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