UVic Lipdub (Canada) - "Haven't Met You Yet" by Michael Bublé

City Election and Charleswood Part 10

Jarret Hannah, candidate for Charleswood-Tuxedo



Jarret Hannah is one of seven candidates running in the Charleswood-Tuxedo ward. By profession he is a businessman who runs a marketing company. Hannah is married, has two children and has been a coach in various sports of the ward.

His website features moments on the campaign and his thoughts on them. It also has a series of videos on some of the issues.

In his platform, he lists six main issues.

They are:

1. Safety
2. Police Service
3. Fire and Ambulance
4. Infrastructure
5. Progress
6. Sustainability

One of the main issues he has talked about publicly is on traffic flow and he has identified the coming IKEA as being one area that could be a problem for transportation.

Pirate Party To Run In Federal Byelection

Stephen Harper finally announced the next round of federal by-elections. Two of the open seats are in Manitoba.

They are: Winnipeg North which was held by New Democrat Judy Wasylycia-Leis and Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette which was held by Inky Mark.

I will detail the race later on but of interest is the fact that the Pirate Party is running their first candidate outside of Europe. The candidate is Mikkel Paulson.

The platform of the party is:

* Copyright reform
* Reform of the patents system
* Better respect for privacy
* Net neutrality
* Open government
* Digital sovereignty

By the way, I stole that from their website as well as their logo atop.

Sam Katz

The Winnipeg Free Press had a letter on Saturday from a reader.

What about Crocus?

In Sam has his say (Oct. 16) Mayor Sam Katz stated "I don't think voters have concerns about my ethics. I think my ethics are very pure."

Sam must have an incredibly short memory about his own behaviour. A 2007 CBC story Goldeyes' financial situation too shaky to pay Crocus loan? reported court documents showing his estranged wife, Baillie Katz, had been on the payroll of the Winnipeg Goldeyes for $3,000 a month and later $5,000 a month even though she stated in an affidavit that she had never done any work for the Goldeyes. The same news piece stated that the Crocus fund gave two loans totalling $434,000 to the Goldeyes in 1999 and 2000. Katz says he doesn't have to pay back the loans or any interest on these loans, citing a legal agreement that allows him to defer payments to Crocus until the Goldeyes are "profitable."

As one of the Crocus investors whose money Katz is holding, I would like the mayor to justify his claim that the Goldeyes are not profitable by opening the books.



PETER AITCHISON

Winnipeg

I have to agree. Open the books. I'd like to get my money back as well.

City Election and Charleswood Part 9

Livio Ciarelli, candidate for Charleswood-Tuxedo



Livio Ciarelli is one of seven candidates running in the Charleswood-Tuxedo ward. By profession he is an industrial draftsman and is a business owner.

The website Livio has put up is one of the more detailed ones of all the candidates. He is also no stranger to social media, blogging and Winnipeg forums.

In his letter to the electorate, Livio has said that he will spend every cent of his $288,000 ward allowance in the ward rather than on expenses her incurs in the ward. In his mission statement, he says he will commit to:

A Constitution that will declare, Winnipeg, the biggest and most important City in the Province has the right to its own Destiny. That right requires we have independence in our choices. The power, respect and funding to achieve our goals are the three elements that will define us.

1) Power: the Power to define our future and exercise control over our destiny.
2) Respect: the Respect that We are able to manage our own affairs.
3) Funding: an appropriate amount to meet our objectives.

In terms of ward initiatives, he lists these as his primary concerns:

1. Commit full Councilor Allowance to Ward Activities.
I won’t waste one penny on myself.
2. Setup a volunteer Councilor's Advisory Board to address Ward issues.
3. Speed up new Fire/Paramedic Station Construction in Charleswood.
4. Engage Public Works in Street Renewals & Repairs.
5. Establish a Dedicated Wilkes Bus Route.
6. Establish “Kids’ Vegetable Patch” sites throughout the Ward.
7. Establish Spring and Fall Sports Classics (Soccer and Football).
8. Review Police Presence in the Community.
9. Commit to meeting with all Community Clubs, Sports Groups, Seniors, & Student body’s on a regular basis.

On municipal initiatives, he lists these priorities:

1. Initiate discussion on a Winnipeg Constitution.
2. Investigate a new Progressive Funding Formula based on our Constitution.
3. Review Residential Taxation and what impact a new Funding Formula would have.
4. Communicate with Civil Service to address efficiencies and moral.
5. Investigate new sources of Revenue.
6. Call for Term Limits.
7. Eliminate the need for EPC.
8. Begin discussions on a perpetual Funding Formula for Community Centres and Wards.
9. Define how Ratepayers should be addressed by City Management, Including 311.
10. Re-Address Veolia, BRT/LRT, Stadium, Red Light Camera’s.
11. Initiate a discussion with our Business Community on how they can be better served.

In terms of the lands south of Wilkes Avenue, her supports an extension of the Charleswood Parkway and is against the planned housing there in favour of a green belt.

There are other details on his website.

Charleswood-Tuxedo Candidates Debate Part 2 (continued more)

The third question posed to the candidates at the Shaftesbury High School debate. video is here.

Question - What do you think are the greatest infrastructure challenges currently facing the ward and what are your proposed solutions?

Dashi Zargani said that Kenaston will be even more filled with traffic once IKEA is open. He believes that Kenaston should be widened to four lanes in each direction. He also thinks the extension of Kenaston needs to be looked at. He believes that roads should be re-paved each year with no increase in taxes. He also mentioned green spaces and finding a balance. In the second go round, he said the impact of IKEA needs to be looked at and the benefits of development and taxes shouldn't be the only consideration. He believes that the revival of downtown is necessary with a variety of methods including taxation. He thinks they need to find a way to keep business open after 5 in the area with things such as free parking. The city shouldn't be a doughnut, he said.

Timothy Martin said the greatest challenge is to preserve what is great about the ward even while the city grows.He says commercial sprawl in mature areas needs to be limited. he is in favour of extending the Charleswood Parkway to bypass more residential areas of the community. He believes it will help take a load off Kenaston. In the the follow-up, he said that downtown revitalization must take place because there are tremendous social and financial consequences in doing nothing.

Jarret Hannah said that he has major concerns on the streets in Charleswood that head out to Wilkes Avenue in terms of safety. He believes that Wilkes Avenue will increasingly become a problem. He said when IKEA goes up, it will only be a greater issue. In the return round, he said that the issue of Kenaston traffic had to be addressed. He said lobbying the federal government and First Nations on the Kapyong Barracks in terms of reaching a settlement. The issue of rapid transit and what form it takes also needs to be addressed.

Livio Ciarelli said that drainage, traffic and development are the main issues that he has heard in the ward. He indicated that he believed the Charleswood Parkway extension would help address some of the traffic concerns. He wants to divert developers from old Charleswood to Wilkes south. That development he wants to see buffered with a 7 kilometre park. In the follow-up, he said that Kenaston is a huge problem. He said the city caved on IKEA. He indicated that the choice should have been with the community.

Wendy Lenton said that the city has not maintained roads and that there is backlog in infrastructure improvements. She said that road construction crews could be more productive working in the evenings. In the return, she said that the city needs to discuss the merits of development. She said Charleswood has a suburban/rural character.

Paula Havixbeck said that the issues depend on what part of the ward you are talking about. She said roads, traffic and the William R. Clement Parkway are all priorities. She also mentioned rapid transit, drainage and the Kapyong Barracks. She says businesses are concerned about whether to stay with IKEA moving in. She said a beutification program and a move to make Charleswood like Corydon Avenue are some other areas she details. She says a 12 year plan is necessary. In the follow-up, she sees IKEA as being a positive for the city in a recession. She also talked about Centreport. She says that limiting truck traffic in peak times is an option for Kenaston.

Steve Szego said that IKEA and Kapyong Barracks are issues that will affects things in the ward. He also mentions that Charleswood Parkway should be extended. he says that traffic issues needed to remedied in the ward. In the follow-up, he said that funding is hard to get and the province must be lobbied in terms of getting enough to make a coherent plan work.

City Election and Charleswood Part 8

Steve Szego, candidate for Charleswood-Tuxedo



Steve Szego is one of seven candidates running in the Charleswood-Tuxedo ward. By profession he worked for Air Canada as a customer service manager but is now retired.

On his website, he lists two main areas that are his issues.

1. Crime
2. Infrastructure

On the first issue, he believes restoration of the community police office is required as patrolling the neighbourhood is a deterrent. He also believes in programs to engage youth.

On the second issue, he emphasized the need for service roads and other good planning to ensure things are done right both fiscally and structurally.

Charleswood-Tuxedo Candidates Debate Part 2 (continued again)

The second question posed to the candidates at the Shaftesbury High School debate. video is here.

Question - If elected what would be your first three action items to reduce crime?

Livio Ciarelli said that the police should be unleashed. He believed they would clean up the city in a month were it not for provincial and federal laws. Criminals are not put away when caught. On the second round, he said that more needs to be done. He indicated downtown was a problem and that police should have more technology at their disposal. He liked the idea of more close circuit television surveillance in the core. He wanted to make sure evidence was in place to reduce overtime testimony in courts. Non-aggressive tactics of a police presence on a gang house 24/7 was suggested as a way to drive criminals out. He said prostitution has been driven from some areas because of such pressures.

Wendy Lenton said she believed community policing, bike patrols and neighbourhood watches needed to be enhanced. She said that police should focus on personal and property crimes. She didn't think police alone could prevent crime. Prevention, she said, depended on everyone. She indicated lobbying other levels of government on crime was necessary. In the second round, she raised the issue of poverty. She believed education was a big way to counter poverty.

Paula Havixbeck says that the police association informs her that people aren't reporting petty crime. She says that fear of insurance claims prevents people from reporting. She claims Winnipeg ranks fifth in crime for cities in Canada. She outdoes Sam Katz by saying she would increase police numbers by 65. She wants a stay-at-home cruiser car in the district as well police sub-station in the neighbourhood. In the follow-up she took even harder lines on crime. She thinks highly of the anti-gang strategy.

Steve Szego said that tougher sentencing from the other levels of government is necessary. He indicated he supports a greater police presence and increased recreation opportunities for youth. He said police cars shouldn't be pulled from Charleswood for other calls. More administrative staff are needed to keep police on the streets. In the next round, he said that the city has the same level of cruiser cars as it was 15 years ago. He says we need to find out what cops need and get better deployment.

Dashi Zargani indicated he believes a greater police presence is necessary. He said more programs are needed to keep youth engaged. He also supported greater cooperation in tacking crime and what causes it. He said putting people in jail won't solve the problem. On the second round, Dashi says that people don't feel safe and he knows how that feels.

Timothy Martin said that police presence is a priority for him. Community policing is what he had in mind. He indicated that he believed that the root causes of crime needed to be addressed and that the city should identify those areas and seek help from the other levels of government for finances. He said that the revolving door justice system has to end. He said that violent crimes regardless of age should be dealt with harshly. In the second round, he said that Winnipeg has some of the highest numbers of officers per capita. He said deployment and fighting the problem of the same people being arrested over and over again keeping the force from getting a handle on thing. He supported a higher police presence but that an office might not be the solution.

Jarret Hannah believed the greatest need was downtown. He believed the focus had to be on reducing violent crime. He said he wants to give the police the numbers and the resources to address this issue. He said cadets and other police presence had ensure a safe downtown. He proposed more programs to get inner city youth to turn away from crime. On the follow-up, he said that police are making inroads but that the police needed the resources to respond to problems better.

City Election and Charleswood Part 7

Wendy Lenton, candidate for Charleswood-Tuxedo



Wendy Lenton is one of seven candidates running in the Charleswood-Tuxedo ward. By profession she is a business woman managing a firm as consultant on such things as traffic control systems in large cities. She doesn't detail much on her website about her education or anything about her family and involvement in the ward. She has given a few more details in her public meetings.

She has listed four priorities:

1. SAFER NEIGBOURHOODS
2. IMPROVED ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE
3. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR FAMILIES & SENIORS
4. EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE

She has owned the issue on ambulances. Paula Havixbeck indicated that they have enough support but Lenton indicated Winnipeg falls below industry standard when it comes to coverage.

In public meetings, Lenton has been the only candidate to support a modest tax increase.

I have asked Lenton four times for her response to a questionnaire but have heard nothing back. It would help to have more detail than what I have seen so far. It would appear that people interested in knowing more would have to see her in public or by phone or at the door.

It is possible that Lenton could have broken away more from the group but in the absence of a lot of information about her, people are likely looking at other candidates. In short, there are just too few details.

O.K Corral in the North End

This is getting ridiculous. The city police have declared the North End a war zone.

There are two dead and one person in the hospital all from apparent random shootings by someone dressed like a ninja and riding a bike. Yes, you heard that right.

There are three crime scenes and police are swarming the area according to the last reports. People are told to stay in their homes, stay out of the area. Your neighbourhood is not just an active crime scene, it is under siege.



No need to tune into AMC's Fear Fest, you are living the horror right now. Hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your husbands too because no one is unaffected.

My deepest condolences to the families that are dealing with the tragedy now and my complete sympathies to the neighbourhood that is under siege.

People have to be asking what they have to do to be safe.

Sam Katz cannot say things are better since he became mayor. The stats for Winnipeg are pretty dismal. We run from crisis to crisis. Reduce car theft only to see a rise in gang crime. Drugs are rampant in the city with grow up and meth houses everywhere. Vandalism and break-ins strike at the heart of people's security.

And now we have a neighbourhood where the best advice is don't go there. Don't go out. Stay inside. I wonder how people are sleeping there.

The election is in three days. Tell every incumbent candidate that this has to stop. Your past plans are not working and your past record is dismal.

To the North End, keep your head down and your chin up. People all over the city realize that we have to put an end to this and we are going to help.

Charleswood-Tuxedo Candidates Debate Part 2 (continued)

The first question posed to the candidates at the Shaftesbury High School debate. video is here.

The question was: Question - Do you have any experience in the area of city planning policy?

Jarret Hannah said he has experience with city planning policy through his environmental business on the web. He elaborated about his business in recycling and he could bring that knowledge to city planning.

Livio Ciarelli mentioned his involvement in the 2006 election campaign and his support of right of way rail lines being used for rapid transportation and moving the University of Manitoba downtown. He said he participated in forums and blogs and Speak Up Winnipeg. He ran out of time in regards to explaining about the city planning guide that he had read. On the second run at the question, he detailed how Ridgewood to Wilkes Boulevard would be the location of 7000 new homes south of Wilkes Boulevard. And from Wilkes to McGillivary Boulevard would be the location of 25,000 homes. He said he preferred a green buffer zone in that area with lagoons and natural habitats.

Wendy Lenton indicated that her company has been involved in international planning related to traffic. She said she had managed projects beginning to end in planning for large cities. She detailed her experience in strategic development for cities based on her business. She questioned the city's record in planning and said it has cost us.

Paula Havixbeck said she worked as a consultant for Habitat for Humanity. This involved purchasing, zoning and financials. Havixbeck ran out of time to explain more about the process. On the second go around, she said that she believed that there needed to be a better cross section of people consulted on projects. A city planning group dedicated to the ward is something she has thought about. She says that has worked outside the city on planning in particular, Selkirk, Manitoba and their marina. She said relationships need to be built in the capital region.

Steve Szego said he didn't have formal planning experience although he is familiar with the Our Winnipeg plan. He said he would make use of his contacts in the planning department for issues like transportation. When he came back to the question, he indicated that he was interested in responsible spending and planning. He believes in constituents first.

Dashi Zargani said he doesn't have experience in planning but that he is determined to fix or resolve problems as they come up for the ward. He elaborated that he believed that there was poor consulting done when it came to planning.

Timothy Martin, in a repeat of the first forum was almost overlooked twice by the moderator. He said that in his 18 years as a lawyer, the had been involved in planning and zoning variance issues had gone before council committees. He mentioned his thoughts on subjects such sustainability of communities so that you can work, live and play in the area as well as green areas and local heritage. He also went on about the Kapyong Barracks and Lafarge Lands but ran out of time to delve further. He expanded on the idea of interpreting the plan Winnipeg the way we need to. By that, he meant in preserving the small town unique feel of Charleswood. He said he is against commercial sprawl.

***

My thoughts on this section is that the question asks something of candidates that seems to focused on their experience with a vary narrow professional skill which is city planning. People go to school for that.

The question may have drawn a better response if the candidates were asked about their thoughts on how the city plans and how it affects the ward and beyond. As such, the answers of Steve Szego, Dashi Zargani and Wendy Lenton might have drawn more specific thoughts on the city.

Paula Havixbeck indicated she had skills in specific plans for Winnipeg but didn't have much details for the ward itself.

Timothy Martin had some thoughts on the ward itself but was not too specific other than preserving the character and limiting sprawl.

Livio Ciarelli had a specific idea for ward planning about a green buffer zone but I was left with the thought about how it would affect sprawl.

We have seen resistance to any densification on Parker Avenue and now south of Wilkes.

The city will expand ever outward past green buffer zones and it will still affect the ward. It will also cost the ward to spread service beyond where they are now. It is better to have well considered development plans for new homes and ensure good transit corridors so that the ward is not a racetrack to city limits.

Tom Vanderbilt, Traffic Expert

I forwarded the information about Winnipeg's traffic circles to best selling author Tom Vanderbilt. It is featured on his website under Roundaboutgate in Winnipeg.

Initially, he took the position that Winnipeggers needed to learn how to use the traffic circles. He revised his position later on and said he didn't know the city and what the differences were compared to Seattle.

I did a piece this morning on what those differences are.

I encourage people from Winnipeg to contribute or follow Vanderbilt's blog. tell him what you think of Winnipeg's roundabouts (traffic circles).

River Heights-Active Transportation Part 9 Tickets?

The publisher of the Free Press has weighed in on the traffic calming circles in the city, specifically River Heights. Bob Cox acknowledges that the circles have almost made the search for a new publisher necessary three times since he almost has had an accident there on that many occasions. In his article, he suggests:

But on Grosvenor, motorists are used to cruising straight down the street with few interruptions for stop signs.

Many still act the same way, driving through traffic circles as if they have the right of way to go straight down Grosvenor, ignoring traffic coming from side streets running north-south.

They should be yielding if a vehicle coming from their right or left is already at the traffic circle before they arrive. But they're not even looking left or right.

In all three of my near collisions, I had driven into a traffic circle only to see another vehicle bearing down on me along Grosvenor, screeching to a halt and cursing at me as if I were in the wrong.

I'll concur with that observation.

Cox's suggestion is that more police tickets would remedy that behaviour.

So here's a thought for Winnipeg's traffic brain trust:

-- If you want traffic circles to stay, how about getting out and actively telling motorists how to use them -- not by sending out flyers, but by standing on the street to stop rule breakers.

-- Put traffic cops out and they'll write 100 tickets a day just standing at the corner of Grosvenor and Waverley.

-- Better yet, give errant motorists warning notices for a few weeks until they know the rules.

-- Whatever you do, please don't depend on signs to change the way people drive.

I think the idea of tickets could apply to a whole lot of areas of the city including speeding through construction sites.

But do the police even want to do this? My impression is that while we have a traffic component to our police service, it isn't something cops seems to like to do. The police chief not too long ago had to remind the police to issue traffic tickets since there had been such a huge decline in traffic enforcement and revenue derived from the tickets themselves.

While there may have been an increase in tickets issued, it is hard to say whether it has changed the behaviour of Winnipeg drivers. Winnipeg drivers continue to speed, tailgate, change lanes without turn signals and act out aggressively as if driving is a win-lose sport.

The Free Press took a note from news blogger ChrisD and filmed a traffic circle. For amusement, watch the pedestrian with the dog berate the news crews for the chaos in the circles. Watch the bike at about 55:30 that is almost smushed for some unique navigation of the circle.

Many of the police in the traffic unit do work related to hit and run and fatal collisions incidents. Important work but after the fact and not preventative.

The traffic enforcement unit has been robbed of resources.

The work that Bob Cox wants to have done can't be done consistently because it has not been a priority for the police, the mayor or anyone else, it seems. Winnipeg drivers pretty much know that barring a collision or photo radar incident, they can act out on the roads with little consequence.

In any event, this talk of traffic tickets is a bit of a diversion. While it is an important consideration in overall driver behaviour, it doesn't get at the heart of whether the mini-driver circles are safe.

The answer according to British studies is not so much for cyclists or pedestrians.

The Free Press reported on Thursday:

Brad Sacher, the city's public works director, said he doesn't believe there's anything wrong with the traffic circles because they copied the ones used in Seattle, Wash., which have seen a 94 per cent decrease in collisions.

If they had copied Seattle, they probably should have noted:

Potential traffic circle locations are identified through community requests or investigation of high accident intersections. Each request is investigated and an initial assessment is performed to determine if a traffic circle is feasible. Residents' requests are responded to with a letter, which explains the process for installing a circle and the likelihood of the location competing successfully for full city funding. In order to ensure that the City's traffic safety funding is allocated to intersections with the greatest need, a priority point system is used to rank the intersection where traffic circles are requested. Ranking criteria include: the number of accidents that have occurred at the intersection in the last three years; traffic speed (85th percentile); and traffic volume. Residents are required to submit a petition, with signatures representing 60% of the households within a one block radius of the proposed traffic circle, in order to compete for funding. Funding is allocated starting with the intersection with the worst combination of problems and proceeds as far down the list as the funding allows. The cost to construct each circle ranges from $3,000 to $6,000.

Moreover, look at this:

Each traffic circle is individually designed to fit the intersection without having to modify the street width or corner radii. Most of Seattle's local streets are 25 feet wide or less and traffic circles are usually 12 to 16 feet in diameter. A single unit truck having a 45 foot turning radius is used as a design vehicle to ensure that fire trucks can pass by the circle without running over the curbs. All intersections where circles are to be constructed are reviewed by the Fire Department and field tests are conducted where they have a specific concern. While traffic circles are designed to allow fire trucks to pass by them, they are constructed with a two foot wide mountable curb that allows fire trucks or larger vehicles, such as moving vans, to run over the curb without damaging the vehicle or the circle.

While the circles in Winnipeg are about the same size of 14 feet, the streets along Grosevenor also include bike paths and bump outs at the curb.

Notice anything about this Seattle traffic circle?



No bump outs and no bike path marked.



The above picture is standing in the middle of the traffic circle. See bike path and bump out.

Not so much like Seattle.

So is traffic enforcement going to help if the design is flawed and the consultation process is no where like what Seattle has?

River Heights-Active Transportation- The Crash Part 8

I just said on Tuesday that I don't believe the traffic circles on Grosvenor Avenue are safe and on Wednesday morning someone was hurt at one of them and had to go the hospital.

The driver of the other vehicle didn't blame the other driver. He had this to say:

A child could look at that and say there is something wrong. It’s probably one step away from criminal.

Sam Katz says people just have to learn how to use them.

Sam Katz, you are wrong. They are not safe. They are not proper roundabouts. Someone is going to end up badly hurt and could die as a result of these things.

It is not safe for drivers, not safe for cyclists, not safe for pedestrians and not safe for homeowners nearby these mini-traffic circles.

Winnippeggers want safe roads. A traffic circle ought to be wide, have no possibility of turning the wrong way on it and have clearly marked yield signs to traffic and people with the right of way.

Sam Katz, tear down these structures.

Charleswood-Tuxedo Candidates Debate Part 2

I was not able to attend the second debate as it was earlier than the Charleswood United Church gathering a week prior.

The good news is that the events was taped by the organizers. I am watching it now and offering commentary. The video can be found here. Kudos to the people who went to the trouble to do this.

It was fantastic to have all seven candidates in attendance. The meeting was moderated by CJOB host Geoff Currier which explained the earlier debate time as he had to work at the station at 9. There were fewer people than at the earlier debate but the video should help increase that number who will see it.

Each candidate got to do an intro before questioning. Timothy Martin told the audience about being a lifetime member of the community, his job as a lawyer, his family and his interest in running which he said included improving traffic flow on Kenaston Boulevard.

Jarret Hannah told the audience he was a small business owner specializing in marketing. He also said he had a young family and was involved in community and charity work and believed it was useful experience to have to city council.

Livio Ciarelli said he was the senior candidate and the only one to challenge Bill Clement in the last election. He said he wasn't going to put up signs or use other people's money in the election. He indicated he was going to go to every door in ward and that he got candidates to commit to funding the Harte Trail. He believes Charleswood is shortchanged in the city. He ran out of time to finish that thought.

Wendy Lenton said he was running as an independent and that she was business woman specializing in traffic systems at an international level. She said she is a longtime resident. The key issues she are crime, roads and infrastructure and community development. She said she would be a full time candidate.

Paula Haxixbeck said the top priorities are public safety, community centres and lastly infrastructure. She said she has support from two unions and has their endorsements, the police and firefighters. She is a business consultant and lectures at the University of Manitoba and Canadian Mennonite University. She is president of Tuxedo Community Centre and has a young family. She said he is running because she is passionate about her community.

Steve Szego said that he have lived in the community for 40 years and has a young family. He believes in transparency and accountability. Planning and budgeting will be important, he says and he wants to be able to be able to help guide the ward as its representative.

Dashi Zargani said he has heard from the community and that they have said they want roads and sewers and drainage improved. He also mentioned that people want green spaces protected. He believes that the high level of taxation is not reflected in the ward and it could do better. He ran out of time to elaborate.

Continued later on...

CBC's National and Active Transportation

Traffic issues have been front and center in a lot of the country. They have become election sore points in several civic campaigns.

In Winnipeg, CBC's National News correspondent Reg Sherren features a story on active transportation. Calgary and Toronto are also reported on.

Marty Gold was interviewed for the story. In the four years that The Great Canadian Talk Show has been on the air, it has pushed civic issues into the forefront of discussion. And now the National News is paying attention.

Jackie Avent from Bike to the Future was also featured. She is convinced people are going to love it.

I still don't think what has been set up is safe and watching what happens on Grosvenor Avenue scares the heck out of me and a lot of people.

By the way, I won't be able to make it to the debate at Shaftesbury High School. I would really appreciate some reporting of what people's impressions might be. Unfortunately, I have to work so I can't make it. The early start time to the debate just makes it impossible.

Also...I was interviewed by CBC again about the poll that CBC/Free Press is releasing on October 21. I was told that 56% of Winnipeggers support a tax increase at the rate of inflation at the very least. I agreed that I would support an increase to keep us at the same level. The tax freeze has gone on long enough that we are seeing a deficit in simply keeping the city infrastructure and programs going.

The promises of some candidates to get money from the provincial government are not something that can be guaranteed. The more likely answer from the province is no. We can't wait another five or ten years wishing for more.

The anger people feel now is only going to grow as people get bottlenecked in traffic, see community clubs close and an overall decline in city services occurs.

The Danger of Construction Sites

Brittany Murray, 21, killed at a construction site by reckless driver.

It is surprising it doesn't happen more often. Drivers in Manitoba do not slow down for construction sites.

We see the dangers in Winnipeg along Taylor Avenue and along Sterling Lyon and Route 90. In fact, there isn't a road or highway in the province that doesn't see angry, frustrated and completely reckless driving on the part of drivers.

And now we see a young woman killed.

Some are blaming the age of the driver. While that might have been a factor, it doesn't explain why people of various ages drive too fast and too reckless for the road conditions when construction workers are present.

Police and authorities seem reluctant to crack the whip on enforcement.

While additional policing seems necessary, construction companies should be required to use better signage and lighting to show the danger on the road. It seems Winnipeg has fewer and fewer construction lights. Try driving down Route 90/Kenaston and not be a bit nervous about taking out a barrel.

My sympathies to the family of the girl who was killed. Perhaps the city and the province will try and make things safer for those doing road work.

Charleswood-Tuxedo Election and Starlight Tours

The Free Press is reporting today that the University of Manitoba did an investigation into "starlight tours" starting in 2006 when police chief Jack Ewatski said he believed they were urban lore.

After 76 people came to relate their stories, the sociologist at the university had to stop as it was just too much to process.

In the candidate's debate at Charleswood United Church, candidate Livio Ciarelli said something about driving criminals 20 miles out of town.

When I mentioned that such a comment reminded me of starlight tours, his reply was:

"...if it were legal, I'd drop them outside the City a good distance outside."

It would appear that Winnipeg does seem to have a problem with picking people up as suspects and dropping them out of town, sometimes without coat or shoes.

Further, Ciarelli said we can respond as such:

"Or we can have the Hells Angels move into Charleswood, its your choice. For me, i have zero use for them and if i can disrupt this way, all the better."

I don't think I was the only one at the Charleswood United Church debate that thought about the consequences of dropping people out of town.

Shaftesbury High School, site of Charlewood-Tuxedo's final candidate's debate



I wrote in error the time of the next Charleswood-Tuxedo debate. It takes place between 6 and 8 at Shaftesbury High School at 2255 Grant Avenue.

My understanding is all eight candidates will be present.

The debate will moderated by Geoff Currier from CJOB.

I hope to make it but it will be tight with work.

City Election and Charleswood Part 6

Paula Havixbeck, candidate for Charleswood-Tuxedo



Paula Havixbeck is one of seven candidates running in the Charleswood-Tuxedo ward. By profession she is a lecturer at the University of Manitoba and a business consultant. She has worked for the City of Winnipeg in the Fire Paramedic Service Department and also as a manager at the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.

She has indicated that she has five priorities.

1. Keeping our communities safe
2. Keeping citizens safe through Fire Services and Emergency Medical Services
3. Engaging our community through Recreation Facilities and Community Centres
4. Pushing for new roads, better drainage, new communities, and a stimulus for business all in a sustainable plan
5. Encouraging sustainable taxes

She has been endorsed by the police and firefighter unions and mentions this fact often. She is endorsed by the Progressive Conservative MLAs locally and Conservative MPs federally. It appear she has the big blue machine organization at her disposal.

She supports maintaining the tax freeze but isn't clear on how she will pay for some of her infrastructure spending as well as police and firefighter pay increases. At the moment, it looks like she will do this by supporting development in housing and other business growth.

On her website she seems caught between supporting new business but then saying businesses like IKEA cause businesses to move out.

When it comes to business, many people have told me they think Charleswood is falling behind – that vacancies are up, and few if any new businesses want to come to Charleswood.

Adding to that concern is the fact that IKEA and surrounding business developments will move more business out of Charleswood.

Still trying to decide if that is a withdrawal of support for IKEA coming.

I am still waiting to hear from Paula in regards to the questionnaire I sent out in July.

In the debate at Charleswood United Church, she took the toughest stand on crime of any but didn't indicate how she would pay for her plan since she supported no tax increase.

She was among the slickest of the candidates in the debates but she appeared to be the one most beholden to the promises she has made to interest groups with no real clarity has to how her platform would be paid for.