Friday, February 27

From The Papers...

Shocker!  The Canadian Museum of Human Rights discovers a $5 million annual cost that wasn't originally anticipated.  While I can't imagine anyone is too surprised by the development (frankly, I don't know how we can truly trust any of the numbers being thrown about considering the moving targets they have been), how does ones annual operating expence get missed by over 20% when doing due diligence?
 
I'm seriously skeptical about this project, but do hope it works out.  I just know that for a quarter of the cost, we'd have a pretty bitching cold climate zoo with polar bears, penguins and plans to expand with beluga whales in the 2020s.  I would think that project would attract as many folks to Winnipeg as the museum likely will AND do wonders for our provincial branding, which I'm just not convinced yet will come about from the museum.
 
* * * * * * * * * *
 
The was real disgust amongst my (mostly) non-political coworkers this morning in regards to MPI buying CitiPlace.  We'll see how long that lasted.  As the "Dollars For Universities" episode from 2001 showed, Gary Doer will absolutely get involved with MPI decision-making if it begins to affect their polling numbers.  I haven't heard anyone outside of MPI themselves suggest that this purchase is a good thing.

Hey, with the Hydro tower nearing completion and the airport online next year, maybe the Premier figures that Manitoba could use another multi-million dollar project and discover that the building requires a major retrofit or something of the sorts?
 
* * * * * * * * * *
 
Paul Rutherford in the Sun acknowledges that school spending is "irresponsible", but doesn't like Colin's position that the province should be funding 100%, suggesting that the province will inevitably cut funding resulting with "children suffering". 

But what's the point of the separate tax authorities if the province is going to order school divisions what to do anyhow?

"EDUCATION Minister Peter Bjornson might order rebellious school boards to freeze their education property taxes.

Bjornson said repeatedly Thursday that all options are on the table if some trustees insist on raising taxes and rejecting the provincial tax incentive grant by the March 15 budget deadline.

"The message has been loud and clear," Bjornson said. "Everything's on the table -- that's something (ordering a freeze) we'll have to think about."

Plus, as a comment in the Rutherford column says, most people do not know their trustees or follow school division politics.  But they know their MLAs.  I would think that the province would be loath to underfund education the way Rutherford suggests because they are a hell of a lot more accountable to the public than the school trustees are.  Leaving the same status quo groups of trustees in place isn't going to change the mentality which has been shown to be, "When the decision is required on holding the line or tax more, small tax increases are the easier choices to make."

Not the least to mention that some of the provinces Rutherford cites as "horror" stories (BC, Alberta, Ontario) have school division practices repeatedly lauded by experts in the field, ones that should be applied in Manitoba.  Be curious to see if Rutherford's school division cuts are the same cuts that took place in the 90s when EVERY government department was getting cut. 

Betcha it is.

* * * * * * * * * *
Considering the horror stories of "lost children" we see in the news and the scuttlebutt you hear from friends that work within the child welfare system, I hope you'll forgive me if I don't exactly get all celebratory and back-patting on the fifth-year anniversary of Child & Family Services devolution.


Posted by The Hack at Friday, February 27, 2009 | | Comments

Thursday, February 26

I'd Like To Hear The Answer From A Few Folks In Manitoba

David Mader comments in a Wells' post:

I'd still love to know what anyone - anyone at all - thinks the Goldilocks option is for a Canadian conservative party. When the Tories were ideologically conservative, they were lampooned and lambasted for being ideological. Now that they've abandoned ideology in favor of power-pragmatism, they're lampooned and lambasted for being power-driven/pragmatic. Is there an approach that wouldn't subject them to scorn?

It's an honest question. I freely admit that I'm among those who would rather see the Conservatives act consistently conservative, though perhaps not dogmatically so, since they're subject to scorn either way. But given that they're scorned either way, is there really much force to criticisms that their current positions are incoherent? What position could they take that wouldn't be criticized as (a) incoherent or (b) ideological? It's almost enough to make one think that the critics are simply fixated on the party label…

(Incidentally, this criticism isn't directed at Paul, who never (that I can recall) criticized the Tories for being ideologically consistent (insofar as they ever were), though he did criticize the policy consequences of some of that ideological consistency. I'd be interested in his answer, though, to the Goldilocks question.)


Good discussion follows.

Posted by The Hack at Thursday, February 26, 2009 | | Comments

Rocky Mountain News To Suspend Publishing Tomorrow

One hundred years from now, this decade will be considered the last hurrah of the daily newspaper.  I don't believe it to be a good thing, but it is what it is and we're all going to learn how to deal with it very soon.
 

Posted by The Hack at Thursday, February 26, 2009 | | Comments

~Ah we're drinking and we're dancing and the band is really happening...~ - "Closing Time" by Leonard Cohen

Tickets purchased.  I'm pretty jacked. 

Posted by The Hack at Thursday, February 26, 2009 | | Comments

Wednesday, February 25

Gordon Bell And Failing Geometry Grades

Winnipeg One School Division trustees appear to be nice people.  I'm sure they all have the right motives.

But can someone explain to me how they cannot seem to figure out basic geometry?

As has been proven time and time again, a proper field does not fit on the old Midway Chrysler lands.  Everyone watch how they'll move forward with the project for political reasons, spending the money and mostly wasting the resources, only to find out - SHOCK!  GASP!  AMAZEMENT! - that the field will be deemed "too confined" for most of the sporting activities the school wants to conduct.

Won't stop it from happening...It's practically a Winnipeg motto:
 
Good intentions are better than good policy any day.

Change the people.  Change the mentality.   Start with the by-election.  Expand that next year in the general.

Posted by The Hack at Wednesday, February 25, 2009 | | Comments

Tuesday, February 24

Bad Ideasville

Say NO! to special city councillors.   Nothing good will be able to come from it.

Posted by The Hack at Tuesday, February 24, 2009 | | Comments

So Many Things Wrong With This Story...

 
- A high-risk Winnipeg criminal who was released from prison last week -- only to be rearrested hours after a public alert was issued...
 
- "I absolutely believe someday I'm capable of killing a number of people," Ross told a prison psychologist...The parole board says Ross, 43, has repeatedly mocked his many victims -- including a man whose neck was slashed and then laundry detergent was poured in the wound; a man whose eye was taken out with a slingshot; and a man beaten so violently he later died from his injuries...
 
- "In reviewing your criminal history and violent offences, (Ross) laughed, describing same with what can only be described as maniacal glee, seeming to find them inordinately humorous."...
 
- ...planned to live at the Salvation Army and collect welfare...
 
- He admitted he was recently visited by police officers from British Columbia pertaining to an ongoing investigation. He didn't provide any further details, but a justice source told the Free Press the investigators wanted to speak with Ross as they probe the deaths and disappearance of several women in B.C. and Alberta...
 
- He has refused any kind of treatment while in prison...
 
- His convictions date back to 1987, when he sexually assaulted a 22-year-old Winnipeg man after binding his hands behind his back with electrical tape. Ross also slashed the man's neck several times with a knife and then poured detergent into the wounds. He was later convicted of aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to five years in prison...
 
- "I should have killed him," Ross told a psychologist in a 2005 interview, according to the parole board. Ross said he cut the man "so he'll never forget what he (Ross) did."...
 
- Ross caused serious injury again in 1993 when he began firing BB pellets, using a slingshot, from the top of a Winnipeg hotel at random victims below. He struck one man in eye, causing permanent damage and blindness...
 
- Ross brutally attacked a woman in 2002 and threatened to kill her if she went to police and attacked a man in 2003 who was unknown to him. Ross and a co-accused broke into the man's home and beat him with fists and feet, causing serious injures. The victim later died, although the aggravated assault charge was never upgraded...
 
- Ross told prison officials "I know what is right and wrong. What I can't control is my impulsive behaviour. When I get an idea in my mind, I run with it and have no hindsight or foresight until it is too late."...
 
 
 
 
BUILD MORE JAILS AND PRISONS! 
 
THERE'S YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM!

Posted by The Hack at Tuesday, February 24, 2009 | | Comments

And Another...

[From the mailbox - The Hack]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Browaty, Jeff;
Date: Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Subject: Press Release: Freeze All Taxes on Property
To: "Browaty, Jeff" ;


MEDIA RELEASE

Office of Jeff Browaty

City Councillor – North Kildonan Ward



FREEZE ALL TAXES ON PROPERTY

Send Tax Incentive Grant Money to City Hall to Freeze Property Taxes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 2009

North Kildonan Councillor Jeff Browaty is frustrated that the City of Winnipeg's tireless efforts to maintain a property tax freeze for the 12th straight year is being lost due to increases in school taxes on property.

"The City of Winnipeg has been holding the line on property taxes for 12 years," Browaty said. "By contrast, almost all of the school divisions within the City of Winnipeg are proposing significant increases."

The Province of Manitoba has offered school divisions a substantial Tax Incentive Grant to not raise taxes on property this year.

"While the Manitoba economy hasn't experienced the challenges faced by eastern Canada or the United States, many working families have seen their retirement savings decline due to market conditions," Browaty explained. "Belt-tightening is happening at the kitchen table and it's happening at City Hall. School Boards should be no different."

In the past 12 years Winnipeg property taxes have gone down an average of 6% while a property in Winnipeg School Division saw school taxes increase by approximately 38%.

"The province of Manitoba has offered an additional $53 million to school divisions to hold the line on property taxes," Browaty said. "If the school divisions won't hold the line on property taxes, perhaps the province should send it to the City that will."

- 30 -

For further information please contact Councillor Jeff Browaty at 803-4116.

Posted by The Hack at Tuesday, February 24, 2009 | | Comments

(Potentially Dangerous) Open Question:

Everyone in the Rest of Canada (RoC) has agreed to tip toe around Quebec for the most part.  A few special circumstances here.  Another one-way street of benefits there.  No fair-minded observer can consider Quebec anything but "a partner in confederation in name only" considering the attitudes of far too many Quebeckers who don't view the RoC as "their" country.

So I ask, as I did in the fall, eliciting a handful of "Hell yeah!"s and at least a couple "Why are you so angry?"s, why is the serenity of some of Quebec's so-called champions considered more important than the serenity of those of us outside the province who just wish it was an equal partner to the rest of us, willing to participate in the country at large?

Anyone, I ask this as a segue to a Post editorial that sums up my feelings pretty well.  Wouldn't say I agree absolutely, but there's a lot of things here that I would like to see happen.
 
[link] 

Enough of the decades of appeasement; it's time for Ottawa to adopt a tough-love attitude toward Quebec. And who better to do that then Mr. Harper and his Tories? They've got nothing to lose.

Since October's national campaign, Conservative support in Quebec has nearly halved. Where eights months ago the Tories rivalled the Bloc Quebecois for first place in popular support, now they stand at third or even fourth in most polls. Last week, a CROP poll found the Tories with 16% support -- equal to that of the NDP -- and Mr. Harper's personal popularity below 20%.

That means the Prime Minister and Cabinet can do the right thing without risking their popularity: They have none.

They can start by reinstating the Plains of Abraham re-enactment and, if need be, providing federal security for the event. They also can end the unofficial federal policy that as near to half as possible of all federal defence spending must go to manufacturers in Quebec.

While they're at it, they should tell the truth about equalization. Quebec annually receives the most money -- nearly 50% of total equalization, despite the fact that for decades now, Quebec's per capita provincial GDP has been just 3% to 8% below the national average. There is no "fiscal imbalance," at least not between Ottawa and Quebec. Most federal leaders know the stats, they have merely been too frightened about the prospect of Quebec leaving to give it voice.

Let's also take away the Quebec chair at the Francophonie. Defend vigorously in court any challenges filed that seek to uphold the minority-language rights of English-speaking residents in Quebec. And stop jumping out of your skin every time Quebec says boo-hoo.

Such an approach won't make any friends in Quebec. But at least everyone in the rest of the country won't keep feeling like suckers.

Posted by The Hack at Tuesday, February 24, 2009 | | Comments

Colin Fast, School Trustee Candidate: Take Away My Power To Tax

Colin says that school trustees shouldn't be able to raise taxes.  After sitting through last night's "public" budget session last night, I can't agree more.  Besides the maddening lack of detail and heavy on spin, there's no sense whatsoever that the current group wishes to make difficult choices of where to ease spending, even as enrolment declines.

Provincial-direct funding makes far too much sense.  School Trustees always reject this idea because it strips them of some of their power.

I think it is worth a $25.11donation to Colin to get at least one trustee on the board who feels otherwise.  Please go to his website and kick in a few bucks.  We need to change the people involved with the board and this is a good place to begin.

Posted by The Hack at Tuesday, February 24, 2009 | | Comments

Monday, February 23

Substitute "Manitoba" For "Quebec" And The EXACT Same Argument Works

Robert Silver:

Of course, if Quebec wants to be the "Alberta of Electricity", it doesn't need the Obama administration to do a thing.
 
Alberta doesn't sell gasoline to residents at a subsidized 20 cents per litre. Albertans pay market rates (gasoline price-fixing conspiracy theorists aside) just like everyone else in North America. The producers make a profit based on those market rates.
 

Posted by The Hack at Monday, February 23, 2009 | | Comments

Doesn't That Just Say It All?

I believe Paul Tuns knows why this stat says it all:
From Statistics Canada: "Public sector employment reached 3.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2008, up by 96,000 or 2.9% over the same period in 2007."

Posted by The Hack at Monday, February 23, 2009 | | Comments

Thought Provoking

Angelo Persichilli scores a victory to the melting pot, which actually elects minorities to lead them.

Versus the multicultural mosaic, which tends to only appoint them to "window dressing" positions with no real power.

We use the institution of governor general to promote illusions. In fact, the only time Canadian media are interested in this institution is when they look at the expense reports and the travel schedule of the governor general. The conclusion is almost always the same: it is a waste of money.

On the other hand, the position that an African American citizen has been able to win, the U.S. presidency, is real. It comes from the desire of Americans to look toward the future while not wasting time debating history and ignoring events some refuse to accept.

We still don't know whether we should celebrate or mourn events such as the battle on the Plains of Abraham and some try to rewrite history. That is futile, just like trying to change the score of a game by editing the tape.

Still, it drains our economic, cultural and social resources at the expense of our future well-being.

We are obsessed with celebrating and widening our cultural differences, but we don't know how to handle them.

Looking at pictures of the meeting between Obama and Jean, I couldn't help but think about our multicultural policies and their supposedly miraculous power to keep people and cultures together in harmony.

It is such a powerful policy that we brag about exporting it around the world, even while we're still unable to find a lasting compromise between the two Canadian founding cultures. Since my arrival in Canada, I've been bombarded with praise for multiculturalism and demonization of the American melting pot.

Some time ago, a friend gave me a book whose author was talking about racial mixing in Hawaii.

"The legend was made of Hawaii," the author writes, "as the one true melting pot, an experiment in racial harmony."

The title of the book was Dreams From My Father and the author was a young African American lawyer who in January became the U.S. president.

So, while we preach about integration and multiculturalism, Canadians this week were looking at a hero who was the product of the melting pot. Why?

Well, it is said that multiculturalism promotes cultural integration, while "melting" means assimilation.

I am more and more convinced that this difference is just academic – culture is something that cannot be legislated, as it often is in Canada.

Posted by The Hack at Monday, February 23, 2009 | | Comments

Bettman's Giddy

Ever since they arrived post-lockout, I've told friends that I have felt fortunate that we were just in the early stages of what had the potential to be a fifteen-year long rivalry between Sidney Crosby and Alexandre Ovechkin.  Considering that Ovechkin took the Calder (That is the Rookie of the Year award, Mom), Crosby the first Hart of the pair (season MVP), only to watch Ovechkin earn his first Hart the year after.  Now Crosby has taken his team to the Stanley Cup Finals before Ovechkin has, however Alexandre the Great got the Capitals into playoffs last year with a much lesser cast of supporting players.  If given the choice of only one player, most "smart" hockey people say they choose Crosby to build their team around considering his all-around talents.  Others see the infectious job that is the Ovechkin game and think he's the guy other players want to follow into the breach.

It really is setting up to be an all-time epic feud.  I've got Sidney Crosby on my keeper hockey draft team, however I side with Ovechkin and consider him my favorite player in the league now that Joe Sakic has finally reached his golden years.

But the only thing that could put this into real feud terms would be some actual dislike and competition between the two men.  That could really kick the rivalry up a notch and make the NHL truly interesting.

So, ah, from the bottom of my heart, thanks boys:

It's official: The two biggest names in the NHL don't care for each other. Ovechkin is tired of Crosby's constant jawing, and Crosby has no love for Ovechkin's theatrics. The emotions were there for all to see Sunday as Ovechkin scored his league-leading 43rd goal and the Washington Capitals thumped the Penguins 5-2.

"What I can say about him?" Ovechkin said. "He is a good player, but he talks too much."

And what does Crosby make of Ovechkin's showmanship?

"Like it or lump it, that's what he does," Crosby said. "Some people like it, some people don't. Personally, I don't like it."




Posted by The Hack at Monday, February 23, 2009 | | Comments

Friday, February 20

Someone's Drinking For Free Tonight

Nice marketing of the party.

Posted by The Hack at Friday, February 20, 2009 | | Comments

Give & Take

Spotted on the Winnipeg Free Press comments section:
 
 
To the moderators. In your article it talks about $120 bottle of wine and expensive groceries. However when I write maybe they spent it on alcohol and a lap dance you edit it out. Nothing was offensive. This forum is for peoples opinions and to get them involved in the community and your paper. I'm sure web visits have gone up since comments were allowed. However if you edit what you don't like what's the point? Free speech anyone? Editor's note: We're wary of baseless accusations, but in your case it was a suggestion so likely should have been allowed. We're learning as we go and appreciate your view.
 
Posted by: RNFlyer | February 20, 2009 at 10:19 AM
 
 
Nice to see the editors acknowledge an error.  The line in the sand is always moving and sometimes people will err on the wrong side and just need to acknowledge it when it happens and move on. 
 



 

Posted by The Hack at Friday, February 20, 2009 | | Comments

Wednesday, February 18

There's Something You Don't See Everyday

[link]
 
Winnipeg will ask the provincial government to create stronger conflict-of-interest guidelines in what amounts to a surprise victory for Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi on the floor of council.

On Wednesday afternoon, council voted 7-6 in favour of Gerbasi's motion to call on the province to review conflict-of-interest rules and possibly create a new office to enforce these rules for municipalities in Manitoba, including Winnipeg.

A separate plan -- authored by St. Vital Coun. Gord Steeves to create an accountability commissioner that would oversee both civic politicians and city staff -- died on the floor of council.  Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz said he would have preferred that plan because he felt it had more teeth.

Both motions arose in September when council was preoccupied with the Riverside Park Management debate, which involved the renegotiation of a city lease with a non-profit organization that sublets land to the Katz-owned Winnipeg Goldeyes.

The plans were supposed to be debated in October, but were sent over to a council subcommittee for study. That committee decided not to shelve the accountability plan and made no recommendation about the conflict-of-interest call.

The narrow 7-6 vote was made possible by the absence of two city councillors, the vacant seat in River Heights and the decision of two Katz allies, St. James Couns. Scott Fielding and North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty, [emphasis added] to vote for Gerbasi's motion.
 
 
It's 2009 already.  The 2010 election cycle is afoot.

Posted by The Hack at Wednesday, February 18, 2009 | | Comments

Life's Just Not Fair Sometimes

Milt Stegall's Hall of Fame career is over and he never got to win the Grey Cup.  Seems so wrong. 

I'll maybe expand on this as the season approaches, however I'll always remember Stegall as one of my all-time favorites.  The defining memory - besides his joshing attitude and professional work ethic - will be the last second catch in Edmonton a few years back.  As I think about #85 this afternoon, I'm hearing that call in my head.

"Gone!  Stegall's gone!   Milt...Stegall...for Winnipeg...Gone."

Posted by The Hack at Wednesday, February 18, 2009 | | Comments

Support Colin Fast!

Colin begins laying out the platform. Today's installment is on community use facilities.

And after you are done reading, click the "Donate" button and send Colin $25.11* to help the cause.
* - Proposed cost of tax increase on a $100,000 home.

Posted by The Hack at Wednesday, February 18, 2009 | | Comments

Tuesday, February 17

A Mistress Choosing Contest That Involves A Drinking Round? I'm So There!

 
SHANGHAI (AFP) - A married Chinese tycoon who could no longer afford to support his five mistresses during the economic slowdown held a contest to decide which one to keep, local media reported Tuesday.
 
****
 
Fan hired an instructor from a modelling agency to judge a private contest he held at a hotel in May, but he did not tell the women about his intentions.

Yu was eliminated in the first-round beauty competition and a woman surnamed Liu eventually won after dominating the drinking round, the report said.

 

Posted by The Hack at Tuesday, February 17, 2009 | | Comments

Thursday, February 12

Breakthrough!

 
Strategic Council Poll Results
Quebec
 
Green Party: 26 per cent
Bloc Quebecois: 22 per cent
Liberals: 24 per cent
Conservatives: 17 per cent (-5)
NDP: 12 per cent 
 
 
Ah, but not so fast Liz...
 
Change From 2008 Election
 
Green Party:  + 22 per cent
Liberals: unchanged
NDP: unchanged
Conservatives: - 5 per cent
Bloc Quebecois: - 16 per cent
 
Anyone else wonder what Elizabeth May and the Greens have done recently to merit a 650% increase in support?

And as a follow-up, do we think there's a chance in hell that such "support" will be even held as long as the next poll? 
 

Posted by The Hack at Thursday, February 12, 2009 | | Comments

*nods*

Randy Turner on Mike Kelly, used car salesman:
 
Again, maybe the Bombers weren't going to get anything for Glenn anyway. But I can't believe a quarterback who threw for 5,000 yards two years ago would fetch zilch today. I mean, are you telling me Glenn isn't worth anything, but Stefan LeFors, his probable heir -- with all of a handful of games in CFL experience -- is worth two high draft picks (a second-rounder this year and possibly a first-rounder next year)?
 

Posted by The Hack at Thursday, February 12, 2009 | | Comments

The Issue



Sobering Thoughts on the Newsweek shift:

According to the New York Times, Newsweek isn't going to report on the news anymore. More opinion, less news -- which is perhaps less a significant shift than an admission. Says Newsweek editor, Jon Meacham:

"There’s a phrase in the culture, 'we need to take note of,' 'we need to weigh in on.' That’s going away. If we don’t have something original to say, we won’t. The drill of chasing the week’s news to add a couple of hard-fought new details is not sustainable."

So what are people going to have opinions on, if not the news? How will consumers of opinion news know if the views expressed are reliable if they do not have the raw information on which it is based?

Posted by The Hack at Thursday, February 12, 2009 | | Comments

Colin On The Increase (And Why We Need To Change The Faces That Make Up School Boards)

From Colin Fast.com:

Opened up the Free Press website this morning to be greeted by the not-so-shocking news that the Winnipeg School Division (WSD) is proposing yet another property tax increase.

This despite the facts that:

  1. Provincial funding to the division has increased by more than 38% in the past decade.
  2. Enrollment in the WSD was down over 700 students (3.3%) this year alone.
  3. School property taxes have already gone up nine out of the last ten years.
  4. Property tax rates in the WSD are up to 70% higher than in other Manitoba divisions.

Finance Chair Kristine Barr says in order to access additional provincial funding — and keep taxes frozen at current levels — the WSD would have to "cut" $1.2 million from its budget.

Now, if I read the situation correctly, it's not really fair to call this a "cut" at all. The WSD's draft budget currently calls for a $9.1 million increase in program funding. So if Trustees simply trimmed that increase to $7.9 million, they apparently could collect the provincial funds and keep taxes frozen.

Is a 2% property tax increase on its own going to force anyone out of house and home? Probably not. But the cumulative impact of decades worth of school tax increases has certainly made it an expensive choice for people to live in our division. This is particularly the case for seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes. They want to remain in their family homes, but keep getting hit by tax increases even though their own children left school decades ago.

If $1.2 million — just 0.38% of the WSD's draft budget — is the difference between a tax increase and a tax freeze, then trustees should sharpen their pencils and hit the books. Refusing to do so, and leaving provincial money just sitting on the table, would be irresponsible.



Hack: Visit Colin Fast.com and donate $25.11* online.   Let's change the positions of the trustees one trustee at a time.  Who knows?  Maybe there's a couple of trustees who cannot stand the ways things are now either, but they don't feel like they have the vocal support of others yet.





* - The estimated amount more a year that the school board wants on $100K assessed homes.  Just curious, but I lived in a  tiny little two-bedroom/unfinished basement/leaning kitchen house on Mulvey Avenue from 2003-2005 and it sold for over $110,000 just two summers ago, so I wonder out loud just what percentage of homes in the ward are assessed at ONLY $100K?  30%  20%  Even that?  This ward is getting hit for well over $100 per school board election cycle. And the raises come every year.

Posted by The Hack at Thursday, February 12, 2009 | | Comments

Wednesday, February 11

Winnipeg School Division Taxes To Rise Yet Again

Winnipeg school board's finance committee is already recommending a two-per-cent tax increase, while River East Transcona trustees are pondering a 2.5-per-cent increase in school property taxes.

That would mean an increase in taxes of $25.11 on a $100,000 home in Winnipeg School Division, and $28 in River East Transcona.

I'm not going to suggest that the current group of trustees don't care about homeowners with their property tax increases, however they have certainly proven year and year out that the current eight (Orlikow was the ninth) will not make the decisions required to avoid them.

I've spent a lot of time talking with Colin about his run for school trustee and I believe he is willing to make those decisions to cap or control school property taxes in some manner.  I'm already donating $100 to his cause, however as a show of support, I'm going to donate another $25.11 right now.

Go to Colin Fast.com and consider giving a donation yourselves.

Posted by The Hack at Wednesday, February 11, 2009 | | Comments

Is The WRHA Seriously This Out Of Touch?!

 
WRHA vice-chairman Allan Fineblit said the fact that Sinclair was or wasn't in the triage line "doesn't matter" and is not an important detail.

Posted by The Hack at Wednesday, February 11, 2009 | | Comments

NHL Standings February 10th, 2009 (Race For Last Edition!)

25. St. Louis Blues - 53 games/50pts
26. Toronto Maple Leafs - 54 games/50pts
27. Tampa Bay Lightning - 54 games/47pts
28. Ottawa Senators - 51 games/44pts
29. Atlanta Thrashers - 55 games/43pts
30. New York Islanders - 53 games/38pts

With only two "Game Changer" prospects in the draft - forward Jonathan Tavares and defenceman Victor Hedman - it looks like my Sens are going to remain firmly locked into the 3rd draft pick.

Figures.

Hopefully the ping pong balls go our way and we move up to two. The Isles are set on Tavares and I want Hedman anyhow.

Posted by The Hack at Wednesday, February 11, 2009 | | Comments

That's It! Let's Call This Thing Already

The Colin Fast for School Trustee scored a huge victory last night. 

I'm not sure what random process was used - paper ballots, ping pong balls, cow patty bingo - but "Fast, Colin" will be the first name people read on the ballot.  Considering how low voter turnout will likely be, just being at the top could be worth a percentage point or two.
 
 
Colin Fast 
 
First On The Ballot, First In Your Hearts

Posted by The Hack at Wednesday, February 11, 2009 | | Comments

Picks Their Spot

Christina Blizzard absolutely shames Ontario Human Rights Commissioner Barbara Hall:

It was her response to Steyn's criticism of OHRC's silence on honour killings that shocked me.

"There are thousands of things that happen in the province of Ontario on a daily basis and we don't comment on all of them," she said.

But, I spluttered, women are being murdered.

"As I said, we are a small commission.

"There are many problematic things that happen in our community and we have to make choices because we can't respond to everything," Hall said.

So honour killings are merely "problematic"?

Here's a woman who's advocated for years on behalf of women's rights. She found time to crucify Steyn and Maclean's, but she's too busy to raise the issue of women who are being murdered over some hideous interpretation of "honour"?

I don't wade into the CHRC debate as much as other bloggers, however I've been following it and for the most part, the double standards and blatent politics coming into play bothers me.  I am enjoying that some of their decisions and actions are being exposed to the light.

Posted by The Hack at Wednesday, February 11, 2009 | | Comments

Tuesday, February 10

"We don't allow dogfighting, we don't allow cockfighting, so why should we allow this?"

Maybe because dogs and roosters can't consent to their involvement in the fight, eh Councillor Nordman?

Posted by The Hack at Tuesday, February 10, 2009 | | Comments

~It's The Final Countdown....~ [do do...dododo do do]

Yahoo posts fifteen companies that could very well be the 2009 version of Circuit City & Linens 'N Things as far as not being around by this time next year.

A few recognizable faces in the bunch like Krispy Kreme (been in jeopardy for years), Blockbuster (business model has gone kaput) and Six Flags (Wheeeeeeee!).

Posted by The Hack at Tuesday, February 10, 2009 | | Comments

Friends To Canada

Paul Tuns makes a solid observation about Professor Greg Mankiw's list of Senators who oppose the "Buy American!" portions of the US stimulus bill.

Only one - Independent Joe Lieberman - isn't a Republican.

Wonder how many Canadians realize that they cheerlead a party that would hurt Canadian jobs and earnings...

Posted by The Hack at Tuesday, February 10, 2009 | | Comments

Monday, February 9

It's On Like Donkey Kong

http://colinfast.com/

I've known Colin for a decade-ish and got to know him a lot better in recent year as the front end of a curling team.  Lots of time in between stones to talk politics and solve the problems of the world. 
 
He's got a lot of great ideas about where the school board can be improved, be they on the tax burden of home owners all the way through the empowerment of school administration vs. division administration and opening up the decision-making processes to the public. 
 
(Along those lines, did the computer presentation regarding Gordon Bell's "field" really require an in-camera meeting as was reported in the Freep?  Hell, Rise & Sprawl did a pretty good job overlaying another track on the arial photo.  Is the board really telling us that overlays were a secretive discussion point?)

Anyways, I'm helping Colin so if you would like to get involved either by donation of time or money, email me and I'll be in touch within a day or two.  If you live in the area (Kenaston to the Red, Assiniboine to Taylor) and would like to do us a favour and stick a sign in your yard, I'll even get Colin to autograph it like Thomas Steen.

Okay, so Colin probably wouldn't go for that, but you would be doing us a solid just putting in a sign.

 
 
COLIN FAST

Tell your friends.  He's no status quo guy and honestly, doesn't the board need a little of that?

Posted by The Hack at Monday, February 09, 2009 | | Comments

Nordman On MMA

City Councillor Grant Nordman calls for Winnipeg to ban MMA events in the aftermath of Friday's hospitalization of a participant following his fight.  As usual, a politician cannot help but show how knee-jerk his actions are an issue when said issue results in a bloody picture in the paper.  MMA has been growing in popularity for over a decade now, especially in the last three to four years and these events take place regularly in the city.  Yet Councillor Nordman leaps into the debate within 48 hours because that's what thoughtful and considerate people do on issues of public importance.

I also found this tidbit to be interesting...

Nordman, who sits on the Winnipeg Convention Centre's board, said he is curious as to why mixed martial arts events are held in the government-funded facility.


I don't know what's funnier...That a series of events that actually appear popular, growing and most importantly, revenue-generating for the WCC is being threatened with shut down at a time when the WCC is begging for mega bucks to build an addition and chase mega conventions that are supposedly getting away from us....
 
Or...
 
Nordman supposedly sits on the WCC's board and he knows nothing about MMA at the WCC despite the fact that there's probably been MMA events at the convention centre every other month or so for the last three years that I've been paying attention.  So Nordman doesn't know this, yet his judgement regarding WCC board decisions are supposed to be viewed as anything but suspect?

I'm not the biggest MMA fan, but I appreciate a good fight now and again.  Spent last Saturday at a buddy's place watching the George St. Pierre and BJ Penn PPV, and let me offer you some free advice Councillor Nordman.  The crowd was one-third female, crossed three common age demographics, and included a business owner, a corporate lawyer, the president of a local union and several other trade and professional sector employee.  It was your typical group of friends and coworkers that gather to watch the Grey Cup or the gold medal game of the World Junior Hockey Game.

I'd be careful on throwing around the "ghoul" moniker were I you.


 

Posted by The Hack at Monday, February 09, 2009 | | Comments

The Brian Sinclair Case

My biggest curiosity with this horrid case is simple:

Who knew what and when did they know it?

The fact that it would be almost a half-year later before we learn about the video tapes boggles my mind.   What further confounds me is how adamant the WRHA and the Doer Gov't were coming out of the gate that their facts were the facts and how it was Sinclair's fault he died from blood poisoning caused by a faulty catheter and his inability to urinate for 34 hours because Mr. Sinclair failed to "check in" or notify anyone he was there to begin with.
 
Those were pretty definitive statements being made during the damage control portion of this event.  One would think that in order to make them, the facts would have been a little more well known.

You'd certainly think that the damned security tape would have been reviewed before claiming zero contact with staff.

I have ten questions now, and I ask them to no one in particular.  However, there are a few readers of the blog who might be able to answer them:
1) Did any reporters inquire about the possible existence of security cameras/tapes at the time? 
 
2) Who did they ask about them?
 
3) What response did they receive?
 
4) The triage staff who were contacted by Mr. Sinclair and the security guards...What happened to them? 
 
5) When were they interviewed? 
 
6) Does their statement of events remain the same today?
 
7) Who briefed the government on this file that allowed them to be so definitive with their statements?
 
8) Who briefed the briefer?
 
9) How thankful is the Premier that the House is not in session?
 
10) Who takes over the health portfolio?  (I do not believe that Bill Blakie will be given the portfolio as bringing him up to speed on it would likely take a little longer than it would a current cabinet minister.  Is now the time to see if Nancy Allan really is a possible "Next Leader"?)

Posted by The Hack at Monday, February 09, 2009 | | Comments

Friday, February 6

Guess They Don't Like You

Or did it not go out this morning?   *grin*

Posted by The Hack at Friday, February 06, 2009 | | Comments

Congrats Paul

Sobering Thoughts is one of the handful of non-mainstream blogs I read everyday.  Just celebrated some milestones.

Posted by The Hack at Friday, February 06, 2009 | | Comments

Wednesday, February 4

No More Sleeps

Only hours.

Posted by The Hack at Wednesday, February 04, 2009 | | Comments

Somewhere Bill Simmons Is Giddy And Doesn't Know Why Just Yet

The NBA skills competition adds H-O-R-S-E to the mix.

Posted by The Hack at Wednesday, February 04, 2009 | | Comments

Tuesday, February 3

The First Graph Says It All

 
Looking a little embarrassed by it all, Sam Fung stood in the middle of his restaurant yesterday and smiled uncomfortably as photographers snapped him shaking hands with Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney.

Posted by The Hack at Tuesday, February 03, 2009 | | Comments

They Hired The Crack Team Behind The Palin Investigation

You know something?  Were I the Harper government and about to poke the political and aboriginal establishment in the eye by making one of the youngest Senate appointments ever, I might have been inclined to vet him a little more carefully.

Senator Patrick Brazeau may go on to show the promise his CV represented on appointment day, however he's very much behind the eight ball to begin and will be playing catch up for at least a couple of years to build his credibility.  Sexual impropriety is nasty business to get caught up in, whether fairly or unfairly.  Add in the rest and it'll take hard work to establish an image of earnest hard work.

Posted by The Hack at Tuesday, February 03, 2009 | | Comments

Monday, February 2

Dear Maroon Tempo Driver,

Just because you wave at me, does not mean I have the right of way to make a left hand turn across your lane when you are going straight ahead and we arrive at the stop signs at the same time.  Move your ass please and don't give me that snark when I sit still and wait for you to go.

Posted by The Hack at Monday, February 02, 2009 | | Comments

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