CRIME AND SAFETY

The following article was written as a city council meeting assignment. Having covered both a school board meeting and a meeting at Winnipeg City Hall, I can say that I appreciated my time at city hall considerably more.

I've always followed politics with a keen interest, having done my post-secondary studies in politics. I appreciated the process, the dialogue, and the clearness with which the meeting unfolded. The press is always present to hold councillors accountable for what they say, and what they do.

This is in stark contrast to the conduct of the Winnipeg School Division board meeting where, as a rule the press isn't present. I genuinely got the impression that we were intruding when we were at the school board meeting. Trustees were willing to answer questions, however I never got the feeling they really wanted to talk.

In any case, the following article covers the council meeting on January 26, 2010.


Crime and safety dominated the first city council meeting of 2011 at Winnipeg City Hall on Wednesday. Councillors approved a motion to increase the number of police officers by 58 by the end of 2012. In doing so, city council fulfilled Mayor Sam Katz's 2010 election campaign promise to add new officers to the Winnipeg Police Service. Although the motion was carried unanimously, some councillors expressed concerns about where the money for the new officers will come from.

(Photo from winnipeg.ca) 

According to Katz, crime and safety are Winnipeggers' number 1 priority. He noted that 18 of the new recruits will be assigned to a cruiser which will operate on a three-shift rotation, 20 officers will serve on foot patrol, and the other 20 officers will be fighting street gangs as part of a gang prevention unit. 32 officers will be added in 2011 at an estimated cost of over $1 million, and the remaining 26 will be added in 2012 for an estimated price tag of over $4 million.

Mayor Katz (Photo from mbchamber.mb.ca)

When referring to the street gang problem, Katz stated that he was fully aware of the troubles faced by at-risk youth. Katz hopes that the addition of 20 new officers dedicated to combatting gangs will be effective. "We know they are vulnerable, specifically young aboriginal people," he said, adding, "we need more resources."

Councillor Ross Eadie, who represents the Mynarski ward, echoed Katz's sentiment that crime is an important issue to Winnipeggers. "There really is a want from the people to bring more police officers to protect communities at risk," he stated, however adding that those resources "have a lot of financial implications."

Jenny Gerbasi, Fort Rouge - East Fort Garry ward councillor, said finding funds for the new officers was a major concern. Although the city is operating with a funding shortfall, Gerbasi didn't want to see existing programs that prevent crime cut in order to pay for the new officers. "We will need some fiscal accountability, " she said. "We have to find a way to pay for it without taking away from programs that prevent (crime). (Katz) didn't say where we're getting the money from. It's a big question mark."

Councillor Jenny Gerbasi (photo from winnipeg.ca)

Scott Fielding, the chairperson of council's finance committee and councillor for the St. James - Brooklands ward, said that although the budget isn't finalized, he doesn't foresee additional officers coming at the expense of existing programs.

Fielding said that the funding for new police officers would be covered by new revenue streams, such as property taxes generated by new homes. He added, "the city's revenue stream always goes up, we'll generate the funds."

WINNIPEG SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

Here's a copy of an article I wrote about a Winnipeg school board meeting. The meeting was riveting, and so is this story. Let it captivate your imagination.


Environmental concerns took centre stage at the Winnipeg school board meeting on Monday, January 10. Trustees representing the Winnipeg School Division were faced with three separate motions introduced by trustee Mike Babinsky, which aimed to reduce the environmental impact of plastics. Although none of his motions were carried, it did not dampen the veteran trustee's spirits. That's because one of Babinsky's main objectives was to create a dialogue about reducing plastic waste in Winnipeg School Division institutions. 

Trustee Mike Babinsky (Photo from cbc.ca)

The three motions Babinsky proposed were all subsequently referred to the policy/program committee for further analysis. Among the motions, Babinsky suggested banning the sale of plastic beverage bottles and eliminating the use of plastic containers by students and staff. He also proposed that the school board lobby the provincial and civic governments to establish a refundable deposit for plastic bottles similar to ones established in other provinces. 

Some of the other trustees were reluctant to support Babinsky's motions without further consultation. When referring to the motion to ban the sale of plastic beverage bottles in Winnipeg School Division schools and buildings, Trustee Joyce Bateman noted that it was "critical to consult with our students, our staff and our parents." She added, "to miss the opportunity for consultation would be a waste."


The most contentious of the motions introduced by Babinsky was the proposal that the Winnipeg school board should lobby local governments to create a refundable deposit for plastic bottles. Trustee Kristine Barr said that the motion was "not within (the school board's) mandate," suggesting that "if all (the trustees') personal issues became agenda issues, (the board would) be here until Tuesday morning."


However, Trustee Anthony Ramos came to Babinsky's defense on the lobbying issue. Ramos said "dialogue does put it on everyone's mind that we are behind the rest of the country," adding that if the Winnipeg school board's efforts could produce a shift in consumer consumption "we should keep it on (the board's) radars."


Ultimately, Babinsky was expecting the motions to create further discussion. According to the trustee, his goal wasn't to force the environmental issues on anyone, but rather it was to foster more discussion. "I'm not trying to ban little Johnny's mom from packing a bottle of water for him to have with his sandwich," rather, he stated "I was expecting further dialogue."


Babinsky noted that further dialogue could lead to positive changes in behaviour, and pointed to the shift he noticed in the use of Styrofoam cups to coffee mugs in school break rooms. He said there was no ban on Styrofoam, and all it took was an idea to change consumption. Babinsky said fostering continued dialogue is about "encouraging our staff further" to make positive environmental changes. 

RADIO GA GA

I don't mean to mislead any Queen fans out there, but this article isn't about the classic rock band in any way shape or form - besides which, I really don't like the song Radio Ga Ga - nor is it about the (for reasons that I don't understand) popular singer Lady Gaga.

 

Sorry folks, this blog isn't about oddly dressed performers... 

Rather, this is a short article I wrote in my spare time. It was never intended to get published in a newspaper, I swear it... In any case, I hope you enjoy this story about a new radio station in Winnipeg. 

For the second time in less than three years, CHUM Radio Winnipeg changed the format of one of its radio stations. On December 26, 2010 Curve 94.3, which played an eclectic range of pop alternative music, ceased to exist. Curve was rebranded as a 60s and 70s radio station called FAB 94•3. The question remains, will a radio station with a narrower focus in its format attract a large enough demographic to compete against other local radio stations?

Photo from ctvmedia.ca 

Curve, branded as “Winnipeg’s Pop Alternative,” took to the airwaves on August 29, 2008 replacing the former Q94 FM. The radio station’s eclectic range of music was intended to appeal to a target audience aged 25 to 40.

BBM Canada, a not for profit organization which gathers information on audience behaviours, released statistics at the beginning of December, 2010 which ranked Curve in tenth position with a 2.9 per cent share of radio listenership in Manitoba. Curve’s ranking dropped from the previous year, when it came in ninth position with 4 per cent of listeners. In 2010, Hot 103 was the music station with the highest share of listenership in 2010 with 11.8 per cent.

According to a media release issued on December 26, 2010, CHUM Radio Winnipeg vice-president and general manager Chris Stevens stated that the change in format was due to listeners’ input. Stevens stated that “Winnipeggers spoke, and we listened. We're thrilled to bring a brand new radio station to (Winnipeg). FAB 94•3 will feed the musical appetite of a large and passionate demographic.”

The change in format has already led to mixed reviews from younger radio listeners.

Keith Burke, an 18-year-old University of Manitoba student, preferred Curve’s eclectic format to the new 60s and 70s format on FAB. “I listened to Curve and other stations like Hot 103. I liked that they would play older songs, especially songs from the 1990s, and newer songs too,” he said adding “I liked the mix of old and new.”

For some radio listeners, FAB’s format is an improvement from Curve’s. According to Samantha Schimnowski, a 22-year-old dietetic aide, Curve’s eclectic radio format did not appeal to her. “I never really listened to Curve much, it wasn’t really my kind of music,” she said, adding “I’m not a fan of pop music.”

Schimnowski said that she feels that the new format on FAB is “definitely a step up from the music they were playing on Curve,” but conceded that she “would rather still just pop a cd when I’m in the car.”

FEELING FINE?

How are you doing after five years of Conservative government? Michael Ignatieff would like you to say you're no better off now than you were before Stephen Harper took office.

Photo from cbc.ca 

When Ignatieff kicked off his 20/11 Tour in Winnipeg and unveiled his new ad campaign, he stated that "when (the Liberal Party) asks Manitobans if they are better off - and if Canada is better off - today under Stephen Harper compared to five years ago, the answer is resoundingly 'no.'"

This statement seems to indicate something interesting about the Liberal strategy, which is evident in the choice of language in Ignatieff's speech. The Liberal Party is still clearly focusing its attacks on Harper's credibility rather than his conservative government as a whole. So far, the tactic seems to have failed as the Liberals are still polling behind the governing Conservatives. 

I personally question why Ignatieff is still beating this dead horse, so to speak. If attacking the leader of the government hasn't worked to improve the Liberal Party's numbers in the polls after years of trying, a rational individual would think it best to switch gears and try another tactic. 

The problem Ignatieff and the Liberal Party still faces is that they are unable to propose meaningful policy alternatives that resonate with the Canadian electorate, which at the same time differentiates their views from the Conservative Party's. I suspect that in the short term, or so long as Ignatieff is leader of the opposition,  we can look forward to more of the same. 

DISCRIMINATION BY ANOTHER NAME

Harry Lali, a candidate running for the provincial NDP leadership in British Columbia, made a statement on Thursday, January 6, that's sure to get every liberal-minded Canadian citizen tied in a knot.

(Photo from cbc.ca)

Lali made the statement that "(e)quity quotas are anti-democratic and discriminate, specifically against older, white males. As leader, I would welcome back older, white males into our NDP family. I say to older, white males, don't stand outside the tent and complain. Come and join my campaign team."

Critics will immediately pounce on him for making the statement that equity quotas are anti-democratic and discriminate against white males. I can almost guarantee that the portion of the statement he made within the same speech in which he states "(w)e need to empower women and equity groups through an incentive-based and target-based approach, but NOT through equity quotas" will be largely ignored by his detractors and the media.

The reality of the situation is that equity quotas are anti-democratic and discriminate. The purpose of these measures was to eliminate the glass ceiling that prevented women and members of visible minorities from reaching the same heights within organizations as their predominantly white male counterparts.

There is no doubt that equity quotas, or employment equity, has had an impact on the number of women and visible minorities entering the workforce and political parties, and competing for high profile jobs. But at a certain point, we must, as a nation, collectively reevaluate equity quotas.

Anyone who has ever applied for a government job, whether at the civic, provincial, or federal level, will have no doubt read the disclaimers noting that preference will be given to members of one of the four employment equity designated groups. Members of this group include aboriginal peoples, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and women.

On the one hand, I'm glad governments proactively disclose this information; on the other, I think it's a discriminatory practice. When you make the statement that you are hiring members of specific groups, it bluntly gives the impression that you are hiring based on sex and race.

What's worse is that keeping such a practice in place also demeans members of the employment equity designated groups. It virtually gives the impression that members of those groups got their jobs simply due to the fact that they fall within the desired criteria rather than solely based on their qualifications.

Make no mistake, members of these equity groups are just as qualified as those who are not, and they were historically mistreated and under-represented in the workforce. However, current hiring practices leave a sour taste. We shouldn't be hiring based on guilt over historical mistreatment. I believe on hiring based on merit, plain and simple.

I firmly believe in an incentive-based and target-based approach that would empower women and minority groups as Lali suggested. Quotas don't fix problems. They act as a fancy window-dressings. But as noted, it is unlikely that much attention will be paid to that portion of his speech. The media will undoubtedly choose to focus on the more controversial portion of his statement which, taken out of context, looks confrontational and controversial.

Lali took a stand, but he'll probably fall on his sword.

WHERE DO THEY GET ALL THOSE FANCY BANNERS FROM?

Does the unfurling of a banner work as an effective way to get people talking? Is it newsworthy? If you look at Greenpeace's track record, one can argue that it certainly does.

Photo from msnb.com 

There are countless examples of Greenpeace's work around the world. The vast majority of the time, environmental activists climb, or repel, off of buildings to display large banners with a political message.

Take for example one of Greenpeace's PR stunts, when members climbed onto two buildings on Parliament Hill to display two large banners protesting Canada's inaction on climate change, as well as protesting Alberta's oilsands, in December, 2009 ahead of a United Nations conference on climate change.

Photo from thestar.com

The story instantly drew media coverage because, as was reported by the National Post, among others, it was the "biggest security breach in years and raised questions about how to keep Parliament Hill a people's place while barring those who could seek to do harm."   

The stunt certainly fit the bill as a newsworthy story. The stunt was timely as it preceded a United Nations conference. It was a national news story that had great impact, as it was incredibly unexpected, and the security breach was unprecedented. 

If anything, this pseudo-event was very effective in that it got people talking about it all over Canada.