Confessions of a Proud and Unapologetic Ex-Winnipegger

Update to A Tale of Cities, Part 2

2008-03-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back, I contrasted Halifax’s convention facilities with Winnipeg’s. Yesterday brought exciting news that Halifax may be getting new digs after all.

PolicyFrog is right that all cities are chasing the convention-centre-as-tourism-development strategy. This irrational exuberance may be causing some municipalities to overbuild. However, every major urban centre should have adequate facilities to fulfill convention needs. While Winnipeg’s are ample enough, a new multipurpose facility for Halifax is long overdue. Halifax is the logical focal point for any Eastern Canadian trade show. The city can also draw visitors from Moncton, PEI, Cape Breton and other centres that are a relatively short drive away.

Nova Scotia also manages to squeeze out 36.25% more tourist revenue than Manitoba even though the province only has 8.98% more people coming to visit. This proven talent at successfully executing a tourism strategy can only be further enhanced by better convention facilities. The weather is also much more moderate which means that there is a greater likelihood of year-round appeal.

While shows like this may still not come around, there is no reason that a scaled-down version would be out of the realm of possibility. Count me in for four tickets!

Compact or Compaction?

2008-03-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

My recent trip to New York made me revisit a question that’s been lingering in the back of my mind ever since I lived in Toronto. I raised this question in the comments section of Policy Frog’s most recent blog entry:

“…to what degree should we seek compact urban living for cities such as Winnipeg or Halifax? Right now there is a sense of community that simply does not exist in a city such as New York. I get the feeling that there is a “tipping point” where if too many humans live together, we artificially create distance by being emotionally removed from our fellow humans.”

When I lived in Toronto, I became accustomed to the antics of my neighbours – I referred to said antics as the “Elevator Game”. The goal of the game was simple – close the elevator doors as fast as you could to preclude anyone else from coming on and causing you great delays of 30 seconds or more. Getting the better of seniors and people laden with groceries (I unfortunately sometimes fell into the latter category) must have given these boors an elevated (pardon the pun) sense of achievement in saving those precious few seconds.

Manhattan and Downtown/Midtown Toronto are arguably perfect examples of compact urban living. Spending time in such urban centres when you have had the luck of living in Winnipeg and/or Halifax requires quite a cultural adjustment to acclimatize yourself to the ways in which people can be packed so closely together and yet remain so emotionally distant from one another.

Human beings have spent hundreds of thousands of years living in small, tight-knit communities. Major urban centres and the compact urban living associated with same are a relatively new phenomenon for our species. In short, we’ve spent much more time evolving under a certain societal organization only to fairly recently change the way in which we live. Imagine the chaos that would ensue if we put disparate packs of wolves, prides of lions, troops of gorillas or even atoms together in overly close quarters. Are humans any different or does our thin veneer of civility fade when we get too close to one another?

Staunch proponents of compact urban living sometimes make the value judgment that urban sprawl is inherently bad. I think too much of either alternative has adverse effects on an urban centre. In the blind pursuit of compact urban living, do we run the risk of creating a type of compaction where the human soul and our senses of community and civility are left to wither on the vine? If so, give me some land in the ‘burbs instead where I can share a cold beer with my neighbours after our yardwork is done – and if there was one nearby, I would promise to hold the elevator door open…

To Bully or Not to Bully

2008-03-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

This story came to my attention via Spirited Kenny. The Manitoba Teachers Society is apparently up in arms about the game Bully.

Perhaps MTS President Pat Isaak should actually play the game before she chooses to ante up an opinion on it. I would hope she expects students to read a book prior to doing a book report on it - procedural fairness dicates she should therefore do a little homework herself.

Were she to play the game, she would find that the preferable course of action is to DEFEND students from other bullies and ATTEND classes. Gameplay difficulty is actually harder when you skip class or beat up students. Besides, attending class in the game is actually fun - it is part and parcel of the gameplay missions. And giving a bully a wedgie to stop a bullying in progress is so much more fun than beating up on a helpless kid. In real life, kids must make choices – the game shows them that if they make the wrong ones, their “missions” become infinitely more difficult.

Rockstar’s games have always contained a level of social satire – Grand Theft Auto constantly pokes fun at our fascination with mindless violence – just listen to the AmmuNation ads in the games. In Bully, things are no different. It mocks the cliques that made getting through high school so tedious.

Perhaps the Manitoba Teachers Society should be teaching our teens the critical thinking that will enable them to see the bigger message video game companies sometimes impart. Instead, it is unfortunate that Ms. Isaak sets such a poor example to students by opining on something she obviously knows nothing about.

For that, I give Ms. Isaak’s “book report” on the game Bully an F. Never judge a book solely by its cover, Ms. Isaak.

A Tale of Two Provinces

2008-03-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

Would this ever happen in Manitoba? A solution should be judged on its outcomes (hopefully shorter wait times and lower costs) rather than just through some blind adherence to a misguided ideology (all private involvement in healthcare is bad).

A Tale of Two Cities, Part 2

2008-03-09T11:03:00.000-07:00

The last time I did a “tale of the tape” between Winnipeg and Halifax, Michael of Life’s a Journey asked me if Winnipeg outdid Halifax on any front. With Sam Katz’s recent budget in mind, I would have to say Winnipeg has far better convention facilities than Halifax. One need only compare this to this or this, although this is quite nice (but they don’t hold the boat, car or home shows there).

When I was in Winnipeg, I absolutely loved attending the boat shows, Home Expressions and all of the other events that let us know spring was on its way. However, as I asked in Policy Frog’s blog entry, is there a real need to expand the Winnipeg Convention Centre? Are any shows being turned away? Is the current building running anywhere near full capacity? Does burdening Winnipeg hotels with a tax to subsidize bigger convention facilities make sense?

If anyone needs updated convention facilities, it is Halifax. Tourism spending in Nova Scotia totals $1.3 billion and 2.1 million people visit the province annually – contrast that with just under 500,000 visitors to Manitoba in 2006. When you look at those numbers, is there really a need to build a convention centre Taj Mahal in Winnipeg? Or should the city make better use of the excellent facilities it already has?

If I were trying to attract more people to Manitoba, I would focus on the spring and summer months when the weather is excellent. Trying to lure tourists to a vibrant city, fabulous lakes and easy access to nature would be far easier than trying to convince convention goers that they should stage their next corporate gathering in January or February in -30 (-60 with the windchill) weather.

UPDATE - I stand corrected on the tourism numbers - please refer to the Comments. Thanks for pointing it out, D!

Commons Conundrums

2008-02-14T12:22:00.000-08:00

An article showed up in today’s Chronicle Herald about Halifax’s Mayor Peter Kelly enlisting the help of a New York promoter to seek concerts for the Halifax Commons. Events Halifax is complaining that they have been usurped. One of the promoter’s representatives stated:

The president of Creative Entertainment Group confirmed Wednesday that she has a "written contract" with Halifax to pursue acts on the city’s behalf. But Sharon Kim-Dion, speaking from New York, was tight-lipped about what concerts she is trying to land.

"It’s a written agreement but only for very specific artists," she said. "And those artists are the kind that can fill the Commons space," that is, those that can attract more than 40,000 people.

"There’s only about half a dozen artists in the world that can fill that kind of venue."

It’s a "very informal" agreement, Ms. Kim-Dion said.

Only half a dozen artists in the world could attract more than 40,000 people? Off the top of my head, here are some biggies from the entertainment world:

1) David Bowie

2) U2

3) Madonna

4) Rolling Stones

5) The Eagles

6) Pink Floyd

7) Bruce Springsteen

8) The Police

9) Paul McCartney

10) Faith Hill/Tim McGraw

11) Billy Joel

12) Spice Girls

13) Garth Brooks

14) Neil Diamond

15) Led Zeppelin when they finally kick off a reunion tour

16) Bon Jovi

17) Hillary Duff

18) Hanna Montana

19) Gwen Stefani

20) Tragically Hip

21) Van Halen

22) An East Coast-themed extravaganza featuring artists such as Great Big Sea, Signal Hill, Sons of Maxwell with the Dropkick Murphys thrown in for good measure

23) Iron Maiden – ok maybe this is more of a personal bias – but they could at least hit around 20,000 seats

Any artists I missed? Please add them in the comments section.

Harry is Hip-Hop’s Last Hoorah?

2008-02-11T06:38:00.000-08:00

Being of a certain age, I have seen numerous musical trends come and go. Hair metal died when record labels started signing anyone with big hair. Grunge died when plaid started showing up on the runways of Milan, New York and Japan.

If the past is any indication of the future, the world of hip-hop may now be on its last legs as well. The kids’ show Hip Hop Harry takes the notion of musical oversaturation to dizzying new heights, no doubt making even Gene Simmons insanely jealous. There’s even a brewing battle between Barney and Harry, a la Kanye and Fiddy. Thankfully, I don’t ever recall a Hair Metal Harvey or Grungy Garry.

Even the trash talk in rap has gone commercial. The latest battle between 50 Cent and Kanye West was not about who had the greater talent or artistic merit but who would sell the most albums. Could competing tours sponsored by Target and Wal-Mart be far behind?

Perhaps the next step in the mass commercialization of hip-hop includes sponsorship by the big cereal companies. I’m hoping for Kanye Krisps and Fiddy Flakes – that way when they continue to cram the mass consumption of hip-hop down my throat, it at least will have a sweet sugary aftertaste.

A Tale of Two Cities

2008-02-08T16:58:00.000-08:00

Having now spent a few months in Halifax, one can’t help but notice the contrasts between Winnipeg and my new home. Some of my initial impressions are as follows:

1) Halifax has a stronger cultural identity. The Maritimes have a greater sense of history and embrace a common culture. Even my East Indian friends out here know and play East Coast ditties. Winnipeggers seem quicker to embrace their multicultural background at the expense of embracing the fact they are all Manitobans. Maybe that’s why Spirited Energy was the best the NDP could do – is there anything that uniformly defines being a Winnipegger or Manitoban?

2) Which city was supposed to be the transport hub? Winnipeg’s only roadway that could be considered a freeway (albeit with red lights at numerous locations) is the 101 Perimeter Highway. Halifax has many more – 102, 103, 107, 118 to name just a few. With a fraction of Winnipeg’s population, how is it that Halifax can outmuscle the ‘Peg when it comes to the efficient movement of people and goods?

3) And Justice for All – a Nova Scotia judge recently sentenced some teenage girls for LONGER than recommended by the defence AND the prosecution. Contrast that with the constant attempts to encourage judges to make anything but laughable sentences in Manitoba.

4) Haligonians love their home town. We have met so many people that are happy to be here and couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. I personally know individuals that left higher paying jobs in Toronto so they could live in Nova Scotia. Winnipeggers seem to make a sport of dumping on their home city.

I love my home town and it has presented me with boundless opportunity. That’s why it pains me to see it slowly and steadfastly slip into decline. Did the NDP really do anything to actually merit the overwhelming show of support that voters gave them? Or are Manitobans like frogs in a slowly boiling pot of water not realizing that the more they tolerate petty and serious crime, infrastructure deficiencies, debacles such as Crocus, the Floodway and now the Bipole 3 issue (not to mention other such problems), the more they move away from making Manitoba the beautiful and great province it once was and still deserves to be?

Nova Scotia has never elected an NDP government to power and it shows. The Schreyer, Pawley and now Doer dynasties have had an indelible effect on Manitoba – if the differences between Manitoba and Nova Scotia are any indication, this wasn’t necessarily for the better.

Boxed In

2008-02-06T17:50:00.000-08:00

My first thought after reading Dan Lett’s February 4, 2008 article was that Doug Schweitzer has just been boxed in. Lett ponders whether or not Doug is in the game for the long haul or whether this is just a “career-boosting stop on the way to greater fortune in the private sector.” This article would inadvertently seem to give ammo to the NDP should Doug leave anytime before the next election. After all, it would reaffirm the stereotypes that Tories are all career opportunists hellbent on laying waste to anything if it is in their own interests to do so.

Doug’s performance in his new position should be evaluated on what he delivers for the party, not the timeframe he chooses to deliver it in. Results are far more important than the tired notion of seniority ever will be. So let’s put down the stopwatch and see what Doug actually achieves before judging him.

Lett coins the term “pit-stop professional” to describe someone whose employment isn’t predicated on perpetuity. Would he also use this term to depict the endless litany of personalities that have come and gone from his very own paper? Nicholas Hirst, Murdoch Davis & Andrew Ritchie are but a few that have come and gone in the past few years. Are the "new faces" of the paper little more than lipstick and rouge if they aren’t around for the long haul, to use some of Lett’s own verbiage? I would like to think Winnipeggers are getting the best quality newspaper the Free Press can deliver – should there be any reasons to think otherwise?

Reversal of Misfortune

2008-01-30T21:34:00.000-08:00

A few short years ago, Nintendo was considered way behind the mighty Sony and Microsoft. A product called the DS helped to change all of that. The Manitoba Tories have enlisted their own DS, Doug Schweitzer, to reverse many years of their own anemic fortunes.

Having shared many strategic discussions with Doug, it is my heartfelt belief the party is finally well on its way to showing the NDP the door in the next election. Many of the operational deficiencies plaguing the party are about to become a painful distant memory.

While NDP bloggers such as Just Damn Stupid, Tooxs and others have been ever so gracious in victory (I am aware I lost the election but thank you for the persistent reminders as part of your diatribes), I long for the day where we see the true test of their mettle – in defeat. With Doug at the helm at 23 Kennedy, those days are likely only an election away.

Congrats on the new gig Doug!

If These Walls Could Talk

2007-09-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

I have spent a large chunk of my life studying business theory and all of its underpinnings. One of the key assumptions is that investors should be rational when handling their investments. As anyone versed in behavioural finance will tell you, this is often easier said than done.

And so it goes with my own house. For those who don’t already know, my wife and I have decided to move our family to Halifax. Now that I am “in between” jobs, we decided to move somewhere we have always wanted to retire to. We might as well enjoy it while we can. The kids are also young enough to handle a cross country move without worrying about school friendships and all of the issues associated with them.

The last walkthrough in my Winnipeg home was a pretty overwhelming experience. After seven years, the house became more than an equity investment. It was the place both my children came home to after coming into the world. It was where they learned to walk. It was where they both learned to say “Dada”.

I have no doubt that living in Nova Scotia will be an amazing experience. The kids have taken to their new home and are already quite enamoured with it. But part of my heart will always stay in Winnipeg. It’s not only where I grew up but it’s where my two little guys made some of their most amazing developmental leaps. So as I am about to leave, part of my heart will always stay here.

In the upcoming weeks, the blog will be renamed Confessions of a Proud and Unapologetic Ex-Winnipegger. I don’t know what I’ll be writing about but I do plan on sticking around the blog scene. After all, I think the next four years will be some of the most important and defining years for Manitoba – I accordingly will be following the NDP’s newest mandate with great interest. Hundreds of years from now, I am convinced that this upcoming term will be the one that Gary Doer’s administration will be most remembered for. It is my sincere hope that the NDP govern themselves (and Manitobans) accordingly…

Reblanding Lessons

2007-07-19T08:20:00.000-07:00

"Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half." – John Wanamaker

If the father of modern advertising were alive right now, I’m sure he would have even choicer words for the Spirited Energy campaign. It was interesting to hear Jim Rondeau on the air yesterday attempting in vain to defend the NDP’s pet project by asserting that venerable names such as Coca-Cola also have branding initiatives.

The better analogy would be the New Coke fiasco. To Coca-Cola’s credit, at least THEY had market research SHOWING that people actually preferred the taste of New Coke to Pepsi. What they missed was the psychological attachment people had to the Classic Coke brand. When terms such as “nauseating” are volleyed about during the Spirited Energy focus group sessions, it would seem that our provincial government had no impetus to go forward with this initiative at all without some semblance of a major overhaul.

Are we perhaps as sentimentally attached to “Friendly Manitoba” as we are to Classic Coke? At least the Manitobans participating in the market research process had the courtesy to give the branding mandarins their take on Spirited Energy campaign from the get-go. If only someone would have listened…

Silent Lucidity

2007-05-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

Songs are a funny thing. While music oftentimes has a way of becoming a diary for your life, sometimes a song will mean different things to you as your circumstances in life change. Case in point – Silent Lucidity by Queensryche. Back in the early 90’s, I thought it was merely a Pink Floyd-esque treatise on the whole notion of dreams and the subconscious.

Now that I am a parent, Silent Lucidity takes on a whole new meaning (it also helps that Geoff Tate elaborated on the inspiration for the song the last time he was in The ‘Peg). How many times have I personally looked over my little ones and made the silent vow that I will be the one watching over them? As they sleep, one can’t help but wonder what dreamscapes they are exploring. And when those dreams turn restless, Mama and Dada are the ones that do their best to protect them in the night.

Is there a better role in the entire universe? Not a chance. I just wish time wasn’t going by so quickly. Which brings me to Time Stand Still by Rush and how THAT song has taken on a whole new meaning since high school…

The Home Stretch, Part 2

2007-05-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

On this, the eve of the provincial election, I thought I would share some of my thoughts going into tomorrow’s festivities. I will keep the format of my pre-nomination post, because I am a bit superstitious:

1) You can move mountains in relatively short order. Seine River was a late bloomer for the Tory camp. The nomination meeting was held a mere two days prior to Gary Doer’s election call. Regardless of all of the bravado that is coming from some people posting anonymous comments, they know just as well as we do how close this race will be. This speaks volumes about our volunteers that have managed to make Seine River a riding to watch.

2) A wise person told us that Mrs. P&UW and I would be amazed how many people step up to the plate once you win a nomination race. Were they ever right. The realization that so many individuals were helping out when they could be doing a plethora of other things put wind into my sails. They were out pounding signs and walking with me in the hottest (and sometimes cold & wet) weather. I owed it to each and every one of them to give 120% each and every day. Words alone cannot express my gratitude for the chance to meet some of the most fantastic and inspirational people around.

3) My respect for Hugh has increased exponentially. Even the MSM themselves have admitted Hugh got the roughest ride over the course of this campaign. While Mia Rabson indicated Hugh “muddled” through CFS taunts at the U of M, my impression was that he soldiered through it - I challenge anyone to maintain their composure the way Hugh did during that press release. I personally saw him field many tough questions at the door deftly and expertly. Heck, I was oftentimes the one asking some of the tough questions. As an ex-banker, rest assured I had many people fake their way through a barrage of my questioning. Not Hugh. He was articulate and well versed in every issue & concern I raised with him. There is no doubt in my mind we need a leader like him if we really hope to restore our province to its former glory.

How do I feel right now? Eerily calm, all things considered. The closest comparable I can come up with is the feeling you have just before a final exam. You have done everything you can to prepare and it all comes down to what happens the next day. Instead of making sure I am using the same type of pen and having my trusty HP financial calculator that successfully got me through many prior exams, I am blogging the night before. After all, it did work the last time I faced an electoral race…

Chinese Democracy?

2007-05-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

One of the great joys of living in our magnificent country is having the ability to articulate our political beliefs without the threat of recrimination or reprisal from parties with differing views. Unfortunately, there are some voters that feel the need to belligerently impose their views on others without using tact or decorum. One of my volunteers wound up meeting one of these unfortunate individuals yesterday.

I would like to congratulate this individual for their effective use of bully tactics. Instead of simply letting this volunteer know you support another candidate and sending her on her merry way, you saw fit to use her as a verbal punching bag. It may interest you to know that this individual comes from a country that had an oppressive regime that used violence during the electoral process. Just as we were in the midst of convincing her that our democracy was predicated on mutual respect, you saw fit to show her otherwise.

I’m just glad you are rooting for the other team….

Gary, Gary, Quite Contrary

2007-05-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

Today’s headlines declare that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are supporting the Asper proposal for the stadium. A few days ago, we heard that Gary Doer was in support of the Polo Park location. Eugene Kostyra, one of Doer’s closest confidantes also sits on the Bomber’s board.

To be honest, I have not evaluated the stadium proposals enough to decide which of the two would be better for all of us. My sole question on this matter is why Gary Doer continues to talk about the privatization of MTS as evil while he simultaneously champions selling off an institution that has been a venerated public holding for almost 80 years. The NDP path of logic seems to have a curious fork in the road…

Super Hugh-Ro

2007-04-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

You may have seen that I was in attendance at the PC Party press event this afternoon at St. Vital Park. I would like to share a story with you that likely won’t make the daily news or tomorrow’s paper.

My wife and oldest son Sebastien were also in attendance at the time. While all the candidates were lined up by Hugh, my wife pointed at the PC vehicle with his picture on it. She then pointed to Hugh and told Sabs that Hugh was “that man” on the vehicle. As my son has many The Batman DVD’s (a show that comes with a great Winnipeg/Sisler/Red River College connection, no less), he was quick to think Mama meant “Batman”. He spent the rest of the event calling Hugh “Batman” and proudly declared “Dada wook with Batman”.

So if Hugh McFadyen is indeed The Batman, what does that make his nemesis Gary Doer? I guess that depends on the issue in question. If it is the promise to end hallway medicine in six months, he is The Joker. If you are trying to get a straight answer on Crocus, he is The Riddler. And if you want to talk about long term economic viability, he is Mr. Freeze.

Thanks to Hugh, my son thinks I’m the coolest Dada ever. After all, I know Batman…

Compassionate Conservatism, Part 2

2007-04-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

The most heartwarming part of being in politics is when people come to you with the honest conviction that you will hear their concerns and/or act as an agent of change on their behalf. I received such a phone call yesterday and spoke with the concerned constituent at some length over the course of last night. You could hear this person’s sense of frustration in the face of the adversity that they confronted.

This individual’s biggest complaint was that their concerns seemed to be falling on unreceptive ears. They contacted Theresa Oswald numerous times to no avail. When they actually managed to get some face time with Ms. Oswald (having gone to great pains to do so), the MLA for Seine River told this person to speak to her assistant. If a constituent goes to such lengths to seek answers from their MLA, the least their MLA owes them is to hear their story.

Are the answers to all of society’s woes at my ready disposal? Probably not – after all, Gary Doer and Theresa Oswald haven’t solved hallway medicine in 96 months, let alone within the 6 months they promised. It is my belief that the important first step in trying is to offer voters the courtesy of listening to their concerns. You can’t solve problems if you are unwilling to face them.

Do you also have any tales of what the NDP’s “Moving Forward not Backward” actually means to you? Please share them with me at proudwpgr@hotmail.com . In the words of a fellow blogger, “the lines are open.” I’ll be listening. If there are enough stories and the participants are willing, perhaps we could even air YOUR concerns publicly over the airwaves and in print. After all, these wouldn’t be attack ads, they would be ACCOUNTABILITY ADS. Holding your government accountable is not only a reasonable expectation, it’s your right.

We’ll leave the Who is Hugh? and Tory Translator to the NDP, who seem reticent to trade on their time in office. Perhaps your tales of woe over the past eight years will tell me and the rest of the PC Party why the NDP doesn’t feel their administrative record alone is enough to keep them in office…

The Home Stretch

2007-04-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

As the Seine River nomination meeting for the PC Party of Manitoba is tomorrow night, I thought I’d write down a few of my thoughts going in to tomorrow’s race:

1) Politics is the world’s longest job interview. Prior to engaging in the political process, I had no idea how much went into getting a candidate lined up for a riding. The nomination leg of this journey requires an amazing amount of effort – phone calls, one-on-one meetings followed by phone calls and more door knocking.

2) There are amazing people out there. All too often, we are cynical of those that engage themselves in the political process. The people I have had the good fortune of meeting are involved in the PC Party because it is their heartfelt belief that the core values of the Tories are the ones that will give them and their families the opportunity to achieve their life’s ambitions when government provides the requisite strategic framework. You will not read about most of these people in the papers or on the blogs but without them, democracy would suffer. It’s the people toiling away behind the scenes that make the magic of the electoral process happen – the riding executives, volunteers and members.

3) Those who grumble about a lack of choice in candidates only have themselves to blame. A wise person told me that they are astounded at how reluctant some people are to participate in the nomination process even when they are dues-paying members of a party. The nomination meeting is a perfect opportunity to support someone that you feel best represents your views and who will give the opposing political camps a run for their money. Seine River Tories have three very capable candidates to choose from tomorrow night. This is the perfect time to throw your support behind the person you feel will best take on what is sure to be one of the ridings to watch during the upcoming provincial election.

The meeting will be held tomorrow night (Wednesday April 18, 2007) at the Dakota Community Centre – 1188 Dakota Street. Registration starts at 6:00 pm and speeches will start at 7:00 pm. People from outside the riding are welcome to attend. I hope to see you there!

From Humble Beginnings

2007-04-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

“Dear Sir: please be informed that two of your executives from the Caracas office are trading with inside information. A copie with description of ther trades so far has been submitet to the S.E.C. by separate mail. As is mantion on that letter if us customers do not benefit from their knoleg, we wonder who surveils the trades done by account executives. Upon you investigating to the last consequencies we will provide with the names of the insider on their owne hand writing.”

Ask yourself how much credence you would give the letter I just quoted if this landed in YOUR inbox. Would you have given it a cursory review and then thrown it out? It would be tempting to dismiss this as a poorly written note worthy of only the recycle bin or shredder.

Having answered my first question, I now ask you to identify this letter. This document (sent to Merrill Lynch compliance officials) was the catalyst for the S.E.C.’s investigation into the insider trading scandal of the late 1980’s. It started the chain of events that led to the prosecution of such Wall Street titans as Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken.

The Black Rod once again unearths another juicy Crocus morsel. While the spate of recently leaked Crocus documents have been dismissed by many, as shown above, we ignore even the most seemingly innocuous correspondence at our peril.

Another lesson to be drawn from the novel Den of Thieves (a brilliant tome on the aforementioned insider trading scandal) is that the first mover advantage goes to those who cut deals before anyone else. If anything untoward did indeed go on at Crocus, I would recommend all potentially implicated individuals read about what fate befell the ones who held out instead of jumping ship post haste.

For the sake of all Manitobans, I sincerely hope that there is nothing to the Crocus story. Until a public inquiry is called, however, a black cloud looms large over our capital markets, much to the detriment of any entrepreneur who wishes to make his or her fortunes in Manitoba. Manitoba Means Business? Not until Today’s NDP restores faith in our markets…

Compassionate Conservatism

2007-04-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

As someone who has followed politics since elementary school, I find the relatively recent state of “right vs. left” discourse rather disconcerting. While most moderate right-leaning individuals view their left-leaning counterparts as idealistic but naïve, the left feels compelled to label us as evil neo-conservatives. These assertions are made by certain columnists, bloggers and now Today’s NDP:

Doer also accused the Tories of campaigning like American politicians.
"The Conservative party has been trained by the Republicans and they're pretty ... the negative ads were out in November, and we're merely protecting ourselves," said Doer.

If the NDP’s latest website is any indication, Doer et al have no intention of trading on their administrative record. Given that my decision to seek office is based in large part on their two terms, I can hardly blame them.

While the free market economy may not be perfect, there is no other system that has managed to make as many people so well off. As third world countries continue to join the developed world, I am sure that millions of additional people in future generations will continue to experience better living conditions. One only need look at the dichotomous experiences of North and South Korea to see that change can happen for the better if economies are developed via market mechanisms instead of being led solely by government decree.

Does this mean that I believe that government has no part to play in our own back yard? Absolutely not. Government’s job is to enable the strategic framework for an efficient society. Citizens that attempt to cheat the system through theft, murder or corporate malfeasance should be punished. Honest individuals should have faith that these systems are there to protect them and not the aforementioned criminals. Government should also deliver other goods that the private sector cannot deliver as efficiently such as highway systems, healthcare, public education and our very own Manitoba Hydro.

Another contention from the NDP seems to be that only people in support of left-leaning politicians are allowed to articulate their views. The Who Is Hugh? website offers a link to Hugh’s supporters, many of whom are some of Winnipeg’s best and brightest. Perhaps their Conservative leanings are what enabled them to be successful. If so, wouldn’t you want to support the same party that successful people do? I doubt that the folks behind the Who is Hugh? site would express the same dismay over the fact that the UFCW’s April publication has a well-timed feature story on how the Tories hurt the Worker’s Compensation Board. By virtue of living in a democracy, every person should be entitled to articulate their views, be they union, business interests or non-partisan.

It would seem that my banter with Brian over at Just Damn Stupid has led to my being delisted from his blogroll. If one truly has faith in their own convictions, are anyone else’s beliefs really threatening? Why is it that in the Manitoba blogosphere, those of us on the right have no qualms about linking to left-leaning blogs while we are not beneficiaries of a reciprocal courtesy? I encourage everyone to visit the Blackberry Addicts and Just Damn Stupid and then come back and sample more of what is posted on my own blog. After all, I’m of the persuasion that my brand is better than theirs so I heartily encourage you to comparison shop. Compassionate Conservatism is a limited time offer that will expire if the NDP wins the next election – act now to ensure maximal customer satisfaction! ;)

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants?

2007-04-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

What do John F. Kennedy, George Soros, Mick Jagger and Greg Selinger all have in common? They are all alumni of the London School of Economics, one of the most prestigious educational institutions on the planet.

Great thinkers from this institution have spread the mantra of trade liberalization. This philosophy has enabled one-time moribund economies such as South Korea to prosper faster than ever before. It is my personal hope to see many more economies follow suit. The LSE’s George Akerlof articulated one of my favourite economic tenets – Informational Asymmetry.

Knowing of Mr. Selinger’s educational pedigree, I am all the more perplexed at his lack of leadership in the terms of prudent fiscal management. The most recent budget seems to be a stinker in the eyes of many. Our finance minister should have been well versed in the economic incentives that would inevitably lead to cost overruns when the NDP decided to pursue their forced unionization on the Floodway expansion. Surely someone from the LSE can appreciate the gravity of the stewards of our capital markets being unwilling to call the public inquiry into Crocus that would restore investor faith in said markets.

The great Sir Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further it is by standing on ye shoulders of Giants.” Having studied in the hallowed halls of an institution which housed 14 Nobel Prize winners and countless heads of state, surely Mr. Selinger himself should be able to see just as far. Unfortunately for Manitobans, the administration of which he is an integral part sees fit to persistently spend faster than the rate of inflation, a no-no in the mind of most economists. In the face of record revenues and federal transfer payments, even now he must use remove another $37 million from the rainy day fund. Why hasn’t he been able to see far if he himself is standing on the shoulders of giants?

I see trouble on the horizon if Mr. Selinger doesn’t start reversing many trends he helped create. Of course the LSE does offer many fields of study other than economics. Surely, however, someone in charge of an entity with over NINE BILLION dollars in revenue would have SOME sort of solid economic background or training, right? He did after all, go to the right institution for it…

Today’s NDP - Six Years Too Late

2007-03-26T14:37:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, The Winnipeg Sun had an “informational” ad from the government about the Province’s increased infrastructure expenditures. When I moved back home from Toronto in 2000 I was astounded at the realization that my daily commute of 17 kilometres along Route 90 often took LONGER than my previous daily 35 kilometre commute from Toronto to Mississauga along Canada’s busiest highway, the 401.

While Gary Doer was in Texas back then trying to sell Winnipeg as a transport hub, he was simultaneously telling the citizens of Winnipeg that the Kenaston underpass was “not a strategic priority.” I present to you a Letter to the Editor that I sent to both daily papers six years ago. After six long years, apparently infrastructure is FINALLY a strategic priority for the NDP. Although we did get catchy billboards saying “Train make you late? Thank Gary for the wait!” from the Tories of the time to help add some levity to Doer et al’s oversights.

Keep in mind Constant Reader (the Hack should know who I borrowed this moniker from) that my musings on NDP fiscal management were BEFORE the floodway cost overruns, pension electioneering and the Crocus fiasco. Looking back, my rhetoric was decidedly heated. Waiting at countless train crossings (my record was three LONG trains in one day!) has a tendency of doing that to someone.

Thanks for the infrastructure ad complete with resplendent bar graphs, Premier Doer. If your government truly thought Manitoba Means Business, you would have addressed many of our critical infrastructure deficiencies earlier in the course of your administrative tenure. Everything you said and did for your past two terms is a signal to voters about what truly is and ISN’T important to you and your party. The election goodies coming on April 4, 2007 coupled with the recent glut of public advertising won’t change that fact…

Without further ado let me take you back to a time that shows exactly how serious the NDP is about infrastructure:

February 24, 2001

The provincial NDP government has once again proven their ineptitude in the management of the Province of Manitoba’s affairs in their stance on the proposed Kenaston St. bridge. One of the City’s precious few North-South arteries remains clogged and Gary Doer will have nothing to do with the possible alleviation of this problem. This is a shameful lack of support for a city that is trying to position itself as a major transportation hub in the eyes of the global marketplace.

The proposed infrastructure improvement is more than just a convenience to the citizens of Linden Woods and Whyte Ridge, two communities not known as staunch NDP supporters in the first place. Manitoba is home to and the head office of many trucking companies. While their trucks remain stopped at the Kenaston rail crossing burning the gasoline that fills the provincial coffers with tax revenue, Premier Doer refuses to support one of the few industries that has elected to retain their vital presence in the province.

The NDP government has proven frivolous and petulant with the province’s purse strings. While they refuse to have intelligent discourse to help an already beleaguered trucking industry, they pander to their usual special interest groups. Throwing all the money in the world into health care and downtown Winnipeg will not solve the underlying systemic problems of these two issues. It only scores the NDP brownie points with some of their constituents. Unfortunately, these political points come at the expense of making Winnipeg a more efficient place to do business.

Winnipeg once had the proud moniker of “Chicago of the North,” complete with all the promise inherent in that comparison. In the early part of the 20th century, industry and people flourished. The NDP government seems determined to move us as far from this part of our past as possible. If they continue to pander to special interest groups instead of nurturing the infrastructure for industries that add jobs and relevance to our City’s business community, Winnipeg is sure to be relegated to nothing more than a backwater community while cities such as Calgary continue to profit at our expense. Is this how Mr. Doer would have himself written into the annals of provincial history?

Conversely, I feel Mayor Glen Murray deserves to be lauded for his attempts to find solutions to this critical infrastructure weakness. It is my belief that the civic history books will depict him as an individual who strove to make this City a better place to be for both people and industry even if people did not agree with him 100% of the time.

Name Withheld
Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Peter Bjornson Principle, Part II

2007-03-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

Everyone’s favourite Education Minister is at it again. From CJOB:

The Doer government has decided to borrow 1.5 billion dollars to pay down the liability of teacher's pensions.
The province is taking out the loan to cover off 75-percent of the outstanding amount of the teacher's retirement fund.
Education Minister Peter Bjornson tells CJOB, the move will have no impact on Manitoba's net summary debt because the fund has been a liability on the books.The province says it is also looking at a similar solution to deal with civil servants' pension liability.

No impact on net summary debt? Then no harm done, right? Our esteemed Minister conveniently ignores the interest payments that would now have to be made on these bonds. Let’s use a rate of 4.62% for the bond that Today’s NDP would have to issue to honour their promise. Annual interest payments would be 69.3 MILLION DOLLARS. How many schools a year would you be able to build for that money?

Remember dear reader that a pension liability is usually a commitment to pay someone IN THE FUTURE. It is NOT necessarily cash that must be fronted right away. As such, there is no pressing financial need to borrow money to pay into the pension plan, only a political one. If Mr. Bjornson were instead to give the $69.3 MILLION directly to the teachers instead of lining the pockets of bondholders and they were able to earn a 4.62% return on the money, this would translate into $4.315 BILLION DOLLARS for teachers at the end of 30 years.

But then again, that’s not so much of a pre-election goodie, right Peter? Today’s NDP continues to spend away the legacy we are trying to leave our children. Do you appreciate their willingness to pay $69.3 MILLION in interest PER YEAR in their efforts to curry political favour?

007% in The Politician Who Loved Me and Left Me

2007-03-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

Our latest Agent 007% adventure has our suave and debonair man of intrigue wooing the sultry Ollie Weste with promises of economic development incentives. When an angry contingent sets out to eradicate Ms. Weste, our hero decides to save his own bacon by leaving her to her own devices. With quick thinking worthy of any double agent, 007% uses a well timed hog plant moratorium bomb to escape the dangerous predicament of vocal public opinion. Stealthy maneuvers with the Clean Environment Commission (CEC) further ensure our hero’s survival, to the detriment of the public interest.

When not involved in action adventures, our premier can be seen in such heartwearming stories such as Mr. Doer Goes to Washington (while his costar Greg Selinger stars in the Crocus-inspired version of “Heat”), Mr. Doer Goes to Texas and everyone’s favorite, Mr. Doer Meets the Terminator. The worthy effort of a trade mission is all for naught if the only signals the NDP are sending to the business community is an unwillingness to make a public inquiry into Crocus (the only way to restore faith in our capital markets), the forced unionization of Floodway workers and playing shell games with firms such as OlyWest that are willing to put millions of dollars into our economy and hire many Manitobans.

Hugh McFadyen recently expressed his desire to move the OlyWest plant out of Winnipeg. As most readers may know, my family business was ready to undertake heavy litigation on the OlyWest issue. After all, we had hundreds of thousands of square feet invested in the St. Boniface Industrial Park, making us one of the project’s largest stakeholders. Our concerns were expressed to OlyWest and they agreed to move the inbound traffic (containing live hogs) further south, away from the residential and industrial park areas. We also went to great lengths to seek out the opinions of impartial third parties. It would have been much easier to dig our heels in and continue to be part of the “No” contingent. We took it upon ourselves to look at the issue from the view of the community at large instead of from the perspective of our own self interest.

I still offer qualified support for the OlyWest project being located in Winnipeg. Many tough questions should continue to be asked of the project. If Doer would stop playing games with the CEC, perhaps we could have enough faith in our regulatory systems to answer them. While I may not share Hugh’s opinions on this matter, were I to become MLA for Seine River, I am sure he would offer me the courtesy of letting me articulate my beliefs on this or any other issue which may not strictly follow the party line. The efficient and respectful flow of ideas is the cornerstone of any successful organization, be it a company, family, governmental agency or political party. I wonder if Today’s NDP is equally receptive to differing ideas within their own party. The unwillingness of ANYONE within the NDP to speak up for ALL Manitobans on Crocus seems to suggest otherwise, much to the detriment of anyone holding Crocus shares, RRSPs, pensions or any other financial instrument…