2010 civic election wpg

[vid]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

I care about this province, and i voted NDP. I'll probably vote NDP again. I'm not sure about Greg Selinger yet, but I don't know many people who would say that Gary Doer was not a competent leader. As for the city....well....Katz hasn't done all that bad, really.

Aside from the cynicism problem, you have people who are complacent. "Oh, I DO care!! But, you know... the status quo ain't too shabby!!"

[RTD]

Originally Posted by vid

Aside from the cynicism problem, you have people who are complacent. "Oh, I DO care!! But, you know... the status quo ain't too shabby!!"

Exactly! There are almost no ambitious people, such as Mark Chipman. We have very few people like that, and what we do have we will likely lose to more ambitious provinces. We NEED more people like Chipman in this city! We need more people with confidence to build a better city and say "the status quo makes me sick and I'm tired of it!". Otherwise, we will wither away and die. There are also too many "Well, this is Winnipeg and we suck, haha" idiots out there, and this cynicism has become mainstream here; quite frankly it's embarrassing. Why are people so self-loathing and confidence-lacking in this city?

[Bdog]

To those of you who ask why there are no "forward thinkers" in the leadership positions in the province: Being a visionary or progressive leader does not automatically get you elected. Often, those type of leaders propose to take risks and make big investments that are not popular with the majority of voters.

Furthermore, expecting a mayor of a city to be able to make huge changes is pretty naive. Having worked in politics for a bit, you quickly learn that there are enormous constraints (ie: provincial legislation, city council, budgetary concerns, interest groups, public opinion, etc) on what a civic leader can do...

[Smron]

We are screwed.

[Jets4Life]

I should have ran for mayor.

[1ajs]

katz blundering all through the election o far?

[RTD]

They all are. Every single mayoral candidate is a joke. And as someone else has said, we are potentially screwed by having morons run this city; again and again and again and again. This city has SOO much potential, but no one with political experience wants or is willing to step up to lead Winnipeg to achieve it's potential. No one truly cares. We will continue to be the backwater, laughing stock of major Canadian cities, and fall farther and farther and farther behind each and every one of them. Very sad times for our city indeed

[Riverman]

You want to see a mayoral debate? Try reading through this !!!!

http://urbantoronto.ca/showthread.php?8018-Next-Mayor-of-Toronto

[Bdog]

Originally Posted by Jets4Life

I should have ran for mayor.

Not that I am overly enthused with these candidates either, but what policies would Jets4Life enact to make our city a better placee?

[Boreal]

It's not that nobody cares, it's just that people with real management skills can make many, many more dollars in the private sector, and don't even have to deal with the public microscope. Civic politicians don't make much at all. Sure $70,000 to $100,000 or so is a nice salary (depending on position), but that is at least a couple of hundreds of thousands of dollars off of what the mark would be to attract real talent in my estimation. Money talks, and there isn't enough of it to be made in public posts to entice the best of the best. You can't get champagne for beer prices, and lagers and ales like Sam Katz and Judy Wasylecia-Leis is about the best we can expect.

[RTD]

Originally Posted by Boreal

It's not that nobody cares, it's just that people with real management skills can make many, many more dollars in the private sector, and don't even have to deal with the public microscope. Civic politicians don't make much at all. Sure $70,000 to $100,000 or so is a nice salary (depending on position), but that is at least a couple of hundreds of thousands of dollars off of what the mark would be to attract real talent in my estimation. Money talks, and there isn't enough of it to be made in public posts to entice the best of the best. You can't get champagne for beer prices, and lagers and ales like Sam Katz and Judy Wasylecia-Leis is about the best we can expect.

If this is the case, then this city is fucked up the ying yang. If we can't expect good leadership in this city, then what is the point in trying? We will then always be a bottom of the barrel city that the rest of the country will have 0 respect for. Awesome.

[Jets4Life]

Originally Posted by Bdog

Not that I am overly enthused with these candidates either, but what policies would Jets4Life enact to make our city a better placee?

I would take a page from the late Stephen Juba, and build a dome over Winnipeg.

Additionally, I would change the official language of Winnipeg to Swedish. In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now... 16 years old!

[jmt18325]

Originally Posted by Boreal

You can't get champagne for beer prices, and lagers and ales like Sam Katz and Judy Wasylecia-Leis is about the best we can expect.

Umm, I'm not sure that fits. Judy made more money in Ottawa, and Sam hasn't done that badly (he still makes hundreds of thousands every year from the Goldeyes). Also, you can look at the example of Paul Martin, who was nearly (if not) a billionaire, and decided he wanted to be PM. Danny Williams, who donates his Premier's salary to charity (he doesn't need it) is another example.

People who have made money in business get involved in politics all of the time. We treat them just as badly as we treat everyone else.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by RTD

If this is the case, then this city is fucked up the ying yang. If we can't expect good leadership in this city, then what is the point in trying? We will then always be a bottom of the barrel city that the rest of the country will have 0 respect for. Awesome.

It's no different than say Regina or Calgary or any other like jurisdiction. The public sector doesn't draw that absolutely elite talent. Perhaps at the Federal level it's a different ball game, but even then we certainly aren't talking about managers. If you have excellent management skills, you are likely earning well into the six figure range, and in many cases, into and beyond 7 figure territory. I suppose the power of political positions of rank is alluring to some, but it comes with an increasingly refined focus of the public scope, of which I imagine is a monumental turn-off for many. Not to mention, accomplishing anything in politics, as Bdog pointed out, is absurdly slow. There is very little about the job title of elected officials - the money, the pace, the scrutiny - that is overly attractive to the best of the management talent. So I guess in long, every city gets to look forward to the most mediocre of civil leadership. And hope that every once in a blue moon a somebody falls into the big chair.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by jmt18325

Umm, I'm not sure that fits. Judy made more money in Ottawa, and Sam hasn't done that badly (he still makes hundreds of thousands every year from the Goldeyes). Also, you can look at the example of Paul Martin, who was nearly (if not) a billionaire, and decided he wanted to be PM. Danny Williams, who donates his Premier's salary to charity (he doesn't need it) is another example.

People who have made money in business get involved in politics all of the time. We treat them just as badly as we treat everyone else.

The disconnect here is shifting the focus to rich = management talent. Sure, rich people have made attempts in the political theatre. Elite management does not. Or at least, only does on the rarest of occasions. You will not see Ed Clark or Kevin O'Leary making the jump. Ever.

...or Kevin Kelly, but that's a different country. Though I remain a big fan.

[1ajs]

the head of the green party was endorsing judy tonight at the transit panel that was going on tonight at the u of w

[1ajs]

LATEST NEWS
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Wasylycia-Leis pledges to create 120 job-training positions
By: Bartley Kives
Posted: 13/09/2010 11:44 AM | Comments: 21 | Last Modified: 13/09/2010 1:35 PM | Updates
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Judy Wasylycia-Leis has pledged to create 120 job-training positions over the next four years.
Mayoral candidate Juidy Wasylycia-Leis has pledged to create 120 job-training positions over the next four years in an effort to encourage young people to leave criminal gangs.
The former NDP MP and MLA told reporters today she would use city workers to mentor or train at-risk people and ex-offenders to help the city repave back lanes, prune trees, board up derelict buildings and conduct other duties.
She predicted the program will cost somewhere between $3 million and $4 million a year. She suggested Ottawa and Manitoba may help out through job-training programs for Aboriginal youths at risk of becoming involved in gangs.
The model for the program is an existing program called BUILD, which receives $3 million in provincial funding to train 65 ex-offenders and at-risk young people every year. About half that money is recouped through construction contracts from Manitoba Housing.
Wasylycia-Leis described this pledge as the second plank in a five-point crime prevention program that has also seen her promise to expand a community watch program and get city workers to assist police.
She said incumbent mayor Sam Katz has failed to elucidate a coherent crime-prevention plan after six years in office.
A spokeswoman for the Katz campaign said the city already funds Aboriginal job-training programs. Katz is slated to hold a scrum at 1:35 p.m.



^^^ shes listening

[1ajs]

reen party leader backs Wasylycia-Leis
By: Jen Skerritt
Posted: 13/09/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 9
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Elizabeth May: civic election 'contentious'
Another federal politician has weighed in on Winnipeg's contentious civic election, with Green party Leader Elizabeth May throwing her support behind Judy Wasylycia-Leis.
May was in Winnipeg on Sunday to speak at a local green living expo about how the city lags behind some Canadian municipalities in establishing a modern rapid transit system and reducing pesticide use. While she initially said it would be "inappropriate" for a federal party leader to endorse a mayoral candidate, she announced her support of former NDP MP and MLA Wasylycia-Leis' bid for mayor just hours later at the University of Winnipeg.
Her endorsement comes just two days after Tory cabinet minister Steven Fletcher announced his support for Mayor Sam Katz's re-election campaign.
On Friday, the junior cabinet minister raised eyebrows when he issued a statement saying Katz has been a key supporter of justice reforms "the federal NDP have opposed, obstructed and watered down at every opportunity."
May said she felt compelled to publicize her support for Wasylycia-Leis since other federal politicians have come forward to support candidates and the race is so hotly contested.
"I'm pretty concerned about the issues of poverty and social justice in Winnipeg and I think (Judy) will do very well at that," May said. "(The election) is contentious."
Political expert Paul Thomas said the endorsement is not a huge deal or "turning point" in the race since it cements Wasylycia-Leis as the greener candidate.
"This will just reinforce their predisposition to think 'if we really want to put environmental issues at the top of the city agenda then we've got to go for Judy,' " said Thomas, a retired University of Manitoba political science professor.
Thomas said Katz has made progress on initiatives such as bike lanes, but does not have a reputation for taking a stance against urban sprawl the way former mayor Glen Murray did.
Wasylycia-Leis and Katz could not be reached for comment Sunday night. May spoke at the Winnipeg Green Lifestyle and Organic Living Show at the convention centre on Sunday about how the city could become more sustainable. She told a crowd of about 150 people Winnipeg uses more pesticides to kill mosquitos than any other city in North America, and that the federal government needs to develop a national transportation strategy to help cities such as Winnipeg build more efficient bus and light rail transit systems.
She said Winnipeg citizens who want a greener environment are going to "know which way to vote" and that people pick up on symbolic cues from local leaders. She called the rapid transit debate a "hot issue" and urged Winnipeggers to get involved and attend every candidates' meeting to find out how they plan to make the city a better place to live.
Late last year, Katz kiboshed millions in federal-provincial cash earmarked for the second phase of bus rapid transit to the University of Manitoba. Katz now wants to redirect $130 million earmarked for Phase 2 to roads, and is lobbying Ottawa and the province for millions of dollars in new money to transform the BRT system into a rail-based streetcar system.
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Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 13, 2010 A5

[Riverman]

Wow. The level of retardation this women displays is unprecedented.

What would this do to the young people who have gone to the trouble to go to school and graduate, enter an apprenticeship program only to not be able to find work? Give the jobs to criminal losers instead.

[Kinguni]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

Mayoral candidate Juidy Wasylycia-Leis has pledged to create 120 job-training positions over the next four years in an effort to encourage young people to leave criminal gangs.

Great idea but 120 positions over 4 years? 30 spots a year! That's nothing! 120 positions a year might help! Perhaps she is listening, but she's certainly out of touch.