“They use the front door too much…”

Caught a report on Global last night about a Manitoba Housing Authority seniors’ residence on Osborne Street. Apparently the common areas of the building have been without sufficient heat for over two months, forcing residents to stay in their cramped rooms rather than socializing and participating in activities.
Building management blamed the problem on residents, saying [...]

Discrimination triumphs in St. Vital

So the fear-mongering, discriminatory NIMBYs of St. Vital have won in their efforts to prevent a much-needed youth addiction treatment facility from being built on the grounds of St. Amant Centre.
I might be in the minority, but I was completely disgusted by the reaction of local residents to this proposal. Particularly offensive was the suggestion [...]

Manitoba Hydro: conserve instead of build?

Manitoba Hydro says the new deal to sell power to Minnesota will trigger construction of the massive Conawapa dam. That will cost $5 billion+.
The new Wuskwatim dam — if they can ever find someone to build it — is going to cost $1.5 billion.
What would the cost-benefit ratio be for an aggressive electricity conservation [...]

Controlling education taxes through bribery

Do we really have to resort to bribing school divisions to not raise taxes?
For those who missed it, the province announced increased funding for schools today. I suppose that’s good, but the funding includes a pot of $16 million that divisions can only tap into if they don’t raise property taxes. From the Freep:
“It’s [...]

Manitoba Hydro rates: McFadyen gets it

Credit to Tory Leader Hugh McFadyen, who said on CJOB this morning his party is open to the idea of moving to market rates for hydro power in Manitoba, provided the increases were matched by reductions to personal and corporate taxes.
McFadyen drew the comparison to Alberta, where oil and gas is sold at market rates [...]

Short snappers

– Vicki Burns steps down as Exec Director of the Winnipeg Humane Society. Does this mean the WHS might return to its core mission of caring for cats and dogs, and leave the circus animals and bear hunt alone? I think their fundraising efforts would benefit.
– The condo building at the Dubrovnik site on Assiniboine [...]

Manitoba Hydro: raise the rates

I might be spoiling for a fight here with R.U. Sirius, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to comment on news this afternoon regarding Manitoba Hydro’s proposed rate increase for heavy industrial users.
I support the increase 100%. Why? Because providing cheap hydro power has been a complete failure as both an economic and environmental [...]

Is city plan to sell naming rights a bit too ambitious?

If New York City estimates it can only earn about $3 million from selling naming rights to civic facilities like zoos and recreation sites, how the heck does the City of Winnipeg figure it’s going to raise $2 million doing the same thing?
I’m OK with sponsorship deals for a handful of major attractions, but I [...]

Inflation rate for heritage park is 42 times national average

Exactly five years ago, Heritage Winnipeg released its Upper Fort Garry Feasibility Study, which proposed the creation of a $2.6 million park at the old fort site.
Today, the Friends of Upper Fort Garry propose building a nearly identical park for $12.5 million.
A 380% price increase in just five years. Is this park being built out [...]

Kennerd stuck on the sidelines of stadium debate

Where the hell has Trevor Kennerd been during this whole stadium debate?
If you recall, Kennerd had David Asper by his side last April when he announced his candidacy for the Conservatives in Winnipeg South Centre.
But as Asper engaged in a minor pissing contest with Vic Toews through much of 2007, Kennerd was MIA. And even [...]