I Saw Bozo the Clown Driving in Winnipeg

I had an interesting encounter yesterday afternoon while driving eastbound Grant Avenue. I'll call it pseudo-road rage.

I first noticed this character, whom I'll call Bozo since he was driving like a clown, when out of nowhere he came upon my rear bumper real sudden-like, and just as quickly changed lanes to my left, and tail-gated the car ahead of him in that lane.

It was only at that point did he slow, since there were several other cars ahead of us. But this didn't discourage Bozo. On no. Not for a moment. He continued to tail-gate until he noticed that my lane suddenly had room for him. So he abruptly changed back into the curb lane, and proceeded to tailgate me.

All the while splitting the lane just in case one lane opens up for him. Then, pause for effect, he found an opening, blew past everyone and flew down Grant until he arrived at the next red light. I passed him there, flipping him the subtle loser symbol, with a smirk on my face. The smirk was self-congratulatory of my driving with the flow of traffic, staying in my lane, arriving at the light and passing him.

Apparently Bozo was offended at the symbolic gesture. For as he caught me at yet another traffic light, he told me so. His argument was that he had a right to change lanes as often as he wanted. And who says he was tailgating. But what right do I have to flip him the "L" symbol? He was actually angry. I guess he didn't see the humor in it. Nor the irony. Unbelievable eh?

What a maroon.

Save us from Anita Neville

I don't imagine crime in Winnipeg is, on average, any worse than other major Canadian cities. Sure we have too many car thefts and too many murders. But, that is not the point.

There has been an incredible amount of attention to this issue in Winnipeg, and we've been saying loudly and clearly, we’ve had enough.

What we want, the average taxpayer, is our criminal justice system to dole out harsher penalties. One thing is certain: with the criminals behind bars, they cannot steal cars, rob gas bars or murder anyone. And maybe, stiffer sentences might act as deterrence.

Okay, okay. This post is not about the social infrastructure that some say provides the fertile feeding grounds for our criminals. I'll save that little nugget for another post.

This post is actually about our elected officials, Members of Parliament. It’s about accountability and partisan politics. It’s about the moronic, infantile political gamesmanship these people foist upon us.

The federal Conservatives based part of their election campaign partly upon law and order reform. They pledged to create a system that made penalties for crime more severe, and to create a system that viewed honest citizens and victims as the most important elements.

You see, we citizens and victims want our rights viewed as the primary consideration. Not as an afterthought.

In 2006 the feds attempted to pass this toughened bill through parliament. Trouble is the government is a minority government that requires opposition members to help pass the legislation. It became so watered down by federal liberals and the NDP it did not resemble the original legislation draft.

The federal Conservatives tried again recently.

Therein lies the rub. Manitoba's three Liberal MPs, Ray Simard (St. Boniface), Tina Keeper (Churchill) and Anita Neville (Winnipeg South Centre) voted against it. Again.

Neville said the bill was poor legislation because it stripped the judiciary of its sentencing powers and refused to support it. "It flew against the advice of many people in the justice system," said Neville, adding sentencing is often best left to judges after they've heard all the evidence in a case and not legislators.

"You have to leave the discretion to the judiciary."

She said her main concern with the bill was an escalating clause that would send criminals to prison for longer sentences with subsequent offences.

This Liberal MP continues to perplex and amaze me. That Neville is so out of touch with her constituency is staggeringly unbelievable.

You see, the entire point is to change the laws increasing jail sentences BECASE the justice system and the judges argue their hands are tied. Even if they want to hand out longer sentences they can not.

Now Neville says it’s up to the judiciary to determine what an appropriate sentence is.

What complete and utter horse@#$%. No, it is not. It is up to you and me. We need to tell our elected officials we DEMAND tougher penalties. We demand the justice system and the judiciary then respond accordingly by issuing sentences more apropos to the crime.

Neville has not considered what Winnipeggers and Manitobans want. She votes along party lines, even to the detriment of her constituents. When is enough enough?

Is this someone you want representing you? You can tell her to get her act together. Click here. Don’t expect a reply though. She has never responded to my letters. And I’m a constituent.

Saving Upper Fort Garry

Many years ago, almost 20, some very imaginative people had a vision that was both visionary and creative and contentious. They dreamed of a new meeting place at the Forks, at the historic junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers in Downtown Winnipeg.

Very few would have envisioned what it has become and what it means to Winnipeg today. The Forks is Winnipeg's number one tourist attraction as well as an extremely busy and popular meeting place for Winnipeggers and Manitobans alike.

This wonderful local continues to offer new and exciting elements. Last year North America's premier urban skateboarding park opened. In 2002 another contentious but ultima tely hugely successful, The Esplanade Riel Bridge opened, joining historic St. Boniface to the Forks. 8 years ago the beautiful Can West baseball park opened and proceeded to become the home of North America's most successful independent baseball team.

Expected in 2010 is the shining jewel of the Forks, The Canadian Museum of Human Rights. This incredible facility will become the most important museum of its kind, the worlds' foremost human rights museum.

None of this would have happened if not for the incredible foresight of a few visionaries in 1988. That is why it is so important to reconsider the decision to divide the historic Upper Fort Garry Gate into a dual residential, commercial/historic site project.

Rather than give in to the short-sighted monetary aspects consider the historic nature of the site and how easily and simply it could become part of The Forks renaissance. This is a natural extension to the Forks. We must not lose this opportunity.

Think you can make a difference? Contact your local city councilor, or Sam Katz, Mayor of Winnipeg.

The Differences Between Man and Woman

Blatantly stolen from Cliff Pickover, Reality Carnival

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike

Bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
Words and Lyrics by Freddie Mercury, Queen

'Tis bicycle season in Winnipeg. Let the battle begin!

It seems there is an us against them mentality on our roads and streets. Rather than share the road and respect each other we are quite exuberant in staking our claim and demanding our rights...

I have a bike, but mostly I'm a motorist.

Some Winnipeg cyclists:

• ignore most if not all traffic signals, they are for CARS not cyclists after all...
  
• drive on the sidewalks, and give you a dirty look if you don't like them riding on sidewalks...
• press the button at crosswalks and ride across...
• drive the wrong way against traffic, mostly because they can...
• don't signal turns and lane changes...
  
• ride two and three abreast...
  

I think its because we grew up riding our bikes on (relatively) safe residential side streets, mostly ignoring traffic, and stop signs. When young, most drivers - likely our neighbours, forgive those transgressions and we blissfully assume it will always be thus.

Then we graduated to busier streets. Not so safe. More traffic. More signals. And in our blissful ignorance we forget that the rules of the road apply to EVERYONE. And we get righteous if we're confronted and forced to comply.

I know the arguments. Motorists don't play nice. Cyclists are forced to the sidewalks. We feel silly using arm signals. I'm in a hurry and can't walk my bike across the cross walk. The rules don't really apply to us do they?

Cyclists, the rules do apply to you. All of them. You must:

• obey all traffic signals.
• ride on roadways only, you are not permitted to ride on sidewalks, period.
• ride single file.

And, if you are breaking the rules, don't get so indignant if someone reminds you that you are an @#$%&(?.

Winnipeg Police, Open for Business

Closed Open for Business
The Winnipeg Police are back-pedaling as fast as they can about the announced closure of two community police centres in north Winnipeg. It was a mistake they say.

I have no problem accepting the fact mistakes happen. People correct them and we move on.

But they say the mistake was not an executive decision to close the centres. Rather it was the announcement itself that was a mistake.

I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. But this does not pass the smell test... I guess some poor schmuck in the communication department wrote a fictional press release completely independent of the decision makers eh?

Yeah, right.

Don't Get Your Hopes Up Jets Fans...

It seems Canadian Jim Balsillie has purchased the Nashville Predators, a hockey hotbed if ever there was one... A few months after backing out of the Pittsburgh Penguins purchase, Balsillie plunked down about a quarter-billion dollars for the Predators. But, don't get your hopes up Jets fans.

The reason Winnipeg does not have an NHL team is nobody with about a gazillion dollars lives here or is even from here. Really deep pockets will be the first priority of any "Jets" team owner.

Balsillie is also a native son of the Southern Ontario area and is likely predisposed to move a team to that neck of the woods. That being Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge or Hamilton. They are part of an area in Southern Ontario named the Golden Horseshoe. With a population exceeding 8 million, there is no doubt they can support another team so close to Toronto and Buffalo.

Another reason Winnipeg does not have an NHL team: the Winnipeg Capital Region at best is slightly more than 700,000 souls. There are some who question whether that is enough of a population base. A legitimate question.

There is no doubt about the passion Winnipeggers and Manitobans hold for their beloved Jets. And frankly the NHL's test of US markets must be nearing exhaustion by now. Certainly the NHL in Atlanta, Florida, Phoenix, Columbus, Tampa Bay, Raleigh and others is not long for those markets. Even Bettman is not long for that league, given the pathetic TV revenues from US networks.

There is hope Jets fans. And when that day comes, I'll be first in line to plunk down whatever it takes to get my rightful seat by god.

An Open Letter to Hugh McFayden

So what you say? This letter was written and eMAILed on January 31, 2007. It has been edited.

Dear Hugh,

I returned to Winnipeg in March last year after many years living and working in Toronto. I have become very alarmed at the current NDP government’s inability to grasp what this province needs to grow and succeed. I am frightened that they will continue their ways should they win the next election.

I’d like to share with you my view on the state of Manitoba. A fiercely proud Winnipegger, Manitoban and Canadian, I believe strongly in this province and particularly in this city. I’ve watched sadly as we play second fiddle to almost every province in Canada. We must do more to grow this province. Here then are my thoughts.

Manitoba’s Priorities
In 2007 forward we as Manitobans must identify priorities and establish public policy. What priorities are most relevant today and tomorrow? What are the issues affecting most Manitobans?

There are so many significant and important issues that must be focused on. Let’s concentrate on the most urgent priorities. Such as crime. Education. Health. Infrastructure. Business/Jobs. The Winnipeg Capital Region.

Business/Jobs
Firstly, let business run business. But let’s provide a business friendly environment that will attract new business and keep existing business in Manitoba. Let’s create a strong and clear strategy that business and government can relate to and build from. And stick to it. Don’t waffle. This will lead to more attractive and better paying jobs. This will attract people to the province, while keeping our youngest and brightest minds here.

Crime
The crime rate in Manitoba, particularly Winnipeg, is frighteningly high. Let’s assume the federal government is impotent. What can the Provincial government do to make things better?

Health care
We must deplete the bloated bureaucracy. Put our resources in the front lines. Create a strategic scorecard that accurately measures performance and publish it monthly. Don’t play games with measurements and targets. Try a businesslike approach. Use cold hard facts and work them.

Education
See above. Again we have too much money going to administration and not enough to the teachers and the learning environment. Cut the plethora of school divisions. Remove the school boards ability to tax and place the funding onus on the Provincial governments’ back, where it belongs.

The Winnipeg Capital Region
Manitoba goes as Winnipeg goes. One might equate funding policy in Manitoba to Quebec. (Arbitrarily) Quebec gets far too much of the federal public purse than maybe it should. Meaning other, possibly more deserving, areas get less. In Manitoba, rural Manitoba equals Quebec. This is a tough balance but managed correctly, Winnipeg can feed the whole province through spin-off benefits.

Infrastructure
Our roads and bridges, hospitals and other public institutions and facilities … …are in an abysmal state. We must create a policy that forces us to proactively manage our infrastructure. Strike a five year plan to fix the infrastructure correctly. Dedicate the resources required to meet the plan.

PC Presence
We Manitobans simply cannot afford another 4 years of an NDP government. In my view the PC party and Hugh McFadyen have been very quiet, almost too quiet. It is time to raise your profile. While the NDP as a government and a party are taking their lumps, Doer seems to be elevating his profile. This must be countered. To win this election you’ll need a strong, high profile campaign. You need a strategy that starts building your platform and highlighting your people. You need a campaign that the electorate will embrace.

While one might be reluctant to show your cards too soon, there is some merit to identifying your priorities first and telling Manitobans.

Some bullets for consideration…

• Take a page out of Stephan Harpers’ election campaign. Keep your platform simple, with major commitments that will make significant impact immediately.
• Work with the media. You’ll need as much positive (and free) press and you can get.
• Don’t blur NDP and PC policies and platforms…
• Let’s not accept second best. Strive for the best and don’t settle.
• Fund priorities appropriately. Don’t dilute your efforts by trying to please everyone. It would be best to fund one program correctly than two programs ineffectively.
• Don’t play electioneering games. Leave personal attacks to the NDP and Liberals. Take the high road, and tell the electorate that you will target priorities and policies only.

At least the moving companies will prosper...

Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark.

Not only did the NDP get re-elected, they kicked the bejesus outta the PCs. This means four more years of vanilla steady as she goes leadership, and teeny tiny incremental steps.

That breeze you are feeling is the rest of Canada speeding past Manitoba while the Manitoba government stands around twiddling their thumbs. Nero fiddles while Rome burns.

Thank God, Manitoba Hydro is safe.

What will be Gary Doer's legacy? A new hydro generating station? Perhaps a fatter, slower RHA administration? Maybe Crocus Part II? Presto, 30,000 more of Manitoba's best and brightest gone. Don't forget to write.

Doer will retire, before the next election is called. Who succeeds him?

Now is the time to plan for 2011. Hugh?

With the election only a day away...

Who's afraid of the status quo?

I don't believe that most Manitobans are satisfied with the status quo. Most Manitobans are, I believe: a) afraid of change (change is evil?) and 2) apathetic.

For fun, let's follow along the all-is-well-theme driven by the incumbent government provincial government.

Ask yourself: Who is truly satisfied with the RATE of improvement on the infrastructure in this province? Please keep in mind that the incumbent government has had 8 years to get it done and only pledged a $500+ million promise a scant few weeks prior to the election call.

Ask yourself: Who is satisfied with the current state of our health system? Remember that the incumbent government has had double the federal transfers since 1999 (fyi that means billions of dollars, yes, plural). They have had 8 years to fix this as well. The bureaucracy is nicely bloated though.

Ask yourself: Who is satisfied with real job creation in this province? The incumbent government has had 8 years to remove job and business killing taxes. Please do not confuse all the government jobs created (ie WRHA) nor the government sponsored construction jobs (ie Floodway). Our economy is fully half reliant upon the government.

What do you suppose will happen to all those jobs when the economy takes a breather?

Ask yourself: Who is satisfied with the current justice system in Manitoba? Only after 8 years has the incumbent government has promised more police and crown attorney's.

Four key elements: infrastructure, health, business and job creation, and justice. Why, after 8 years do we continue to talk so much about these issues?

A Terrible Waste Of Life

3 innocent people have died in Manitoba since 2000 due to thieves driving stolen vehicles. The most recent happened yesterday morning when a car was t-boned in a Winnipeg intersection by a couple of punks in a stolen van. A 39 year old woman died senselessly.

Much has been said by every politician at every level about lawlessness in this city. Little has come of it.

Putting more police on the streets will help. Since our Federal and Provincial masters can't seem to get their collective act together, the extra police officers can keep arresting the low-life scum. And rearrest them after they are released, and rearrest them again and again.

Demand Manitoba Justice prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. No more deals. No more conditional sentences. No more double time credit for time served. No more free passes when parole is violated.

Put the fear of God into the criminals. Build more jails. Minimize parole. Make it abundantly clear: if you do the crime you will do the time.

The Federal government introduced a get tough law and order platform last year. It was gutted by the opposition parties including Winnipeg's Anita Neville. Tell her what you think.

The Provincial opposition party promised several strong measures to fight crime during the current provincial election. The best the NDP could do was sneer and protest "it was not their fault". Tell Gary Doer what you think. You can also send a message with your vote.

Bleeding hearts will bray that rehabilitating our criminals should be our priority. I say that social experiment is an abysmal failure. You see, it is politically expedient to point fingers at someone else. No one has the courage to do the right thing. Put these punks behind bars and throw away the keys.

My God. When will we wake up? When will we begin thinking with reason and logic and leave politic-speak behind. Every Canadian politician is to blame for this senseless death.

No All Party Debate?

I was beginning to get a little bored with the 2007 Provincial election. I'm at the point where no one party has distinguished themselves. They all promise the moon and generally look alike. I had assumed one party would begin to stand out as e-day neared. Not so, so far.

I was looking forward to the all-party debates. Until one party pulled the rug out from under the voter's collective feet. It seems Gary Doer and the NDP are afraid of something. It's probably a good strategic move on their part. It is also cowardly and more than a little arrogant.

Doer has dodged the difficult questions for the entire election. I wanted to see how Doer responded to intelligent debate. Where he did not have the luxury of declining to comment or responding with a flippant remark.

Doer took that away from me, us.

Why this troubles me mostly is the apathy of my fellow Manitobans. With blinkers on, they seem satisfied with the status quo. A have-not province, with an economy too dependent upon big brother. With half our economy driven by government and government related make work projects.

We must move away from a socialist model if we want Winnipeg and Manitoba to really grow and prosper. When we are denied an opportunity to see the real issues debated, where we can challenge the status quo, we abandon the opportunity to see the tigers' real stripes.

Bring on the debates.

The Blurring of Manitoba Politics

We've heard so many promises from all three major Manitoba political parties. Each promises one variation of the same issues. Most disconcerting is, on the surface, one can hardly tell where the PC platform ends and the NDP platform begins.

Our beloved politicos have finally succeeded at blurring their policies into one analogous lump.

This is why a clear and concise vision would be useful. Indeed it should be demanded. It would show voters the underlying philosophies and policies of each party, not just the hot spots du jour.

Not one party has clearly defined their vision. I would like to see a clearly articulated PLAN that would help the average tax-payer understand where the plan starts and ends.

I'd like to see a PLAN that plainly states how the myriad promises will actually be accomplished.

Enough rhetoric. Show me the plan...

Dare to Dream

Now that we are right in the thick the Manitoba provincial election the promises are coming hard and fast. The latest election promise has governments bringing NHL hockey back to a hockey-mad city. Both the NDP and the PCs have said they support returning NHL to Winnipeg.

Most voters know that an NHL team in Winnipeg is a long shot at best. Yet they dream of the day. I support those big dreamers. And why not? Yes there certainly are other, more worthy uses of our hard earned tax dollars. And God knows our elected representatives fritter away tax dollars like it's Canadian Tire money.

There are so many that yearn for Winnipeg and Manitoba to be more than it is. Some actually put their money where their mouths are. I applaud and support them. Manitobans will not vote for a party solely on the basis of this pipe dream. But why keep yanking the rug out from under the dreamers?

I say let them dream. And let others think big. THAT is how great things happen. That is how dreams such as the Human Rights Museum happen. Or a new arena or football stadium or rapid transit.

No, Manitobans are not stupid. But we have been held back by naysayers for far too long.

It is time we started thinking that the glass is half FULL. Dare to dream indeed...

Is Rapid Transit Viable in Winnipeg?

Last week I had a spirited debate with a couple other posters on a CBC Winnipeg blog. It had been implied I was not in favour of rapid transit. One even suggested I was happy living in a sleepy backwater. This is an edited version of my reply post.

I have never suggested we don’t need rapid transit. In fact, I said I’d love it and I would like to see a plan to built it. I merely posed a question asking if we NEED rapid transit TODAY. Some think we do. I simply don’t know, I’m just not sure.

I suggested that perhaps we don’t have the traffic density of larger cities and regions for comparison purposes. Many in Winnipeg suggest that if other cities can do it we can do it. I personally believe comparing Winnipeg to European or even North Dakota centres is a fruitless exercise. Saying so should not imply I believe Winnipeg is a sleepy back-water. Quite the contrary.

The real issue with traffic movement in Winnipeg is that Winnipeg planners must believe the solution to all traffic problems is to put up yet another set of traffic lights. Kenaston near the power centres is a perfect example of poor planning and short-sighted thinking. FYI, ALL the monies collected via gasoline taxes should be given to the municipalities to fix their roads and bridges.

Winnipeg IS a small city, comparatively speaking, though I do wish we’d think more progressively. I’ve railed for years about the lack of forethought by city planners and their seeming avoidance of a system of freeways and express routes here. I think I read last year that the city abandoned any plans for such a network. That can’t be good!

More on traffic planning in another post.

The US cities of Grand Forks and Fargo, North Dakota do a great job on their infrastructure. My understanding is the US Federal Government and the States provide substantially greater infrastructure capital to municipalities then do the Federal and Provincial Governments in Canada. Couple thoughts for your consideration: 1) public transit is significantly subsidized by Uncle Sam (the Feds). Not so in Canada. And b) regarding domed stadia in those centres, they were paid by the taxpayer but they raised the capital via a specific tax levy voted on by a specific plebiscite. Something our politicos seem reluctant to do.

Now on the subject of urban density, North Dakota has a total mass of 186,272 square kilometres and has a population roughly half that of Manitoba, representing a density of 3.592/km². Manitoba has more than 3.5 times the mass and a density of almost one half. (1)

1) Figures gleaned from Wikipedia.

Post One

Welcome to winnipeg dash blog.

This is post one of my new blog, winnipeg dash blog. It is my hope to foster spirited debate, pro and con, about Winnipeg. This should neither be a love fest nor a public bashing. If I have something to say about traffic, or politics, or any other Winnipeg related topic, good or bad, I'd appreciate your feedback.

I ask everyone to respect that we all have an opinion. You many not AGREE with me, nor I you, that does not necessarily mean we're wrong. We simply disagree, debate further, or not. No need for snide comments, personal attacks, or mean-spiritedness...

I hope that I'll be able to post interesting commentary on a somewhat regular basis. No subject is taboo. It'll be whatever strikes a chord with me at that moment. I may ramble, but I'll try to stay on point.

Enjoy.