has to go into the construction. It can't be like Portage Place presently which turns its back on Portage Avenue. Windows should be able to let light in and entrances shouldn't feel like turning into an alley. As assault can take place right outside Children's Hospital and no one on the inside could see or hear it. Blind spots and wind tunnels are not very people friendly.

It will be interesting to see if the design of the new CancerCare HQ will be getting a tweaking after so many years. Not to mention some public input on how it looks and feels on the site. McDermott can be attractive given how many students are present with the medical school, nursing school, pharmacy school and dental school present. All told ten university buildings on a tree-lined street. CancerCare also faces out to the street and will be building immediately across from their present facility. Pre-pandemic, the street was often filled with vendors and people enjoying lunch outside.

The safety and security issues can't be overlooked but CancerCare has to make sure they are part of the vitality of HSC. The new security detail at the campus has to make sure that people feel comfortable both inside and out of the building. The danger is making all of HSC a fortress instead of a social and economic driver of the neighbourhood. However, it is tough with a number of burned out buildings just steps away that never seem to get rehabilitated. A lot of businesses have closed in the last few years along Notre Dame as well. The aftermath of the pandemic has been painful.

It will be good to see the open space of the re-located Manitoba Clinic filled with CancerCare's building. It is much needed as we continue to make progress on raising the lifespans of those who rely on early detection, treatment and sustaining those who need the services of specialty trained health professionals. Let's hope the wait is not nearly as long as it was to get Women's Hospital built.

Wab Kinew Leads NDP to Government in 2023 Election

First of all congratulations are in order to Wab Kinew who led his NDP to a victory over the two term Progressive Conservatives. The NDP stuck on message about health care but also on not reversing some Heather Stefanson announced policy changes in the lead up to the election, mostly pertaining to fiscal. On issues such as searching the landfill, they were for it while PCs were against it. 

The complete collapse of the PCs in the election could be attributed to so many conservatives stepping down earlier, the difficulties in generating momentum for a third majority and the policies needed for it. A winning campaign was just not what ended up happening. It kept going more negative and evidence in Canada has shown over the decades that there is not nearly the taste for it here.

Some of the ads featuring past brushes with crime or unsavoury aspects of an NDP candidate probably did as much harm to Tories if not more. After a number of elections already, past behaviour of Wab Kinew has been part of the calculus of how people have voted already. It can be fair to ask to ask about the background of candidates but the electorate are more likely to assess on the most recent years for suitability if they have held office for a while. In other words, the attack on Kinew's background during an election likely drew more cynicism and probably was regarded as a distraction from the policy record of the government over seven years.

The amount of cabinet ministers who went down to defeat and the near defeat of Stefanson in her own riding is likely to have repercussions on the direction of the party.  Future and past leadership candidates are indicating early that they are not interested in the job. Some Tories lost their seats so running again for leadership might mean sitting on the sidelines unless one of their own steps aside for byelection.

In any event, Progressive Conservatives and Liberals will have at least four years of re-building ahead. Traditionally, Manitobans give a new government two terms so new leaders can expect to be in opposition up to 8 years. Certainly Kinew spent years in opposition himself before winning a majority. Such time allows for the leader and party to develop a strategy to win and govern. However, you can just as easily say that the electorate just gets tired of the governing party after two two terms and voters defeat governments rather electing governments. That is not to say the NDP or any new government doesn't have a mandate but it is worth considering how deep the support really is. On other words, a controversial agenda might sink a new government.

Expectations are high based on promises made by Kinew in the election. There may be some wiggle room such as when Gary Doer said the electorate could defeat the government if they did not fulfill their emissions promises. They didn't and Doer didn't take it to a vote but stepped down to let Greg Selinger lead his party to defeat. Voters will likely measure the new government in health outcomes, crime reduction and economic markers. There will be a honeymoon period but not an everlasting fountain of good will.

The instinct to concentrate power in the premier's office will be strong. Kinew has already said that the cabinet will be smaller. This is wise if only for the reason that parceling off responsibilities will dilute cabinet and the effectiveness of ministers. There are a lot of new people coming aboard. Most will have a tough time even knowing how to be a MLA and where the washrooms are in first months. Still, this is no excuse for taking all power and decision-making into the premier's office. 

It would be wise to strengthen the committees of the Legislature which have been extremely limited in recent years. It is one way to assess worthy cabinet appointees sometime later and a better way to suss out issues and sort out policies in a bipartisan format. It is a big mistake to have a caucus of 34 where the majority don't have anything to do.

The NDP and Wab Kinew have some room to maneuver as the other two parties begin a slow rebuild. It will be the public and expectations that will be a challenge even if the opposition in the house is blunted and smaller. It is hard to know what unexpected things can happen such as a deep recession, fire or flood or societal breakdown. It will be important to have competent people in place and a plan. There will be little patience for scandal or sub-standard performance.

Crime and Safety in Winnipeg in 2022 Part 8

In past posts I have detailed what local, provincial and federal governments might do. There are plenty of things private citizens, organizations and companies can do as well to help with safety and reduce crime. Let's start on the individual level.

- Continue to support Bear Clan and Peace Walker teams. They are volunteers so provide them your support both in person and in donations. Find space for them to use. They are not police but they do so much to make people feel safe and supported. Osborne Village is the latest to engage this group. 

- Better video security at home, office and public spaces. It may not stop all crime but is a valuable preventative and investigative tool. Ensure that privacy issues and security of footage is abided by. It shouldn't need saying but cameras in bathrooms and change areas is not security. It is a violation. However, a camera looking out the front or back of your house or around your work or a public park are fine within the confines of privacy laws. And good quality cameras really do count.

- Shoplifting has not completely ended in liquor stores but checking IDs at the door and keeping door locked has stopped swarming, under the drinking age and habitual theft from happening. And when product goes missing, there is a good idea who took it. Cannabis stores have been well protected from the beginning. Regular stores are reluctant to operate with locked doors because there is a good percentage of lost sales from people annoyed by it. For liquor, cigarettes and cannabis, people just accept it if they want those products. However, given the fact that stores like 7/Eleven are closing in various places in Winnipeg, you have to wonder if the locked door policy pending ID will spread.

- They are ugly as can be but with so many windows being many businesses are turning to metal shutters. The plywood up on windows is an indication how bad things have gotten. Pre-pandemic it was more rare but with fewer people on the streets, this type of attack is costly. In these cases, cameras have likely caught what happened but damage is done when your window is destroyed and a slow response time means thieves are come and gone by the time police or security or business owner arrives. I imagine that is a lonely and sad time waiting for the plywood to open outside your shop. A metal gate might seem to be your only hope. Eventually areas start to look like Beirut though.

- Re-direct all package deliveries to local post office. Your front porch is an invitation to theft if you are not home to receive it. Want to keep your local post office alive, use it. If there are package lockers to receive goods, use them. Not surprisingly, people follow the Amazons trucks in Winnipeg. If you want your house to receive regular visits by thieves, this is the way to do it.

- Cars on streets are always vulnerable to theft, break-ins and the like. Some people in River Heights have gotten in the habit of leaving nothing in their cars and the doors open. That doesn't seem to stop the broken windows. Only police patrols and arrests eased the problem. But is has been consistent over the year in various neighbourhoods. In the 1970s many people had one car and it was parked in a garage. Now cars are parked end to end on every block of the city including places with double and triple garages. So many cars. A tracker can help with outright theft but vandalism is possible any time in public as well as parts theft. When possible, get parts printed with the VIN number. Don't leave anything visible on seats or console.

- Not sure how many times this has to be mentioned but don't hand out money to roadside panhandling. People have died on the road because of it and many others have likely been hurt by overdoses. Panhandling means people can bypass health and care services in favour of getting money that results in pandemic of overdose and rescue. Money for assistance should go to organizations who do make a difference on the streets. No one will stand on a corner if the result is zero money. Addiction means seeking cash. Our help has to come from different options.

- Support women's shelters. Women and children need to know there is a safe place to go. Domestic violence continues to be where we too high a rate of harm. Women shouldn't have difficulty getting to or finding places that are safe.

- Volunteer and donate. Food banks, safe walks, community clubs can always use help in people and money. Want safety in your area? Make it look like people live, work and have recreation there. Don't live in a fortress.

- Fix broken windows, cover over graffiti, maintain properties. Some places are repeatedly broken into and set fire to because no one cares for them. 

- Offer safe parking for bikes. What is the point of biking if it they are stolen every day? Make your business/residence a place where people can trust their bike will be there when they get back. This applies to schools, community clubs, apartments and condos, restaurants and everything in between. Riding bikes is something families do. When they put official bike trails in Assiniboine Park in the 1970s people used them and still do. But what if you want to go for ice cream and come back and find your bike gone? Do better. Have a secure lock-up area.

- Keep people apprised of what you are doing? Dating someone new? Let someone know. Selling something? Let someone know. It is easy to become a victim.

- Remember crimes can happen even when you are at home. Be aware that commercial crimes, blackmail, extortion and others things can come while in the safety of being at home. Have those discussion with seniors, teens, vulnerable people and for yourself, consult when you don't know.

Reclaiming our safety and reducing crime is going to be multi-pronged. Learn from what made you vulnerable to past security issues. But don't live in fear. 

Crime and Safety in Winnipeg in 2022 Part 6

From the provincial ledger, much can be done that is beyond the city to do. The levers of courts, social work, healthcare and oversight of policing is all at a provincial level. Housing and health are two main provincial responsibilities. The province has full authority here and both areas are important to a place like Winnipeg in crime and safety. The premier of Manitoba Heather Stefanson has recently weighed in on the side of the police union.

A provincial election is coming soon. Here is what might be needed for crime and safety moves, especially in Winnipeg:

- There is a strong chance that the present government will run a law and order campaign. Some of what they want to do also lies in federal jurisdiction but support for hiring more cops might be an election policy. At the moment, with 4% of RCMP jobs left unfilled in Manitoba, it should be a priority to fill them. And questions asked why those positions are unfilled.

- If additional police are hired for Winnipeg with support from province, the real question is where? Patrol cars, beat cops, major crimes, CCTV? Not even sure the police administration or the union have made a case for where they need more boots on the ground. And to be sure there will be resistance from parts of the public not happy with today's policing.

- The present government seems not to know what to do with the drug and alcohol problem. They are unsuccessfully trying to use law and order measures without doing enough on the health and addictions part of the equation. There was an attempt during the pandemic to do more on mental health and that is progress. But everyone seems to push addiction on the streets which contributes to a growing number of people without housing. Safety and crime follow. More resources from the province on addictions and treatments along with support housing are needed. Restoration of single resident occupancy is only way to end homelessness.

- It is hard to know what the policy on provincial jails is in Manitoba. By all accounts some of the youth detention centres are closing as they are underutilized. At least in southwest Manitoba, specifically the Agassiz Youth Centre in Portage la Prairie. The RCMP reported 24% decrease in overall crime. We'll see how this looks in the next year but on the face of it, the stats were in line with what was happening even before the pandemic. In the north, there was an increase across the board for crime and the province is redirecting resources there. Bad as I feel for Portage, the province is right to do so. The north is under policed and needs more court and detention attention from the province. The overall provincial jail system is a tough place overall but it is probably no where near what is happening at Murder Mountain (Stony Mountain). That federal prison might be the worst in Canada. More on that in federal section of this post. However, back to provincial side of the jail system, there is capacity to hold youth offenders in remand detention and adults in both remand and jails if they pose a threat to society. There is no excuse for some people to be released on an undertaking when they are likely to repeat offences without an intervention.

- Parole and probation services can do better. We need a provincial parole board here in Manitoba. The province leaves it to the Feds but not every inmate is in federal custody. We need better assessment and tracking. We need parole officers and probation. We need halfway houses. We need social workers, training, job placement, heath supports, addiction supports. If this sounds expensive you know what is even more expensive? Prison time.

- Provincial housing is the worst housing in Manitoba and the province is the poorest landlord. This has been true under multiple government of both the major parties of NDP and PCs. Ending homelessness and making a dent in addictions means more focus in this area. Income supports, rules on major housing complexes having a variety of house sizes, ending renovictions and renovating older housing stock are all needed. Safety comes from people having a place of their own and crime reduction comes from support in jobs, training and basic needs.

- The perception of safety comes in part from action of the Crown Prosecutor. In Manitoba, the Crown provide no feedback about why they don't pursue charges. No comment. And in recent years have dropped cases and even seemed to undermine their cases. Other provinces do things differently and are more forthcoming and transparent about briefing the public. Transparency about the justice system is essential in terms of crime and safety. It is hard not to think we have not been let down by this office far too many times.

-In terms of crime and safety, mental health and addiction services or that lack of can beget both safety and crime issues. If someone asks for help and can't get it in a timely way or not at all, it is not surprising to see poor outcomes. Much more is needed in the area of health. The provinces have asked for more federal financing in health but they have cut service and taxes when given more funding. A lack of trust prevents serious work being done. The provinces want no strings money. It is pretty brazen especially since they will still blame federal government for failure even as they re-allocate the money elsewhere including checks to citizens. This needs to stop and measurable improvements health recorded or funding should be clawed back.

- Reconciliation. The province under Pallister had a combative relationship with indigenous people and went to court in various fights and lost on several fronts. There has been an improvement in tone from Stefanson but still a long way to go on substance. Manitoba has the worst record on apprehending children and First Nations and Metis have paid the steepest price. The broken families continues a cycle of safety and crime as kids age of out of care and have no supports as they are jettisoned onto the streets. This has to stop or the suffering continues. Putting kids in hotels as past governments have done or in poorly funded, culturally removed and improperly vetted foster care all contribute to a lack of safety for kids and families. Does the government truly want children to bounce around foster care till they end up homeless, mentally defeated, addicted and victims of or perpetrators of crime? Do better.

- The Forks is not just a city park or a national park. It is even fully a park. It is a multi-purpose space for the entire community. The province is one of three partners there. Yet another attack has taken place there. And no, it isn't because media is focused on it. It is because it is happening with such regularity that it is impossible to ignore.  What is the province to do? The latest firearm charges were released on an undertaking of a promise to appear. The province needs to clamp down on failure to appear and the various writs, warrants and subpoenas need enforcement to stop the revolving door. Want to prevent some murders? Stop letting people out and then letting the crime spree continue. And for those who get out, monitor and provide support. As for The Forks, the duty of the province to take care of it can't be brushed off. They own it and should act like it.

Big Business Pot Stores in Manitoba

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries is a major corporation in Manitoba albeit a Crown Corporation. The government of Manitoba knows that the federal government has set a deadline for legalizing marijuana and they know they can't drag their feet forever. The Pallister Conservatives are caught in a quandary. They morally don't want to legalize but can't remain with a ban if the country won't prosecute usage. They didn't want to simply let Liquor and Lotteries take over the whole thing, another moral quandary, because it would against their business principles. Instead, we get this hybrid system where the Crown has the monopoly on distribution and instead ships out to big private stores.

The government doesn't really want to work with mom and pop businesses. The initial roll out for all this is for big corporations like Loblaw's, London Drugs, Shopper's and others to get the first crack at the licenses. Municipalities get to decide if they even want a store in their area. Presuming there are licenses left over then maybe a mom and pop store can apply. However, it is possible that one or a few companies could simply get licenses all over the province and then the government says that it is enough. Only problem is if the companies that gets the bulk of the stores aren't even based here then profits on sales are funneled out of province.

The minister in charge seems overwhelmed with his portfolio and wasn't even aware this was a problem. He was dismissive of one store wanting to be able to retail in Brandon saying it doesn't cover Manitoba. Why would a small business worry about the whole province when it wished to serve its local community?

To put this in perspective, it is like when they video rental business got started. Mom and pop stores abounded. They were in charge of sourcing their own material and setting up their own retail business. The movie industry was regulated via the censor and classification board of Manitoba but business was allowed to buy from who they wanted and sell where they wanted.

Now pot is different in that local communities can say no to a store plus zoning will keep them away from schools and only adults can enter them. However, after that, why does distribution have to be done by the Crown? Can't the province regulate distribution as well as retailing? Why own any part of it? The system in place now is like if the province was responsible for all the videos coming into the province and distributed them and they only let Blockbuster sell them. What? How is this good for small business?

 I sympathize with small business people on this one. They have been at the forefront of moving this along and now big corporation are moving in and saying only they can do this.

The NDP is not much help in this. Their solution is distribution and retail should all be government and union controlled. No business at all, please. Were they in government they'd probably nationalize and unionize production as well.

The Conservative complain even today that federal Liberals are anti-small business. Well, the feds left the pot in their corner and what do they do? They went big corporation and big government on it.

To do this right, the government should simply allow wholesalers and retailers know they will be regulated, taxed and expected to obey provincial and municipal laws on age, zoning, security and separation of a store from food, liquor and cigarette retailing. There should be no restriction on number of licenses. Let the retailers sort it out.

The Opening of Outlet Collection Winnipeg

The crowd wound around the building before 9 AM

The Food Court entrance from the back of Outlet Collection

It seemed an impossible task that the $200 million Outlet Collection Winnipeg factory mall would open on May 3rd. Construction continued all this week and into the morning. IHOP and  McDonald's are all waiting to be completed just outside the mall. The Audi, Porsche dealerships are under construction and the Hilton Hotel is nearer completion.

The mall inside minus some notable exceptions is complete and looks fantastic. Some of the biggest outlets stores are all done including DSW, Nike, Under Armour and Saks OFF FIFTH.

The Food Court was the site of a opening ceremony hosted by Ace Burpee and featured the premier, the mayor and the builders of the mall Ivanhoe Cambridge.

Entertainment, food, models and many dignitaries were in every seat and standing to every side. Nearly 60 retail executives from Ivanhoe Cambridge were there to see the opening and and attend a 2 day business conference. Politicians of every stripe and media of all kinds were in the crowd.

Performers at the ceremony

The ceremony was not long. Ace Burpee acted as host and speeches were made by Premier Brain Pallister, Mayor Brian Bowman and President of Ivanhoe Cambridge Claude Sirois. They welcomed assembled crowd and the people outside.

General Manager of the mall, Dimitrios Cotsianis, announced that the mall would be giving $10,000 to a local charity. It would be up to mall patrons to decide who. he tanked all those who helped bring the mall to fruition. Nearly 2000 workers helped in those last days before the deadline to get things ready.

Premier Brian Pallister

Mayor Brian Bowmna

President Claude Sirois, Ivanhoe Cambridge

General Manager Dimitrios Cotsianis, Outlet Collection

While the speeches were happening, a train rolled through the back and parked behind. It was just a reminder of what the Seasons of Tuxedo site was just a few short years ago: a railyard. Also visible was the huge crowds snaking around the building including a lot of kids who otherwise should have been school. Police and heavy security along Kenaston and Sterling Lyon directed people into the packed mall.  Organizers estimated that at the opening, there might have been 4000 people at the doors.

Following the speeches, media was led to the door opening and people literally ran inside.

Crowd running in

It wasn't long before all the stores were packed to the rafters and traffic reports were saying the street was filled with cars and people

Some stores and restaurants in and outside the mall will open into the fall. Expect it to be busy for the next while!

Much of the photography by Matraisa Klippenstein. Thanks for her professional work that day.