@Winnipeg City Council Meeting - They're Only Human

Winnipeg City Hall

Last week we got the chance to go to the first city council meeting of 2011 in Winnipeg. This is the story I wrote for our journalism class, but it's definitely not the most interesting thing about the meeting!

Most of you have probably never been to an official city council meeting at city hall before, me neither. It was surprising to see some of the councillors texting during the meeting, others passing notes, and even some side meetings going on - were they even listening to each other?

It was a lot different than I thought it would be. I was expecting a formal, professional meeting where everyone paid attention the whole time.

The life lesson: they're only human.

Despite this, they did get some stuff done!


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Outside a city council meeting Tuesday morning, a few homeless people mingle at a bus shelter. Inside, the decision was unanimous to add 58 new police officers in Winnipeg.

Although it was a unanimous vote in the end, some councillors brought up possible issues. Mynarski Councillor Ross Eadie says police cruisers are not as important as focusing on literacy and education.

Fort Rouge - East Fort Garry Councillor Jenny Gerbasi says we should look at crime rates and not just the number of police on the streets. Gerbasi also says the big question is the budget and wonders how much it will cost to fund the additional police each year with their increasing salary.

Mayor Katz says the new officers will cost $1.1 million for 2011 and $5.4 million for 2012.

File Photo

It takes 18 officers to put 1 more cruiser on the street each week.

It’s worth it to Katz to add the new police, “When you see an officer, you feel safe.”

That’s exactly the problem for some of the people who wish they were around more often.

Keith Shane, 52, a local homeless man who was smoking outside the Salvation Army just off Main Street says, “It’s about time. They could add about 158.”

Shane says the police response time is too slow, “I’ve waited about an hour before they’ve shown up.”

Mike Duerksen, Communications Coordinator for Siloam Mission, says, “It doesn’t matter how many more police they add. They need relationships in the community.”

Back at the Salvation Army, Shane agrees saying, “The police won’t help homeless people.” Although, the police pay attention to him sometimes, as one night he had to sleep in a bus shelter. A couple police cruisers honked at him, and told him to wake up, without even bothering to leave their cars.

Duerksen says there is a mistrust both ways between the homeless and the police usually because of their past experiences with each other.

Shane says, “It’s a start. There’s not enough presence though. They should patrol here more.” The here he’s talking about is outside the Salvation Army, half a block south of the Higgins and Main intersection.

Sam Katz VS Judy Wasylycia-Leis

Sam Katz against Judy Wasylycia-Leis. Today was the Mayoral Forum at Red River College – Princess Campus.

And it blew me away. The forum was very interesting, and if I can say, politics are hot, hot, hot.

Both candidates said surprising things to each other in between questions, like “My dear Sam Katz,” and “Thanks, Mom.” You can figure out who said what.

The forum was run by Richard Cloutier and broadcast live on CJOB. Cloutier moderated and took questions from the audience. It was great PR for the candidates to address the public in an open forum, especially at a college with mostly younger people.

If there is one thing that politicians are good at, it’s taking a question and bringing it back to the point they want to say.

Current Mayor Katz said he wants to attribute more provincial tax to the city. That’s a good idea, but Katz isn’t in charge of provincial politics. Katz mostly restated the programs and action he has already done for the city (pro baseball, basketball, police helicopter).

Judy Wasylycia-Leis spent most of her time complaining about the lack of action from Katz in the past 6 years, in her opinion. Judy was pushing her platform of investing more in community centres, what she thought was the root of crime. Most questions answered by Wasylycia-Leis were brought back to this point.

Katz promised:

-58 new police officers, 20 on gang unit

-Ex-gang members to help current gang members

-Potentially more provincial tax to city

Wasylycia-Leis promised:

-Community Centres with longer hours

-Give gang members city job

-Raise property tax 2% per year for 4 years

Near the end of the forum, Katz and Wasylycia-Leis got to ask each other a question. Katz was asked how he would continue to handle the sewage plan. He said he wants to save money for Winnipeggers and reveal the entire plan when finished.

Wasylycia-Leis was asked how she justifies her budget. She said all her receipts were in a box in her garage.

Both candidates unfortunately didn’t have much to say when asked about addressing poverty in Winnipeg.

Mayor Katz came off relaxed and experienced with the pressure and the facts of being mayor. This came with a few remarks to his opponent Wasylycia-Leis. After Wasylycia-Leis’s rebuttal to Katz’s tax comments, Katz jokingly added, “I feel like my mother is scolding me.” (Ouch)

Politics are kind of fun to talk about when you don’t have to be objective.

It might have just been bad luck, but Wasylycia-Leis got cut off by commercial breaks a few times in the forum and Katz did not.

“Wasylycia-Leis seems more concerned with the bad things Katz is doing rather than the good things she will do,” and I quote myself. It might be lame to do, but that's what I put in my notebook. It was just the feeling she gave with her answers.

Katz gave good PR when he was asked what would elevate the city. He said his top 3 were a light-rail transit, apartments downtown, and a NHL franchise would be fine (the crowd loved the last one).

To the same elevate the city question, Wasylycia-Leis only asked Katz, “Why haven’t we seen it?” She brought up good points that crime is getting worse and downtown is still not where they want it.

The forum was overall hot – very hot. At points the cameras were flashing, and the candidates had their chance to use the well-publicized event - you decide whether it was for good or bad PR.

In my humble opinion, Katz better persuaded my vote (as shown in pic).