Dan Vandal has been the self-appointed champion for Upper Fort Garry at City Hall over the past several weeks. On the eve of Wednesday’s vote on his motion to delay the sale of the parking lot that sits near the former Fort site, Vandal told the Free Press:
I defy anyone to tell Winnipeggers that this is an appropriate way to treat the birthplace of Manitoba. If my motion is defeated and the condominium tower is constructed 27 inches from the (former) west wall of the fort — there is a serious lack of leadership in this city.
27 inches away from a completely imaginary wall is pretty close.
Anyway Dan, I have to ask: if you’re so passionate about Upper Fort Garry, why did it take you so long to say something?
UFG has been a hot topic around City Hall since last May, but a look at the Free Press archives shows the terms “Vandal” and “Upper Fort Garry” don’t show up together until Feb. 20/08 – the same morning Dan introduced his lawsuit-bait motion.
Hmm, maybe the Freep just didn’t use his quotes. How about City Council minutes and Hansard? Well they show that Dan only spoke up once about the issue prior to late-February. And what hard-hitting question did he ask of the Mayor on Sept. 26/07?
It was reported in the media several weeks ago that you were working on a plan to resurrect the project at Upper Fort Garry, the Upper Fort Garry, 100 Main Street. I’m wondering was that correct?
Wow, way to put him on the hot seat. Perry Mason, watch your back.
Okay then, let’s back this up a little further. Surely, you’re thinking, someone as concerned about Upper Fort Garry as Mr. Vandal would have said something about it during his lengthy first term on City Council from 1995 to 2004, right?
Sorry, but no. Do not pass go, and do not collect $12.5 million. In fact, during that entire time period, Upper Fort Garry only shows up once in the Council record: for a whopping $20,000 heritage grant in 2003.
So while Vandal may talk a good game at Council today about the historical significance of Upper Fort Garry, it’s his own political history that could use some restoration work.
UPDATE:
Someone dropped me a note to point out that Vandal, like all city councillors, has hundreds of thousands in community incentive grants, land dedication reserve grants and per-capita grants available to him to support worthy community projects. To date he has pledged a grand total of $0 to Upper Fort Garry.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: City of Winnipeg, dan vandal, friends of upper fort garry, upper fort garry
He also said/did nothing when that butt ugly condo in St. B. (his ward) was built just a few “inches” either side of some of our most historically important sites.
Vandal’s sudden enthusiasm is indeed puzzling. Like I wrote in the comments on Graham’s blog, maybe the ghost of Riel paid him a visit in the middle of the night.
Who votes for these train wrecks?