Monday 20 October 2014

A Message To Voters

To the people of the entire St Boniface ward,

We are on the homestretch of this election campaign, and I would like to thank all of my supporters. Thank you for placing my signs on your lawn. Thank you for taking the time to speak to me about the issues that matter most to you. Most importantly, thank you for talking to your friends, family and neighbours about my campaign to reclaim City Hall for the people of Winnipeg. However, we can't relax yet. If you believe that I am the right choice to represent St. Boniface at City Hall, please help spread my message to as many people as possible. It's not too late to share a link to my website on Facebook. It's not too late to help get my message out to your Twitter followers. It's not too late to help spread the word by calling, emailing or talking to friends, family and neighbours. That's exactly how this campaign has spread in the past weeks, and it's exactly how we've all made it a true grassroots success.

Having said that, the deck is still stacked against us. I am running against an opponent who's backed by massive political machinery and special interest groups. He will tell you that he's non-partisan, but as stated by numerous media outlets, the truth is that he is an active member of the same NDP that has consistently raised taxes at the provincial level, and is on the verge of taking over City Hall with the same ideology and philosophy. He has managed to avoid answering any question that could potentially cost him a vote, and his platform is little more than a generic list of hopes and dreams and lack actual plans and solutions to make real changes at City Hall. I am a non-partisan, fiscal conservative with a vision for St. Boniface and the rest of the city that includes each and every resident of St Boniface, not just special interest groups. I will restore transparency and accountability to a City Hall that is in desperate need of it. Most importantly, I have made it my mission to give a direct answer to any question that has been asked of me. My ideas are backed by concrete plans, all of which are publicly available here on my website. I have not ducked a question during my campaign, nor would I start if elected. My opponent has been ducking questions since he started campaigning, and there's no reason to think that would change were he elected. You, I and the people of St. Boniface deserve better than that.

Most importantly, please make sure you get out and vote this Wednesday. The old saying that in a democracy, we get the government we deserve, has never been more true than in this election. If you want this city to change, on October 22nd you have the opportunity to be an agent of that change. If you want this city to move forward, you have the opportunity to push it forward. If you want this city to re-establish itself as a beacon for other cities to emulate, you have the opportunity to light that torch. I have been amazed by the response I have received from people in every corner of the St. Boniface ward. I have been energized by hearing about your lives, your careers, and your families, and I have been inspired by hearing about what you expect from your city councillor. I hope that you will allow me to represent you, and to put City Hall back to work for you.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has helped make this campaign the success it has been. My team started off small; just a few friends and family members. But over the past several weeks, it has grown by leaps and bounds. I never thought it would be possible to get my message out to the entire ward, but with the help of my amazing volunteers, especially my 83 year old grandfather (who easily walked over 20 miles, handing out fliers and meeting with residents), and my remarkable girlfriend who put in more 15 hour days than I can count, we were able to reach every corner of the St. Boniface ward. This campaign has become everything in my professional life since I decided to make this my new career path and take on this challenge with the help of my campaign manager. He and I began dreaming of a City Hall for the people, free of partisan agendas and infighting that would make Winnipeg a better place for all and a place we could be proud of. Without his support, countless hours of effort and patience, and passion for this city, we would never have gained the incredible amount of support we have. To date, my team and I have personally distributed over 35,000 fliers to doorsteps, placed well over 200 public signs, and met with thousands of residents from Royalwood, Southland Park, Niakwa Park, Island Lakes, Dugald Road, Sage Creek, Archwood, Southdale, St Boniface, Norwood and Windsor Park to talk about their lives, their concerns, and their ideas for moving our city forward. Now it’s time to cast our vote for a new City Hall.

Thank you,

Ryan Davies

Candidate for City Councillor for St. Boniface

Wednesday 15 October 2014

St Boniface City Councillors Debate Responses

On September 22nd, I received and invitation from the Francophone Chamber of Commerce to attend a candidate's debate. When I agreed to attend last month, it was with the understanding that all of the candidates would be participating in a “lively debate.” I had been looking forward to the opportunity to engage my opponents in this race in order to give members of the Chamber, and indeed all voters, a venue to learn about me, my platform, and how I intend to improve the lives of the residents and business owners of St. Boniface. I was saddened to learn that what I had agreed to participate in would not, in fact, be a debate at all, but rather a brief soundbite contest, with no opportunity to engage either my opponents or the audience.

Unfortunately, my platform has not been designed to be disseminated in a 60 second time span, as I believe that my ideas must be backed by substance, and subsequently followed by a plan to make them a reality. I have decided that the best way for me to reach out to residents today is to continue my grassroots campaign in the neighbourhoods of St. Boniface with my ever-growing group of volunteers. Below are the questions that would have been posed by the Francophone Chamber of Commerce along with my responses that I would have provided.

Question 1: What is your priority for Saint Boniface?
We know that the incoming City Council will look vastly different from the outgoing one. This will provide an excellent and rare opportunity to re-shape our civic governance. The past decade has seen City Hall plagued by scandal and impropriety.
I will work with the new Council to re-claim City Hall as a chamber of and for the people of Winnipeg. In order to regain the trust of the people, we need to re-establish a sense of transparency and accountability for our elected representatives and civic officials. My focus will be on establishing records of all debates and votes in Council, and making them publicly available online and in hard copy, as well as entirely searchable.

In addition, the current taxation model is not working for St Boniface and Winnipeg. Rising costs coupled with expanded housing developments and lack of vision and preparation have led us to a crossroads. St Boniface has experienced a population boom with a potential for more to come. With the urban sprawl that has taken place in St Boniface, rising costs for roads and other infrastructure to connect these areas to the city has taken its' toll. The time is now to bring these areas closer together so that residents in the outlying areas of the ward have equal access to the amenities and services that residents closer to the core of the city experience. In addition, increased transit access and frequency are needed to bring people to all areas of the neighbourhood. St Boniface has a unique aura about it and it needs to be more accessible to not only people within its boundaries but so that residents of Winnipeg in all areas can experience what St Boniface has to offer. By connecting better to areas such as the Waterfront and Exchange District, St Boniface will increase traffic with businesses and the community growing as a result.

Question 2: What do you believe you can contribute to improve francophone/bilingual entrepreneurship as represented here by our members of the Francophone Chamber of Commerce?
St Boniface is an amazing community with lots to offer in all areas of the ward. A showpiece of the city, Old St Boniface with its rich heritage and francophone roots, holds the ability to set itself apart from other areas of the city. We need to do a better job of showcasing the unique culture fostered here in St Boniface by the business leaders. We have the ability to create a dynamic entertainment and culinary hub along Provencher and surrounding streets with proper marketing and partnerships. Using L’Esplanade Riel, we could easily partner with the Forks North Portage Partnership and the Exchange Biz to build a walkable destination for all Winnipeggers to enjoy. Borrowing from other cities, like Whyte Ave in Edmonton or the Red Mile in Calgary, a large spanning area can be viewed as the place to be, day or night for socialites from any area of the city and tourists seeking an experience that is uniquely Winnipeg.

With the promise of new innovative ideas and change for the area, it is important to reflect on the past and look to what can be accomplished and how. The change to our way of thinking and realization of new heights for St Boniface requires a delicate balance of experience and new thinking. My girlfriend started and owns her own business in St Boniface. I have seen the challenges firsthand that exist for a new business owner to thrive. She has been incredibly successful and I have witnessed what it takes to do so. I also personally have been in sales and marketing for over 15 years and bring a wealth of knowledge and can rely on past experience to bring new ideas that have been successful to St Boniface. I feel that existing challenges often require fresh eyes and new ways of looking at problems. We have heard repeatedly in this election City Hall needs new blood free of connections to the old council and I feel this thinking goes beyond just a seat with the council chambers. It extends to platforms such as this and fresh thinking with new ideas are needed to jumpstart St Boniface and build for the future.

Monday 13 October 2014

Comments From Voters

One of the best parts of my day is receiving an email or a phone call from someone who has heard about my campaign whether it is by receiving my flier, through a media interview or simply by seeing a sign or word of mouth. These comments range from direct issues they have affecting them, giving me insight to below the surface problems that exist, to offering volunteer support or requesting lawn signs to further the spread my non-partisan message.
Below are just a small sample of the amazing things I received that I share with my volunteer team. These words of encouragement motivate us each day to go and out with renewed energy, knowing we are making a difference in St Boniface.

"The rhetoric sucks! Just received your letter in the post box and it sounds refreshing to hear some “straight talk” from a potential councilor." - Laurie, Southland Park

"I read your newsletter. I normally don't even look at these things, but I checked it out. Its an excellent excellent letter and I don't say those things very often. In fact, its so excellent that I'd like to take a sign for my property." - Dave, Norwood

"You were at our door earlier this evening, you've got two votes here son and if you want to put a sign on our property we don't have a problem with that. - Wayne, Windsor Park

"Thank you for taking the time to talk to me earlier. We appreciate your straight forward talk on the issues that we discussed and we would be happy to put a lawn sign up." - Jackie, Southland Park

"Read the drop off left in our mail box tonight/today as well as your website and can only ask - where have you been? Like what we've read and are willing to support." - Lynn & Leslie, Norwood

"Just wanted to let you know that I'm voting for you on election day!" - Josh, Island Lakes

"I've had enough. I'm glad you stopped by to talk. I like that you didn't hide from my questions and we need someone like that at City Hall. You've got my support and I'll be sure to talk you up to anyone I can." - Craig, Archwood

"Enough with voting in the same type of people, its time to flush city hall. Its the only way we're going to see any real change in this city. Put a sign on my lawn and my neighbours as well." - Tom, Southdale

"Just one question for you. How quickly can you put a sign in my front lawn?" Jim, Island Lakes

"THANK YOU! We finally have someone we can support in this election without feeling it's the lesser of two or seven evils!" - Deanna, Sage Creek

"We really enjoyed reading your website. Please come by and put up a sign." - Jackie, Island Lakes

"I'm glad you stopped by today, I just got back from voting for you! It seems like you are really out there working hard and I appreciate that." - Barry, Southdale

"Hi Ryan, thank you for the signs, we adored them all weekend, not enough of them on our street as far as I'm concerned." - Megan, Norwood

"Hey Ryan, I read the article about you in the Winnipeg Sun today as well as your website. You have some very unique ideas and detailed solutions to back them up. Not something that I've seen from any other candidate. You have our vote and let us know if you need any more volunteer help, we'd love to help you spread your message." - Dennis, St. Boniface

These are a just a sample of the messages I've received and I wanted to thank everyone for their support of my campaign. With the help of my volunteers, we were able to visit nearly 15,000 doorsteps this weekend and place over 100 yard signs throughout the ward. With nine campaign days before election day, my campaign team and I need your support more than ever. If you are able to help with a yard sign, donation (all donations between $25 and $300 receive a rebate of 75%) or by volunteering to distribute my new flier throughout the ward, please contact me at ryandaviesforstb@gmail.com.
Thank you again for taking time to read my website and I hope to have gained your support to create real change with real plans at City Hall on October 22nd.



Thursday 9 October 2014

Survey Answers

During this campaign, I have been asked by a number of groups and organizations to take part in various surveys and interviews. There have been some great questions asked and I encourage you to visit each site to see my answers and learn more about what I plan on doing should the residents of St Boniface elect me to city council.

Canadian Taxpayer Federation survey: http://www.taxpayer.com/blog/2014-winnipeg-election-candidate-survey

Winnipeg Free Press survey: http://civicelection.winnipegfreepress.com/election-candidate/id-2861/

Around This Town interview (complete transcript): http://aroundthistown.ca/2014/10/08/interview-ryan-davies-candidate-for-st-boniface/

The Ideal City: http://theviewfromseven.wordpress.com/

Winnipegelection.ca: http://winnipegelection.ca/people/242/ryan-davies

Windog Advocacy and Off-Leash Stewardship: http://windog.ca/ryan-davies/

As more surveys and interviews are published, I will post the links. I strive in each to answer each question not with just an idea, but a detailed plan in order to make the vision become a tangible reality. I urge you when considering whom will receive your vote on October 22nd, you make sure that you are not just reading rhetoric, but that there is a plan to make ideas reality like I have done with each topic.

With just a few days left before the election, if I have earned your support I ask you to go one step further. If you can assist the campaign by distributing fliers, making a donation or taking a yard sign, please let me know. With every donation over $25, the City of Winnipeg rebates you 75% back to your pocket. In addition, telling your friends and neighbours about my campaign and directing them to the website is the best way to continue the momentum this campaign is seeing. A simple email to those you know about my campaign will go a long way in preventing party agendas and special interest group influence from reigning at City Hall and electing a public servant who wants to serve the best interests of the people of St Boniface. Thank you and I hope you vote Ryan Davies for City Councillor on October 22nd!

Monday 6 October 2014

Revenue part 2 - Ideas AND Solutions

During the course of this campaign, we've all heard a variety of tax “plans.” It seems like every candidate, especially in the mayoral race, has a plan to somehow raise revenue without significantly raising property taxes. If it is not explicitly stated, they clearly imply it with lots of ideas of things the city needs to pay for be it infrastructure or other projects without a plan of how to pay for them. City Hall is essentially limited to generating revenue through property taxes, and licensing/permit fees, so it is unclear how any of those plans will be successful without new ideas and reform of old ones.

One idea that's out there is a property tax freeze. Proponents of this agenda seem to believe that the revenue shortfall can be made up by selling off city assets. The one time influx of cash from those sales would do little to address our long term needs. In fact, part of the reason we're in our current state is that there was a freeze on property taxes for a decade starting around the new millennium. The argument is during the tax freeze of 2003-2010, city revenues grew 41%, which is true. The issue is because of various projects that were undertaken without oversight costing massive overruns and other non-essentials that the city spent tax dollars on, the revenue growth didn’t keep pace with inflation or project costs. Also, a pledge to freeze taxes ignores the reality that there are legitimate civic needs that can arise, often unexpectedly. For example, nobody thought we would have to spend millions of dollars thawing water lines and supplying affected homes with water this past winter, but sure enough, we did.

Other candidates have pledged small, incremental tax increases, roughly keyed to the rate of inflation. This is a fine plan, but it does nothing to address our infrastructure needs. Inflation in the overall economy and inflation in the construction sector are not increasing at the same rate, with construction rates increasing 4-5% year over year. A property tax increase in the 3% range, between the two numbers, would only increase city revenues by around $15 million. The city's costs rise by about $25 million per year in inflation costs alone. This alone would not be adequate and certainly wouldn’t allow for any new growth or keep up with the rate of deterioration our city infrastructure is experiencing.

The proposal garnering the most attention is the abolition of property tax in favour of a citywide sales tax. There are a number of problems with this, most importantly that the City of Winnipeg has no legal right to impose or collect such a tax. Such a move would require the cooperation of the provincial government. Additionally, in order to avoid “leakage” of the sale of goods and services just outside the city borders (who wouldn’t make the trip to Steinbach to save 4% on a vehicle), such a tax would have to extend to exurban communities, if not the entire province. This would also be a very regressive form of taxation, as it would have the largest impact on people with low incomes. It also fuels the taxation shell game (more on that in a minute) we already have going on with the province and leads to more bureaucracy and higher administration costs to run this program. The biggest issue is we would essentially be raising the PST by 4% and if you think the province is going to jump on board and take that bullet, I’ve got a bag of magic beans to sell you.

Of course, anybody can poke holes in the plans of others. I have a revenue plan of my own. Like everything else in my platform, I back up what I would like to see done with a tangible solution for doing so. I encourage you to visit the other city council candidates’ websites, if they have one, and see not only what they would like to accomplish, but exactly how they get it done. It is important for leader not just to take a stand on a topic, which again I challenge you to find, but to explain how it can be achieved. A goal without a plan is a dream and we are past the fairy tale world of dreaming of what this city should be like and into the reality of making it happen.

First and foremost, I am proposing a moratorium on large, non-infrastructure projects until we can get a handle on our finances, and sort out a way to ensure that those projects can be tendered and managed efficiently. This would include a suspension of all activities on the southwest bus corridor, and on the Bus Rapid Transit program generally. In order to compensate for this, I would push for a lower cost alternative of more frequent buses and expanded service to outlying areas and industrial zones. While this would be a cost increase, it would also increase ridership as people could get to and from their intended destination easier, safer and on time while saving money needed for other essential city projects.

Second, I would institute a property tax credit for homeowners who undertake projects to increase the value of their properties. This would include a provision that in order to qualify, all materials must be bought from businesses within the city, and similarly, that all work must be done by contractors based in Winnipeg. All qualified purchases would be eligible for a ten percent credit on a homeowner's property tax bill, up to a maximum of $500 per year. The end result of this credit would be that the property value of not just the renovated homes, but also the homes around them, would increase, thereby increasing the amount of property tax revenue generated over time. This would also put more money into our economy with people purchasing supplies and labour needed. In turn, it would create more jobs and make our city a more attractive option for families to call home. Additionally, we would create more affordable rental properties as people invest in homes in need of repair turning them into revenue properties and create better living space and suites, such as newly created basement suites, to be available to renters.

The next part of my plan is to end what I referred to earlier as the provincial tax shell game. Winnipeg currently has one of the lowest property tax rates of any major city in Canada. However, when it comes in the mail, it appears that our property tax bill is significantly higher. This is because the provincial government requires municipalities to fund education through property taxes. I would lobby the province to end that shell game, and to fund education through their own revenue streams. That way, the people of St. Boniface, and all of Winnipeg would finally be able to see what their actual property tax obligations are.

The City of Winnipeg currently has no way of addressing the issue of exurban residents using city infrastructure and services, but not contributing to property tax revenue. While I would support annexation of a number of so-called bedroom communities, I realize that this is something that would take a significant amount of time, and may not be feasible at all in some cases. While this gets sorted out though, we can end the “free ride” issue by setting up toll roads into the city. This would require exurban commuters to contribute to the city's revenue base, and all funds collected would be designated for use on infrastructure renewal projects. I have been around the world and seen a number of cities where this is in place and successfully creating revenue for their municipality. Regular commuters could take advantage of a transponder-based system, much like the 407 toll road in Toronto, and infrequent users would be able to pay per use with cash or other conventional tenders.

Another way to reduce our overall infrastructure problem is to encourage density of development. Presently, our city's downtown contains numerous surface parking lots. These lots do little to promote any kind of development in the core. Were those lots developed into mixed use residential/commercial space, they would generate significant revenue for the city on their own, as well as increase property values in the area. In order to encourage more development on those parcels of land, I would enact a tax on surface lots in order to more accurately reflect their true value. This tax would be lower should there be a multi-level parkade on the site, allowing for affordable parking options for a greater number of people. We need affordable parking rates to draw people downtown but we cannot waste space with a surface lot servicing only a small number of visitors and employees in the downtown area.

Finally, I would increase user and licensing fees in many different areas. However, I would ensure that the additional funds taken in would be directed back into the activities or services from which they were collected. For example, an increase in dog licensing fees would be used to create new dog parks, and to improve existing ones. This would help to improve many of our recreational offerings, while ensuring that those improvements are funded by end users, and without taking funds away from core infrastructure projects.

This is hardly a comprehensive list, and the impact of many of my proposals might be limited, however, these ideas represent an important starting point. We will need to be creative in order to solve our long term revenue issues. Simply toying with tax rates and service levels alone will not push us forward. We also need to accept that there are no free rides. Shaping the future of Winnipeg will not be free, and we have hard choices to make. We must accept that one way or another, we will probably have to pay more in taxes and fees, or expect much less from the municipal government. Most likely, we will have to do both. A task like this requires leadership. It requires bold new thinking, and most importantly, it requires that our civic leaders be open and honest with residents about the true state of our city, as well as their plans to fix it. My thoughts and plans are clear. I would love to hear from the residents of St. Boniface about their thoughts on my plan, and I would love even more to hear what your ideas are. Whoever you vote for on October 22nd, make sure that you ask them the difficult questions, and make sure that they can actually provide you with goals and plans rather than wishes and dreams. Our city has amazing potential and incredible people who understand what it is to sacrifice for the greater good. We need leaders who reflect that vision with tangible goals and real plans like I have laid out time and again. It’s time to stand up and demand more than a smile in photo opp and expect more from our public servants. I hope I have earned your support and that you will spread my campaign philosophy to your friends and neighbours. I encourage you to leave a comment or reach out to me at ryandaviesforstb@gmail.com .  If you like what you are reading and wish to support my campaign in any way, donation, yard sign, hand out fliers or other forms, please let me know. It’s with your help spreading the word and ending the reign of the career politician we can make a change in our city and make it a better place for everyone.

Saturday 4 October 2014

Play It Forward

Today I had the pleasure of door knocking and campaigning with a number of volunteers in Sage Creek. As I went from door to door, I noticed a number of signs for “Play It Forward” and asked one family what it meant. As they explained it to me, I asked at each subsequent door not what it meant, but what it meant to them. Each person I talked to spoke with such pride when discussing the project. For those who don’t know what it is, I encourage you to visit the Sage Creek Residents’ Association website and see for yourself in detail what it is and what it means to the community. The basic idea behind it is that the residents of Sage Creek are fundraising by canvassing door to door collecting donations to build play structures at Ron Duhamel Park. The City of Winnipeg has offered tax receipts for the full donation amount that each household gives, bringing together the public, private and government sectors to make the community a better place. This vision of the Sage Creek Residents Association and the City of Winnipeg is exactly what we need to bring to all of St Boniface and the city as a whole. Everybody benefits from this amazing program as those in the area are paying directly into the city amenity they need and the City supports their grassroots effort to make a lasting impact. I am a strong proponent of green space and community economics and grassroots movements. My campaign has a stated focus on all of these areas and my campaign itself is a true grassroots movement. I am proud of the people of Sage Creek and would use this as a model for other projects in the St Boniface ward I wish to spearhead. I would encourage this method of fundraising always be made available to shared community projects and give our residents the power to create change while benefiting themselves and the city as a whole. Once again, congratulations to the people of Sage Creek on your efforts and regardless of the election outcome, I look forward to being at Ron Duhamel Park for the opening of the play structures.

Thursday 2 October 2014

Revenue: Part 1

The City of Winnipeg is facing a financial crisis. We have constant overruns of massive city projects, and significant mismanagement of city funds in general. Those are major problems in and of themselves, but the good news is that they can be fixed. With better oversight and improved tendering processes, we can rein in overruns, and by introducing transparency and accountability to City Hall, we can ensure that our tax dollars are being used to their full potential. However, those minor changes alone will not be enough to ensure the fiscal stability of the city.

We have a roughly $7 billion infrastructure deficit, which is growing with each passing day. The systems that deliver the very fundamentals of urban life are crumbling beneath us. Our roads, bridges, sewers and water-mains have been neglected for decades, and that neglect has been revealed to us with every deep-freeze, heavy rain, and massive, car-swallowing sinkhole. We need to accept the reality that years of prioritizing vanity projects and civic luxuries has come at the expense of upgrading and maintaining our vital infrastructure. Without losing sight of the vision and promise of what Winnipeg can be, when faced with any question of funding such projects, my first question will always be: what else could we do with this money? As a city, our first funding priority for the foreseeable future needs to be fixing what we already have before we build new luxuries.

Even trimming the fat of megaproject pork will only get us so far, though. First, the city needs to be more assertive in its dealings with both the provincial and federal governments to help meet our infrastructure shortfall. I believe that the City of Winnipeg should lobby the provincial government to earmark half of the recent PST increase to be allocated to the city for infrastructure renewal. This would contribute an additional $275 million annually to the city coffers. That money would play a significant role in repairing our roads and other infrastructure.

When all is said and done, though, we need to address the ability of the city to raise adequate revenues to cover its own needs. We need to have a conversation about taxes. We've all heard a lot of different plans and ideas during this election campaign, and in my next post, I will reveal my plan for an updated taxation system for the City of Winnipeg.

Friday 26 September 2014

Ending The Photo Radar "Trap"

The envelope comes with the logo on it and you know; you got caught. As you roll your eyes and curse you tear open the envelope guessing what the dollar amount on the inside is. You look at the photo hoping somehow that’s not your car or licence plate. You stare at the top of the back of a head hoping it’s not you so you can blame someone else. Once you’ve confirmed it was indeed you that was speeding your blood boils as you retrace your day wondering why you were in such a hurry to speed. Then you start to figure a way out of the ticket. A story maybe or a scientific reason why you shouldn’t have to pay. The problem is, even with a valid reason or a legitimate error, which we have seen exist, the odds of overturning that ticket are nearly impossibly small. Even if there is a mistake, you are going to have to go to the magistrate, set a court date, show up to argue it and hope you have a strong enough case to reduce or eliminate your fine. Those of us who have had the experience know how maddening it can be, and for those of you that haven’t experienced this, now you know what it’s like.

A question I have been asked by email, when door knocking or in casual conversation nearly every time is a version of “What are your thoughts on photo radar?” It’s a topic in this city that strikes a nerve on a number of levels. The natural description for mobile photo radar units are radar “traps,” implying that they are set up for the sole reason of tricking motorists into speeding then fining them for doing so. We’ve all heard they are a “cash grab” and whether you agree with the idea of photo radar or not, the current system isn’t in the best interest of safety of our roadways and pedestrians. I am not against photo radar. I believe that enforcement of traffic laws is important to provide safety to the people of St Boniface and Winnipeg. What I do have issue with is how the photo radar system is run with that "trap" system in place. With a series of changes to the photo radar system, we can ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians like.

First of all, I would recommend that all mobile photo radar stations be set up 500 metres after a clearly posted speed limit sign. This provides motorists the opportunity to correct their speed should they legitimately not be aware of the speed limit in the area. It would also give people adequate time to adjust for school zones providing safer roads for motorists and children. Additionally, I would lobby for better signage at construction zones notifying drivers when workers are present. Too often I have seen a photo radar unit in a "construction zone" with no workers present. This is the definition of a trap in my mind designed as a cash grab from motorists. By placing a large, visible WORKERS PRESENT sign prior to the start of a work day on a construction site with a clear speed limit sign, motorists would be given ample opportunity to slow down and provided safety for the workers on site. When there are no workers present, the sign would be removed or covered with normal speed limits in effect, or well labelled reduced limits should there be pylons or closed lanes. Again, clear speed limits and rules must be posted before tickets can be fairly issued for motorists not obeying the rules. Finally, all mobile radar units must be regularly calibrated, and potential mobile radar locations should be tested by having a moderated vehicle pass through the trap at different speeds to ensure the unit is working properly and there are no issues with regard to the angle of approach or any other factors that could reduce the accuracy of the equipment. These results would then be posted and tracked on a public website so if a motorist receives a ticket, they can access the information to make sure the calibration was done correctly. By eliminating the variables that exist and clearly posting the speed limit clearly before the trap, the responsibility is then placed solely on the driver to ensure they are obeying speed limits.

Finally, I would reduce all school zones to 30 km/h regardless of where they are located. Recently, a number of school zones were reduced to 30 km/h in an effort to increase safety for children in the area. The problem is, these were only placed in school zones that are in residential areas. There are even areas that some might argue should be considered residential that weren’t changed. This school zone speed limit needs to be universal. I actually find it ridiculous that school zones that border major routes with high speeds and traffic don’t have reduced speed limits. These are the most unsafe areas for children yet aren’t treated as such. To prove a point to myself, I drove through such an area recently twice. The first time I went through the area at the posted 60 km/h speed limit. The second time I reduced my speed to 30 km/h. The result was an added EIGHT SECONDS on my commute with the slower, safer speed. If drivers cannot make time for an additional eight seconds on their commute in order to protect the safety of children, they need to re-evaluate their priorities.

The key to photo radar policy is balancing fairness with safety. By eliminating any grey area in photo radar policies and removing the “trap” aspect, we can ensure the safety of motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and children playing in our neighbourhoods.

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Bringing Transparency To City Hall

Clear as mud...

Our city has a problem with transparency and accountability. If you read the platforms of any other candidate for mayor or city council, you'll see that they agree, essentially without exception. What you won't find is any ideas on how to fix the problem. Don't get me wrong, they all say they'll fix it, but there don't seem to be any ideas out there. My guess is that they would have us believe that the problem is as basic as “The old guard were corrupt, but I'm virtuous. My virtue will cleanse City Hall.” If you believe that, I have a defunct business in Arizona that I can sell you for a dollar.

What has emerged in the wake of the wave of scandals emanating from City Hall the past number of years is a disturbing pattern. Certain individuals and businesses seem to get preferential treatment based on... well, what is that preferential treatment based on? CBC News investigated and compiled a report (which they had to do by hand, because there was no comprehensive list available to the public) of the top contributors to election campaigns in the 2010 civic elections. If you review the list, you'll see that the owners and senior management of Shindico combined to be the top donors during the election cycle, spending nearly $19 000 combined to support candidates.

Shindico has been in the news a bit lately, as they appear to have gotten preferential treatment as the broker in the city's deal to buy the former Canada Post building and turn it into the new Police Headquarters. They were also involved in the rather infamous fire hall land swap deals, where the Fire Chief negotiated (entirely outside his responsibility and realm of expertise) real estate transactions directly with the company. I'm sure that this preferential treatment was completely unrelated to their political contributions. If you believe that, I've still got that dormant Arizona business for a buck.

Bartley Kives, of the Winnipeg Free Press, did his own investigation of the campaign contributions from the 2010 civic election. He found that not only did nearly every campaign spend right up to the allowed limit, but that donations seemed to come from one of two sources; either from businesses and business interests, or from unions and other labour interests. Of course, the career politicians would have us believe that this campaign funding does nothing to influence their policy choices. Let me check my pockets... there might be another shell corporation in Arizona I can sell you on the cheap.

Just to be clear, I'm not naive enough to think that money can ever be removed from politics. As a candidate running a truly grassroots campaign, I'm reminded daily of just how much more effectively I could campaign if I could just have an endless supply of lawn signs, or be able to tap into a pool of “volunteer” labour to knock on doors and let the voters get to know my name and hear my message. The spending cap for the St. Boniface ward in this election is around $40 000. I'll be doing well if I get halfway there. Since I'm depending on individual donations, I still think that's pretty impressive and really speaks to the strength and awareness of grassroots campaigning.

So we've established that there's a problem. How can we fix it? Well, there's a saying that sunlight is the best disinfectant, and I'm inclined to agree. We need to address the accountability gap at City Hall. However, you can't have accountability without an account, so before that, there needs to be transparency. For their investigation that I mentioned earlier, the CBC tried to access a donor list with a Freedom of Information request. The City supplied them with a list, but with the donor names blacked out. It turns out that there is a master list that is accessible, but there can be no copies made, and the only way any record of it can leave City Hall is if someone is willing to manually compile a list of their own. Fortunately, the CBC team were diligent enough to do that. Why would the politicians not want that donor list to be publicly accessible? Are they afraid that people will find out what's going on?

As it turns out, they don't really need to worry. Would you like to see how your councillor voted on a motion last year? Unless you were at that particular Council session, you would have no way of finding that information unless a member of the media or another citizen happened to keep a record. There's no other legislative body that doesn't keep a publicly accessible record of votes, so why do we allow our City Council to do it?

Here are my proposals to fix this problem. First, I would reduce the limit on individual campaign donations from $1500 for the mayoral race and $750 for council races to a hard cap of $200 for the mayoral race, and $200 to one council candidate of your choosing. I want campaign spending to be a reflection of residents' support for a candidate, not a way for special interests to exert undue influence. Second, all donations would be made public, and would be accessible at City Hall and online (with provisions for protecting donors from potential identity theft). The people of this city have a right to know where a candidate's support comes from. Third, I would ensure that a Hansard-style record of all debates, motions, and votes in the Council chamber exists, and is made available in hard copy and online (in a searchable format) via the city's website. That this somehow doesn't already exist is frankly baffling to me. Fourth, on a personal level, if elected, I will host a monthly open house, giving the people of my ward the opportunity to meet with me in person to discuss their concerns and to hold me accountable. These will take place on a rotating schedule at various community centres and schools throughout the ward to ensure equal opportunity for attendance. On top of that, I will continue to make my personal contact information available to constituents, just like I have during this campaign. I want to hear from the people of St. Boniface, and you deserve to continue to have access to your representatives all the time, not just when they want your vote.

The current culture at City Hall is one of corruption and shady backroom deals, cutting the public out of key decisions, and ultimately contributing not just to our financial deficit, but to our democratic deficit as well. I want our civic government to be guardians of the public trust, and to conversely earn back the trust of the residents of this city. It will take time, but the first step is to start with the (admittedly modest) reforms I've proposed. The question we all need to ask ourselves is whether or not the old guard of career politicians is capable of extricating themselves from a corrupt system. If you truly think they are, well... Let me tell you about this great business opportunity in Arizona that I can get you into for a very reasonable price.

I encourage you to leave a comment or reach out to me at ryandaviesforstb@gmail.com .  If you like what you are reading and wish to support my campaign in any way, donation, yard sign, hand out fliers or other forms, please let me know.  This grassroots campaign is gaining momentum thanks to people who want to see changes to City Hall and the way we communicate with our residents.

Here are the news pieces I've referred to in this piece, as well as a few other relevant stories laying out some background.






Tuesday 23 September 2014

What Happened to Public Service?

I know this sounds naive, but I've always believed that public service was a higher calling; something that you did not for the glory, or the paycheque, but because you believed strongly in an idea, and wanted to work to make it a reality. Maybe it's not so naive though. After all, our society is filled with people who have dedicated themselves to improve the lives of others.

Teachers are a prime example of this. Sure, the pay is alright, and the vacation time is a perk, but I've never met a teacher that hasn't paid out of their own pocket for classroom supplies, or volunteered their own time to help students with academic needs or extracurricular activities. None of those things are in the job description, but they happen, and the teachers do it because they care.

Our police and firefighters are another example. They put their lives on the line to help people as a matter of course. If you were to ask them, I don't think any would say that they do it for the pay, or so they can retire on a beach at 40. The same can be said for the brave men and women in our armed forces, such as my father, who served out of a sense of duty and love of country.

As a society, we respect these people who serve the public, and that respect is well-deserved. Imagine though, a teacher who was unwilling to answer questions from a student's parents, because they were concerned those parents might not like them as much once they heard the answer. Imagine a police officer assuring you that your home was safe after a break in, but being unwilling to give you any advice on how you should secure your home. What would you think of a fire chief who told you that they would definitely be able to put out a fire at your place of work, even though there were no fire trucks or hoses around? “I have a plan,” he would say. “And I'll tell you what it is when the time is right. Until then, trust me.” We would never accept that from those public servants, even though we respect them greatly.

We expect the people who work for us to also be accountable to us. Sometimes that means that we have to be willing to hear the things we don't want to hear, and, more importantly, to have those people we trust be willing tell us those things. “Your child has a difficult time reading. We need to address that,” the teacher would say, realizing that their student's future is more important than whether or not they are liked. “The door and lock you had weren't adequate. You need a solid core door with a deadbolt,” the police officer would tell you, knowing that her opinions are informed by her years of experience. “Until the rest of the fire trucks get here, this is what we have to do. Once they arrive, we will execute the rest of our plan,” the fire chief would say, knowing that trust must be earned.

Why then, do we allow the people that run for public office to behave in a way that would otherwise be unacceptable? If we wouldn't allow a teacher to back away from unpopular but important information, why do we accept that from politicians? If we expect a police officer to use all of their relevant experience to help us through a difficult time, why do we allow politicians to hide their past? If we demand that a fire chief have a comprehensive plan to allow us to survive a crisis, why would we be satisfied by a politican's empty rhetoric that he “has a plan?” Why don't we hold those who seek public office to the same level of accountability that we demand from every other public servant? We accept that the system is rigged like a bad carnival game, and yet keep going back, thinking that this time, the guy running the game is different. “He showed me that the ring fits around the bottle. I can win.” What he didn't show you is that he had to bend the ring to get it over the bottle. The game's still rigged, it just has a better sales pitch.

My campaign isn't a sales pitch. I'm running because I want to change the game, not become the guy running it. I'm making my beliefs known, every day, on my website, on social media, and to the people I meet out in the neighbourhood. You may not agree with me all the time, or ever, for that matter, but you will always know where I stand. If I have an idea, I will tell you how I want to make it a reality. If I don't know something, I will tell you that too. I will listen to you. If we disagree, I will try my best to explain my perspective. If you do the same, you just might be able to change my mind. Most importantly, I will not hide who I am, I will not change what I believe based on my audience, and I will refuse to place myself in the pocket of special interests and political party machinery just so I can get a few more votes.


My campaign is truly grassroots. My campaign team started small, comprised entirely of family and a few close friends, but it's gaining momentum every day, with people who believe in me, and my vision. I don't have the backing of any chambers of commerce, or any unions, or any political parties. Because of that, I will have to work harder than other candidates to get my message out, but when I do, it will still be my message, and my ideas, and I can stand behind them one hundred percent. That is what matters to me. That is why I'm running to be your city councillor.

 I encourage you to leave a comment or reach out to me at ryandaviesforstb@gmail.com .  If you like what you are reading and wish to support my campaign in any way, donation, yard sign, hand out fliers or other forms, please let me know.  This grassroots campaign is gaining momentum thanks to people who want to see changes to City Hall and the way we conduct politics so we can do what's in the best interests of our residents, not the best interests of our politicians.

Monday 22 September 2014

Active Transportation

After a brief but great conversation with a Twitter follower, I decided to write about my views on active transportation as it currently stands in St Boniface and the City of Winnipeg and what my vision for the future of it looks like.  It seemed like the natural flow given my previous plan and vision for mass transit and how active transportation partners with that.

According to Census data, 32% of residents in St Boniface do not drive their own vehicles as their primary mode of transportation.  Nearly 10% of residents do not use a vehicle in any form be that as a driver, passenger or public transit user.  This lays out two very key points for consideration;  first, that there is an increasing reliance on active transportation as a part of our daily lives. The second is that since there are 32% of adult residents in St Boniface who are able to meet their transportation needs without driving themselves where they need to go, there are successful alternate methods currently being used. With proper analysis and execution of future plans, that number will only go up.  The keys to success are simple: start developing active transportation habits at a young age, and to provide and promote safe and efficient methods of active transport as part of the city's overall transportation plan.

As I mentioned, this begins by developing good habits toward active transportation.  For me, that goes back to a program I remember when I was attending elementary school, the bike safety program.  My first active transportation priority would be to lobby the Provincial Government to bring this program back to our elementary schools.  This program, for those unaware, promotes bike safety and proper training by students bringing their bicycles to school and undergoing an operator training program.  This includes using proper signals, emergency manoeuvers, bike maintenance and actual rider training to show how to safely operate a bicycle and integrate with the vehicle traffic on roads.  The Province has already started a push for bike safety with the bike helmet program and this would tie in very nicely at essentially no cost.  This program would become part of the physical education curriculum showcase cycling as a viable transportation method and a great way to promote healthy lifestyles in today’s youth.  I would also advocate for a bike donation programs to schools where people could donate a bicycle to a local school in exchange for a tax receipt, similar to the programs run by other non-profit organizations for donating cars, boats and other vehicles.  This would allow students who are unable to transport a bike to the school and underprivileged kids without a bicycle to still take part with their peers and learn an important life school and hopefully spur a love for cycling and healthy living.

The second part of my active transportation plan refers to our current infrastructure and ways to improve our active transportation system.  Winnipeg has a clear goal currently in place with a priority being placed on active transport and this can not change.  What is needed is expansion and proper consideration in future projects.  I believe that with every future roadway or transportation infrastructure project should be a dedicated assessment on how to improve active transportation needs.  A great example of this in action is the recently completed project on Sherbrook Avenue.  When the road was resurfaced, a dedicated portion of that project was focused on the safety and accessibility to those relying on active transportation and public transit.  The roadway was refinished making it safer and more enjoyable for passenger vehicles but in doing so, a dedicated bike lane with increased parking for neighbourhood businesses was also created on the same roadway.  Vehicles can now park on both sides of the road with the bike lane behind a row of parallel parking spots making it safer for motorists and cyclists alike.  This small adjustment to the roadway has made a huge difference for all commuters on that road and with more forward thinking when assessing new projects, we can promote the use of active transportation by dedicating safe ways to use it.  This addition was cost effective and done during a project that needed completion.  It was the perfect example of what can be achieved when we make active transportation a priority on future roadway projects.

It is imperative that we go further to tie active transportation and public transportation together in a stronger way.  This is simply done by the creation of more Park and Ride stations with a greater number of bike lockers at each.  Every Park and Ride would have an information booth to provide route assistance, a place to purchase fares (and hopefully one day LRT tokens) and act a deterrent toward criminal behaviour whether that is bike theft or vehicle break-ins. In addition, paths in and out of Park and Ride facilities that link to a network of paths and major routes with bike lanes, we can create a safer way for those using active transportation to travel.

Finally, with the focus on active transportation we need to focus on safety of both motorists and active transport users.  Winnipeg has become numb to headlines of pedestrians and cyclists involved in incidents with motor vehicles.  While finger pointing tends to go both ways, the easiest way to be proactive toward this happening is the enforcement of laws currently in place and review with amendments made where necessary. I know I can't go more than a day without seeing a motorist not respecting the space to which a cyclist is entitled. I also can't go more than a day without seeing a cyclist weaving through traffic and ignoring stop signs and red lights. On top of all that, we commonly have pedestrians jaywalking within sight of a crosswalk or other controlled crossing. This needs to stop in order to protect the safety of everyone involved.  With a great role from Winnipeg Police focused on enforcement of these rules for all parties involved, we can greatly reduce the injuries and fatalities that occur from reckless or careless behaviours.  It is a simple and logical step that once again promotes the safety of transportation in all of its forms.


Do you have ideas for what you would like to see with regard to active transportation?  Comments or concerns regarding my vision?  I encourage you to leave a comment or reach out to me at ryandaviesforstb@gmail.com .  If you like what you are reading and wish to support my campaign in any way, donation, yard sign or other forms, please let me know.  It is through a community vision and your help that we can make Winnipeg a better, safer place to live, work and play.

Saturday 20 September 2014

The Rapid Transit Question, Part II - The Solution


As I discussed yesterday, transit, and especially rapid transit, is a key part of my campaign. Having already given an outline of my vision, it's time to get into the details of how I plan to bring effective transit to all areas of the city.

First, we need to accept that bus rapid transit (BRT) is not viable. The current BRT plan presents too many right of way and land procurement issues, as well as being technologically behind the times. I am proposing a light rail transit (LRT) system, featuring elevated rails and electric-powered trains, similar to the systems in Calgary and Vancouver. The advantages of this method of travel include not having any right of way issues, the ability to use the space above existing roadways, preventing land procurement problems and costs, novelty to spur ridership during the key early stages, as well as reduced fuel costs and zero carbon footprint. I have spoken with civil engineers who have built rapid transit systems in several other cities across North America, and they agree that raised-track LRT is the right answer for Winnipeg versus either BRT or a subway.

Proposed routing

It is vital that any transit plan include the ability to service all areas of the city, and mine does just that.  It is of primary importance that all areas of St Boniface from Tache to Sage Creek have access to a viable rapid transit network in order to promote ridership and ease traffic congestion and wear on infrastructure. I have done this by focusing on linking the core to our post-secondary institutions, as well as including a significant expansion of the park and ride system, and inducing cyclists and exurban commuters from outlying areas to join the system at those park and ride locations adding to revenue.

By including all areas of the city, we will be able to induce vastly increased ridership on the system, and make the city a more attractive destination that will lure new residents, as well as retain our existing population. An effective transit system will especially benefit students and young families, who will be able to contribute to the city's tax base for the foreseeable future, particularly if they see Winnipeg as a place they want to lay down roots and live, work, play, and raise their families. The corresponding population increase can also act as an inducement to wrestle increased funding out of other levels of government that will be required to complete this project. Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Waterloo have all received significant federal funding for their LRT systems, and we would do well to tap into that pool of funds.

Essentially, I am proposing a hub and spoke model for our transit corridors. Using downtown as a terminus, I envision lines running primarily along existing numbered city routes, ending at new enhanced park and ride lots. These park and ride lots would be accessible to suburban and exurban commuters, cyclists and would be focal points for merging bus service from suburban areas to the LRT system. These LRT access points would be built in key areas in order to make sure that all areas of the city can benefit from the LRT corridors. The first phase of my plan would establish the following routes going to and from downtown:
1.      Pembina Highway, utilizing the existing BRT corridor, terminating at the University of Manitoba
2.      St. Mary's Road, terminating at St. Vital Centre
3.      Archibald Street to Fermor Avenue, terminating near the Royal Canadian Mint
4.      Watt Street to Nairn Avenue and eventually Regent Avenue, terminating at Kildonan Place
5.      Main Street, terminating near the Chief Peguis Trail
6.      Notre Dame Avenue, terminating at Red River College (with the potential to branch off down McPhillips Street)
7.      Portage Avenue, terminating at Polo Park Shopping Centre (with the potential to extend the line to James Armstrong Richardson Airport and into the Unicity area)
The second phase of my plan would link the lines together near the edges of the city, following a model similar to the proposed internal ring road system, truly allowing for effective rapid transit for the residents of Winnipeg to be able to reach any area of the city in a timely and convenient fashion.

Funding

I am aware that this is an ambitious plan. Right now, Winnipeg needs ambitious plans. I do not know the exact cost, but I do know that it will be significant. It is clear that provincial and federal funding alone will not be adequate to finance the entire system. At the civic level, we will have to borrow to be able to pay for the expansion. However, with interest rates at record lows, this is the best time to borrow in order to save on the total cost of borrowing. To add to this, the cost of construction is rising at a rate of nearly 5% per year, meaning the cost of borrowing later rather than now will only increase the debt load needed to undertake this project. Additionally, increased ridership will help provide funding, and an increased service level will facilitate higher fares, as required.  The increase in ridership would also reduce wear on other forms of infrastructure, thereby reducing future cost of maintenance and repairs that would be invested into the LRT expansion. It is likely that a property tax increase will be required to service the debt however it should only be temporary.  With increased ridership and funds being diverted from other areas of infrastructure, this project would not need long term tax raises.  In addition, with the project in its' infant stages and needing more review before receiving the full go ahead, I would advocate for minimal or no tax increase until the project's vision is clear. As any financial advisor would tell you, borrowing to purchase a luxury item is a bad idea.  Borrowing for your future, such as an RRSP loan to purchase a house or plan for retirement, isn’t a bad strategy.  Given our current tax model, the state of the economy, the growing population and our intentions to spur that growth, now is the time to look ahead to what this city could become. This will be a key investment in our future, and an important part of addressing our infrastructure deficit. If we don't act now, we are left with two options: Grow significantly in population where it will only cost more in the future, or grind Winnipeg to a halt in terms of innovation and growth and watch as ex-Winnipeggers make waves in whatever new place they call home as whomever is left behind deals with the lack of vision politicians and residents had years earlier when they had the chance to make this city elite.

Advantages of LRT over BRT or subway
        lower maintenance costs – track vs road
        lower snow-clearing costs
        cost of electricity vs diesel (lower cost, fewer fluctuations and availability of resources)
        far less displacement of homes or businesses
        ability to expand along existing roadways as future growth dictates
        no dealing with below-ground issues – for example frost and our high water table

        novelty leading to increased ridership

Friday 19 September 2014

The Rapid Transit question, Part I

A question I’ve been asked in every interview be it by reporters, in surveys for interest groups or by people on the street is essentially the same:  What’s your stance on rapid transit as it stands currently and what would you like to see happen?
Winnipeg is an interesting case.  We are a growing city yet we resist innovation and vision in favour of the way things have always been done, whether or not they are the best way to do things. We have a history of repeating past mistakes then wondering how to correct those using conventional methods.  We celebrate our unique place in Canada’s identity and culture then complain that we are falling behind the standards other Canadian cities have set. The need for a mass transit system that connects the city is a prime example of this issue.  We are behind the times with regard to our city transportation systems which includes mass transit, bike and walking paths and roadways that circumvent crowded areas in order to improve traffic flow.  The question everyone wants the answer to is how do we improve this?

Let’s face facts, Winnipeg needs a mass transit system capable of reducing road congestion, decreasing commute times, reducing the environmental footprint we are currently leaving and that serves an accessible and viable option for the majority of residents in Winnipeg.  The current Rapid Transit plan, as it stands, does not meet these goals. The bus system being used is already an antiquated idea.  The biggest problem I have relates directly to St Boniface and the urban sprawl throughout the ward.  The proposed system does not benefit the heavily populated area near downtown, or even serve the newer outlying areas. My proposed mass transit system will address these and other major concerns.

First of all, a mass transit system encourages urban density merely with its presence.  New residents to Winnipeg and St Boniface along with first time home owners and students would gravitate to areas along the mass transit corridor simply for the convenience of low cost transportation.  With this comes increased commercial activity to capitalize on those new residents.  In order to maximize growth potential and increase the rate in which the areas become populated, I would push for tax incentives for new residential or commercial builds along the corridors.  In doing this, Winnipeg would see unprecedented urban infill growth and help to solve the urban sprawl issue facing the city.

With the new transit system that serves more residents and areas of the city, we would also achieve a sense of what I am dubbing commUNITY.  I believe the citizens of St Boniface should be able to share in everything happening in our community whether that is happening in Island Lakes or Southdale or Old St Boniface.  We would also be able to promote St Boniface and its wonderful amenities, restaurants, parks and people more efficiently. Most importantly, we will have an easier way to bring residents from other areas of the city into St Boniface to experience and share in everything we have to offer.  Unity within our community and between areas of the city is of utmost importance to me and by showcasing St Boniface and giving people access to the unique areas of St Boniface through efficient transportation, the people and businesses of St Boniface stand to benefit.
Possibly the most important fallout question from this, how are we going to pay for it and what does it look like?  That answer will be posted here tomorrow. Please visit again and thanks for your interest.  If you wish to show your support by volunteering with the campaign, donating or posting a yard sign, please contact me.

@RDforStb on Twitter

204-898-0528

Wednesday 17 September 2014

Allow Me To Introduce Myself

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site and learn more about why I feel I would be the right candidate to cast your vote for in the upcoming 2014 Winnipeg Civic Election.

My name is Ryan Davies, and I'm running for City Council for the St. Boniface ward. I've lived in Winnipeg for most of my life, and I've chosen to run because I have a deep and abiding passion for this city, its people, and its institutions. If elected, I will focus on improving our day-to-day life in this ward by working diligently on the following issues:

1.      Quality of Life
With your support, I want to make Winnipeg, and, most importantly, St. Boniface a place where people want to live, work, play, and raise their families. First and foremost, we must ensure that all areas of the city have access to the same level of civic services. As a youth baseball coach and dog owner, I've seen firsthand that there are too many areas without meaningful access to public transit, community centres, recreational facilities, and even dog parks. Winnipeg is a city on the cusp of a population boom, and a large portion of that growth is taking place in St. Boniface. However, unless we plan effectively for that growth, more and more residents will be left out of everything the city has to offer. With that population growth, we also need to ensure the safety of our residents by enhancing our police and fire coverage. Civic government is the level of government closest to our daily lives, and it's time that we elect people who recognize and value everything that can be accomplished through City Hall.

2.      Changing the culture at City Hall
We have all watched the malaise and corruption at City Hall for too long. I want to introduce transparency and accountability to all civic proceedings. I'm tired of watching the news and seeing story after story about shady back- room deals and pay-for-play politics. I'm not a career politician, but I am a lifelong voter, and I'm sick of the rhetoric without vision that spews from the Council chambers. Over the coming weeks, I will release detailed and realistic plans for how we can improve our city and our area. I have a vision for what Winnipeg can be, and it's time to do away with the rhetoric. I'm not afraid of telling the hard truth, and I will not back down from any challenge. The people of St. Boniface deserve no less.

3.      Infrastructure
Currently, Winnipeg's infrastructure deficit is in the billions of dollars, and yet there has been no tangible plan to come out of either City Hall or the Legislature to even begin to address this most fundamental problem. I believe that we need to work together with our provincial partners to establish a comprehensive plan to repair our city before it crumbles further. We need to explore all aspects of the problem, including funding, efficiency, and proper oversight to ensure that this most basic issue can be fixed.

I am aware that I am running to represent a ward that is overwhelmingly large and diverse. My goal is to try to address the concerns of all the residents, whether they are from St. Boniface, Island Lakes, Sage Creek, Windsor Park, or anywhere else within the boundaries. Furthermore, I believe in vision without rhetoric. To those ends, I would invite you to visit my website where you can learn more about me, my ideas, and my vision for the St. Boniface ward. I welcome your input and questions, and can be reached either by phone, e-mail, or on Twitter. If you'd like to support my campaign, either by displaying a sign on your property, volunteering, or making a donation, please don't hesitate to reach out.

While this is a brief introduction, I would ask you to revisit this site on a regular basis as I will be posting new insights into my goals, beliefs and plans that I would bring to City Hall.  Each posting will be targeted to a specific issue in this campaign and I encourage you to respond with your thoughts and ideas as it is only  with the voice of a community in its entirety will the evolution of Winnipeg truly take shape.

Ryan Davies
rdforstb@gmail.com
204-898-0528