Aug 22 2024- After 8 RMs Reject Metro Plan, Kinew Offers Exit Plan

The Great Canadian Talk Show

We start out Episode 17 with a view from outside the Perimeter Highway about how Plan20-50 generated unprecedented grassroots pushback.

As described by a Portage La Prairie outlet: "Kinew says this is a hot topic" & "Winnipeg Metro Region has taken the heat."

You'll hear a rundown of what led the NDP Premier to don the mantle of freedom fighter, and defend local democracy at the expense of WMR over-reachers.

"(For RM's) who don’t think this is the right fit for them or for their citizens, they are going to have the freedom to leave" under legislation Kinew promised for the next session.

Is Kinew the first socialist to ever decide to "move away from that centralization that you saw in the past..." ?

Here's our background coverage:

https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/columnists/gold-winnipeg-must-let-the-people-decide-on-plan20-50

https://actionline.ca/2024/08/aug-9-2024-metro-fumbles-plan20-50-public-hearing-forced-to-retreat/

https://actionline.ca/2024/08/aug-15-2024-media-misinformation-masks-metros-plan20-50-mess/

https://actionline.ca/2024/08/aug-16-2024-and-dunnator-makes-6-as-rms-pan-metro-plan20-50/

4.45 Part 1- Another view from outside the Perimeter came from the Mayor of Ritchot, who got some things right but other things wrong.

He rightly criticized a WMR gag order on board directors. He preached for "collaboration" among the members but never came near addressing if he agreed with the Gillingham veto- the crux of the dispute.

Chris Ewan did admit, "it is now critical to answer the questions of community members when a change that will affect over a million people is about to happen.”

Marty details two more RMs that, unnoticed by TV and radio newsrooms, opposed the planning blueprint by voting against it at first reading. The RM of Tache, and the RM of West St. Paul, would make 8 RM's that rejected the Plan and half objected to being forced into Metro membership.

Ewan calling the plan 'flawed from the beginning' makes it 9 member RMs who wouldn't vote for it- 50% of the membership.

Kinew outright said it was "a planning region that isn’t working." But as Marty explains, ultimately the WRM bungled public consultations, hid behind word-salad documentation, and showed a patronizing attitude that created a storm across Southern Manitoba.

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22.30 Part 2- Did you know that former Mayor Brian Bowman ensured that city council voted on the draft of Plan20-50 in 2021? He also wanted council to "have the opportunity to vote in chambers like this on the final plan before the Provincial Government finalizes it".

We review the comments from Bowman, Coun. Janice Lukes and then-Coun. Gillingham. Guess which council member expressed concern that the WMR is an "unelected body"?

Marty questions, if elected officials in Winnipeg and in St. Clements cannot even agree what the board status is, how was a plan brought forward?

Listen to why Mayor Gillingham has to explain where he stands on having veto power in any future planning blueprint, and how he will add some democracy to the process.

29.45- Discontent with the $18,000 tab for Metro dues was on the table at a Springfield council meeting in January.

You'll hear the scepticism and value for dollar questions, whether they were kept in the loop by the Mayor, and if they needed to do more to create awareness of the plan. His response?

"They trust their governments, I guess, that’s all I can say."

In Winnipeg, there's a few good reasons why Mayor Gillingham and council need to earn that trust before sinking more tax dollars into the WMR.

37.45 Part 3- A crime and public safety update, following up on the recent Sun columns.

We tell about three more convenience stores said to be closing by month's end; a west end murder in broad daylight; and the terror bomb threat sent to over 100 Jewish institutions in Canada yesterday. Somehow the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg didn't warrant being threatened.