Don's Press Releases Winnipeg Civic Election

  **Oct 14, 2022 - The Winnipeg Police Budget is now $320M which is 26.8% of the City’s Operating Budget. With our current crime problems, we need to look at this from a different angle. Procedurals changes are needed.

- 83% is salaries – contractual

- 17% is for Operations, example: Gas for police vehicles which is purchased from the City of Winnipeg at pump rates, leasing the Police Headquarters building from the City of Winnipeg, purchasing of equipment, ammunition, body cameras, etc.

As mayor whose primary goal is to keep our city safe & healthy for its inhabitants, I am proposing to have all revenue that would come back to the City from the Police Budget to be used to give them the much-needed financial support that is needed to keep our city safe. 

“As Mayor, I will restore Law & Order and give back to the Police the power of the Police Act. There will be consequences for breaking the law regardless of who you are.”

A major part of this is to get the Provincial Government addressing the neglect with wrap-around services that they should be supplying for folks with drug addictions, mental health, etc. The Police are NOT supposed to be in this alone. To tie up the Police workforce with functions that the Provincial Government should be doing is the #1 reason Winnipeggers are not getting the response from the Police when called. 670,000 calls to police in 2021 – that’s 1.4 calls per minute/365 days of the year. Our population has grown over 25% and more than 50% in land size since 1983. But Police resources haven’t grown. We need bold change!

The current Policing procedures are not sustainable and there is no way we can keep our city safe if we continue to not have the help from the Provincial Government.

  **Oct 12, 2022 - Rebate all Surplus Revenue on Winnipeg Water & ban all contractors that defraud the city

Being accountable for the Water & Waste Department means we cannot overcharge our citizens. My administration will remove all inefficiencies from the department’s operations. 

The first item: The line item stating “Dividend Transfer to General Funds” will be eliminated. The revenue will stay in Water & Waste and when we have a Surplus – it gets rebated to Winnipeggers. “It’s time to give back to the people of Winnipeg. We have paid enough taxes!”

“The Water Treatment Plant has to get done and no more excuses!” Lake Winnipeg is counting on us – it will be dead in 12 years if we don’t change today.

General Contractors, engineers and architects that are currently involved in North End Treatment Plant project, will be held accountable to the people of Winnipeg:

· As Mayor, cost-over-runs will require a 75% approval from the Council, which will trigger an automatic claim against the contractors’ Performance Bond to cover the costs. When a contractor is on the hook for all cost over-runs and is put in a position of losing their surety account, which is the ability to obtain a bond to bid on contracts with the city, they will come in on budget. 

· Contractors will be held to the highest standard which includes, if applicable, an investigation by law enforcement with the intent of criminal prosecution for any misuse of funds or causing costly delays. “If there is criminal intent to defraud the taxpayers, my administration will seek the maximum penalties for defrauding Winnipeg. This will also include a mandatory exclusionary period of five years from being able to bid on any city contracts.

It’s time we call this fiasco of “cost overrun” just what it is – “b......t”!  

  **Oct 5, 2022 - As Mayor, I will freeze Residential Property Assessments for the next 8 years. They are too high already. Consider reducing the Tax Assessment Board to only managing commercial properties. Move personnel over to PP&D where they need the help anyway.  Current property assessments have gone up 20 – 30%. Houses worth $170,000 in 2010 have gone up to $240,000 with no major renos.

1.5% property tax increase for next 4 years then, and if re-elected, frozen for 4 years. Re-assess all commercial properties for actual value. This will generate over a billion dollars in new revenue annually. We must build up the bank account again from our Finance Chair Scott Gillingham’s 6 years of excessive spending which has put us on the brink of bankruptcy.

$1B for infrastructure, really Scott? We may get funding from the Federal Government for $600M (best case scenario), sell bonds for the $400M and this is just in the first year, which means we pay approximately $10M in service fees for each $100M sold to people who are willing to loan us money at a higher finance rate. Which explains the $42M tax increase every year he is proposing.

Gillingham’s plan will saddle our children & grandchildren with this debt. Can you imagine your grandchildren paying twice as much for property taxes for their home then you do today. 

Taxes today are 2.75% + taxes on utilities + .8% planned new tax hike = 3.5% for the next 50 years - the highest in the nation. This is a corrupt funding model for our operating budgets. 

So, if you want to feed this corrupt practice and pay more taxes – Scott is your man. 

If you want to get even with people robbing us – elect Don Woodstock

Fighting high taxes and crime – that’s my pledge to Winnipeggers!!

  **Oct 4, 2022 - Another planned Forum excludes minorities & marginalized people “unconceived bias”

The CBC Mayoral Debate will exclude candidates due to a polling of 600 people which does not even represent 1% of the population.  The Jewish Federation hosted a mayoral forum at the Jewish Center October 3rd, and they excluded Don Woodstock, Rick Shone, Rana Bokhari, Idris Adelakun & Chris Clacio from their panel discussion. “I had a conversation with one of the organizers which opened my eyes to a real problem that faces our city today. This problem is also an opportunity for us to really address some underlying issues that were willfully omitted from their debate.” Woodstock said.

Woodstock explained, “As individuals we are different and unique in every way and this unique difference should be a part of our political discourse if we truly mean to move forward in an inclusive way.”

“It’s time for us to ask the organizing body of this forum to understand why antisemitism and any racist undertone towards the Jewish community would be wrong equally as it is wrong to omit candidates from the debate.”

“I believe we all have something to contribute and that’s why we put our name forward, and especially for someone like myself who has made meaningful contributions to our city, this was wrong to do.”

“I want Safety for all Winnipeggers and being attacked for your religious views or for any other reason, is an opportunity for leaders to show inclusiveness and respect for all by showing it – not talking & pledging to do it!  I’ve always said, Actions speak louder than words. What is saw tonight, gives me the impression they just want to be included but not give inclusion.”

What other debate organizations feel it’s acceptable to exclude minorities & people of colour that reside in Winnipeg, a multi-cultural city?

https://www.jewishwinnipeg.org/accessibility-inclusion

**Oct 3, 2022 -  A week ago, several Mayoral Candidates, made accusations about Don Woodstock being a racist and a disgusting human being which sparked threats to him of bodily injury & death.  These statements were made after Woodstock's comments citing an earlier R.C.M.P report about violence against Indigenous women. 

As a result of those comments, Woodstock has publicly apologized for how he articulated his words about the report's results at the forum. Since his clarification of his comments, one Mayoral candidate has reached out to Woodstock to offer their apology for labelling him a racist. 

Today, Woodstock is calling on Mayoral Candidates Jenny Motkaluk, Rick Shone, Shaun Loney and Rana Bokhari as well as NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine to issue a public apology in light of Woodstock's comments on the R.C.M.P. report.  Since the release of the R.C.M.P. report in question, countless stories have been written about it by reporters nationwide from every major news organization. Does this make those reporters racist? 

Mayoral Candidates & elected officials can not choose who they want to slander with accusations of racism because it fits their narrative for personal gain or gets their name in the media. That's not leadership! That’s self indulgent!

It is time for Jenny Motkaluk, Rick Shone, Shaun Loney, Rana Bokhari and Nahanni Fontaine to apologize and show the people of Winnipeg they are mature enough to make amends when they are categorically wrong.

**Sept 29, 2022 - Don Woodstock's name on the ballot, wanting to represent his city, bring about meaningful change, should not be grounds for threats, nor acts of violence against him or any other candidate.

"Imma make you rethink your whole political movement; you better up yourself some more security before I wipe that smug little smile off your face." Text message sent to Woodstock

"I'll beat yo ass you racist piece of crap. You step foot on GC property, you're done!" Text message sent to Woodstock

“Racist N....r Dead.”  Phone call to Woodstock

"I'm calling on all Mayoral candidates and community leaders to condemn threats & acts of violence in the strongest language possible perpetrated against all political candidates or anyone for that matter," Said, Mayoral Candidate Don Woodstock

“Threats of violence and physical harm can not be accepted as genuine political discourse. If elected as Winnipeg's next Mayor, I will work with all law enforcement and the province's Attorney General to implement changes to the Manitoba Criminal code to implement a mandatory minimum jail term of one year and impose a fine of $25,000 for anyone convicted of making threats to candidates seeking public office.”

This will be a zero-tolerance approach, even for first-time offenders, uttering threats that meet the definition outlined by the law. Candidates will always have different opinions and ideologies, which is the beauty of democracy. But we can all agree on one thing; every candidate has a right to be safe and make it back home to their loved ones after a day of campaigning. 

Moreover, all Winnipeggers deserve to feel safe regardless of their differences. The last thing we want is a ‘lawless’ society. Laws are there to keep our citizens safe. We need laws with teeth. Failing which, our citizens are not going feel safe. Winnipeg, it is time for us to be safe, again. We will work with the various key stakeholders to ensure that we adopt a mandatory minimum law necessary when threats are uttered in general, often targeting the most vulnerable groups, like seniors, that if there are threats uttered, they will be arrested & charged.

“I have one life to live, if I am not protecting it who will?” Said, Mayoral Candidate Don Woodstock

 ***July 10, 2022 -  Seeing the Chief of Police address the crime situation in Winnipeg is both alarming & disturbing on many levels.  He is not being honest with our crime situation.  How did we get here?

In my earlier press releases and run for mayor in 2018, I put forward a simple plan to get ahead of our crime wave.   Four years have now passed and so, I repeat again, we need $400M annually for recreational facilities, sporting activities, arts & crafts programs like what Art City is doing, just to name a few.  The child who is engaged in something creative will be a less of a burden on society, will most likely not engage in criminal activities, hence a reduction in crime.  This way the police will have more time to go after the criminal elements.

The Police need our help, and I am proposing that the Chief of Police should never be the spin-doctor for the administration or politicians.  Our Chief was merely spinning a story because of his political appointment.  Hence, the members of the Police force should be able to elect the Chief.  The mayor and politician-formed committees should not appoint the Chief.  This way, the crime will be 100% on the shoulders of the Police Force to solve.  Holding them accountable. 

As a footnote, my company, JamRock Security, is one of the top security service providers in Winnipeg which has seen more than a 50% increase in calls and emails requesting quotes for security solutions.  We have a problem and it's major, despite what the Chief is reporting.  We are on the street speaking with the public and people are extremely nervous.

 ***July 10, 2022 -  The government's announcement of $539M for Transit is good news but not great news.  I am hopeful their infrastructure plans will include an adequate amount of electric charging stations to maintain the current fleet, plus add many more additional charging stations for the future purchase of more electric buses.  No more diesel buses.

With more people riding the buses, it is imperative that we put 'safety' as a #1 priority.  No more talk of safety but more implementation of plain-clothes junior officers on the buses.  This can be carried out by reducing the number of Transit Supervisors by at least 30% and replacing them with officers.

Look, it is not rocket science.  Today, many more folks are riding the bus - why, because of the price of gas.  Guess what folks, the price will never significantly go back down.  To prepare ourselves to use long-term vision:  No more spending money on a failing system - spend on what the future holds for us.  

I am proposing that we reduce the number of the proposed purchases of new diesel buses by 50% - spend the rest of the money on the electrifying infrastructure.  We need adequate infrastructure before we can run the electric buses.  In 2021, New Flyer was awarded a contract for thirty-two new diesel buses.  Now asking for another 135.  When does the asking end?  With the City’s Rainy-Day Fund almost depleted, we can not afford to keep diesel vehicles running the streets.  Efficiency in all sectors of our city will save us from bankruptcy and running diesel buses is not efficient.

'Going Electric' has been my vision for Winnipeg for 20 years.  In 2009, my first presentation was to Technology Minister Jim Rondeau.  He said, "we have never looked at electric.  We will now."

Secondly, oversight of this project needs a hands-on, eyes-wide-open approach to ensure all taxpayer’s dollars are spent in an appropriate manner with no change orders.

 ***July 7, 2022 -  Thank you to Mayor Brian Bowman and former Finance Chair Scott Gillingham for the recent poor City financial report that shows we are one major snowfall away from draining the Rainy-Day Fund.  One of the largest holes in this sinking ship is the construction industry and in particular, road construction.  With no oversight from the city's bureaucrats, it seems that the contractors are dictating the terms & conditions of their contract work and this should not be.

If we are going to get ahead and stop this drain, we must get back to fundamentals of how contracts are awarded.  The 'No Bid' contracts will end when I become Mayor of Winnipeg.  Another reason for this is exactly what Scott Gillingham said, and I quote "We do not have a policy for change orders, so we just pay the bill."  As Mayor, I will write a policy so all members of City Council, City Bureaucrats anc contractors will know not to steal money from the public because we will have a policy now.

The construction industry will be required to work from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. as part of their routine work schedule during our short construction season.  Working 24 hours a day to complete these tasks so that people can get on with their day.  Other cities are doing it and so should we.

 ***July 5, 2022 -  Tuesday's edition of the Winnipeg Free Press has Jeff Browaty, newly appointed Finance Chair, speaking on our poor finances.  Conveniently, Mayor Brian Bowman and the previous Finance Chair, Scott Gillingham were absent in responding to this financial report today, which I consider a Financial Crisis.  

I am not amazed - but I can honestly tell you, I wanted to know where the money went.  For many decades, the snow removal contractors have been taking more than their fair share from the city with no oversight.  

So, the city was asked the following:   

"May 14, 2022

I am interested in obtaining payment information for the following contractors:

1. Bayview Construction

2. Ray Bateman

3. SM Industries

4. Kerwal

5. Access 2000

6. Maple leaf construction

7. Wintec

For the years 2018 onwards for the specific contracts the funds were paid for."

RESPONSE FROM THE CITY:    

"Please be advised that requests to the city under the FIPPA are meant to be for records not answers to questions or compiled information.  Additionally, if you are requesting records that involve 3rd party business interests, please note that we must consult with the 3rd parties to ask if they consent to the disclosure of information before we make a decision about whether to grant access to the information."

There is the Freedom of Information Act (FIPPA), and the City will not disclose where or who gets money?  Blaming snow removal? Were they bucket-loading into trucks instead of blowing snow into trucks?  Bucket loading takes 10 times longer to fill a truck.  I saw them bucket loading on Kenaston.  How much was the city billed?  We are not broke due to snow - it was due to the lack of oversight by the city on its snow contractors.  Most of the money, I believe, went to Bayview Construction.

The result of the Waste Collection contract; GFL $10.5 million per year for ½ of the city and Miller Waste $19.5 Million per year for ½ of the city. Both contractors have half the city, why was Miller Waste awarded $9.0M more?  Did we lose $9.0M from our Rainy-Day fund?  By the way, Scott Gillingham as the Finance Chair approved this.

As everything is being paid by taxpayers’ dollars it should all be transparent.  I tried to find out.  Blocked by bureaucracy.  It is obvious our Rainy-Day Fund was robbed.

 ***June 29, 2022 -  Four years ago, I advocated strongly throughout my mayoral campaign “Sports Capital not Crime Capital”.  Four years later, we see teenagers creating a climate of fear & panic among our citizens.  This is not what we want for our youth.     If elected Mayor of Winnipeg, I am pledging to find $400M annually for 5 years to engage all Winnipeg youth into recreational & sporting activities, arts & crafts, music, chess clubs, just to name a few.  This will create a catchment for kids who would otherwise have nothing to do after school.     I, myself, am a victim of this youth mayhem.  $12,000 damage to my vehicle & it could have been worse.  In my business, I see the crimes committed almost on a daily basis.     It is time for us as a society to take a proactive approach to solving youth creating mayhem.  We owe it to ourselves to make this happen and not have our city tainted with this ugly brush of overwhelming amount of youth crime.

 ***June 28, 2022 -  In response to Mayor Bowman's massive road work projects, while I am very conscious that our roads need some serious attention, I am baffled by the fact that I see, firsthand, on the streets that they are not all building it to engineering standards. Maple Leaf Construction is doing it correctly on Wall Street. One metre down with proper matting, mesh and gravel. I posted this on Facebook on June 20th.     Now on Pembina at Clarence Ave, Bayview Construction is not doing a metre down on a major road as I Facebooked on June 20th. They were packing down new gravel with a very thin matting and only about 18" down. How long will this road last? Check out Jubilee as well. See what Bayview is doing.  Are there no City Inspectors for these jobs?     Yes, Mayor Bowman you are leaving office and you are spending $1B of our money and you will be gone and not able to be accountable for it. What are we getting for this $1B? So, our taxes go up for fixing roads, but fixed SHODDILY?  So, we will again spend more money in a few years.     Is the price tag really at $165M this year or is Bayview Construction going to do like for the Police Headquarters and issue Change Orders?  We, the citizens of Winnipeg, want answers before you leave.  Will we soon find out that City Officials have accepted bribes for these massive projects?  We want answers.

 ***June 26, 2022 -  In response to recent statements in the media by some mayoral candidates, I, Don Woodstock, want to set the record straight:     

1.      Glen Murray’s claim of fiscal responsibility, oh my!

     -          In 1997, Murray changed the City of Winnipeg’s constitution to allow for debt and that debt today stands at $1.482B. Prior to 1996, Winnipeg’s DEBT was ZERO.

     -          Murray’s claim of “Zero” percent property taxes increase “if elected,” with fuel up 100% and covid shortages, which has led to huge inflation & has resulted in higher costs, Murray’s method of “ZERO” tax increases will only occur with more debt, a debt our grandchildren will be paying off. With Bowman’s bonds taken out by his administration to help pay for road construction, I for one can never saddle our kids/grandkids with our spending.

     -          When Murray was Mayor in 1996 his administration had a huge cost overrun of double the budget on the main street bridge – over $100M - by change orders, just like the Police Station change orders. I just love Gillingham’s response on these ‘change orders’ while he was Finance Chair, “WE DON’T HAVE A POLICY ON CHANGE ORDERS,” so we just pay them.     

2.      Scott Gillingham on 7.5% debt service of property taxes, oh my again!

     -          The City of Winnipeg collects $660,000,000 million in Property taxes and pays out $150,000,000 in Debt Payments annually; this is 20% plus, not 7.5%.

     -          Scott Gillingham, Finance Chair voted on contracts, like MILLER WASTE: the Tender called for the awarded contractor to have a building to house all the trucks in and stated the incumbent contractor ‘Emterra’ would not qualify as they had no building – just land they were leasing from the City of Winnipeg. The City’s Solicitation requirements were written to support Miller Waste, like the Police station’s construction contract.     -          

The result of the Waste Collection contract; GFL $10.5 million per year for ½ of the city and Miller Waste $19.5 Million per year for ½ of the city. Both contractors have half the city, why is Miller Waste getting $9.0M more?     -          I will give more evidence on MILLER WASTE soon.     

Murray to Katz to Bowman - this is business as usual.  A ‘Clean Sweep’ will end the corruption.

 ***June 22, 2022 -  How did we get here?  This is the real question we should be asking ourselves.  In 2014, when Brian Bowman, a privacy lawyer was elected Mayor of Winnipeg, the Police Union brass made it very clear to him that there was a meth crisis coming.  Instead of listening to good advice and acting on it as he should have as Mayor, he made sure that City Hall & his private home had all the security & protection that he could afford.  He did absolutely nothing to address the meth crisis.  Four years later, he and his Chief of Police are looking like a deer in a headlamp when confronted with this crisis.  We see homeless people moving out of downtown and they have begun finding shelter in bus shacks around the city and not just on Regent Avenue.  Instead of the one body that is responsible for the governance of the City of Winnipeg, looking at this issue to find the root cause & solve it here we go again merely trying to marginalize people instead of solving the issue and the root cause.  The meth crisis was never been addressed by this administration and we should not let them continue.  Every current councillor, especially the ones who currently sit on the corrupt EPC, should be held accountable for their inactions.  This issue of homeless people occupying bus shelters needs a big broom to sweep out Mayor Bowman and everyone who supported the corrupt EPC model and failed to see the real reason this is happening to our city.  Sweep them out!  Four years ago, I said "I want Winnipeg to be the 8th city in Canada to end homelessness.  It can be done, and other cities are on the path to have it done.  Why can't we be doing the same?"  This neglect should be laid squarely at the foot of Mayor Bowman  Let's solve the housing issue, the mental health issue, the drug issue and provide adequate shelters for those who currently reside in bus shelters.  It is disgusting & wrong to victimize hard working men & women who depend on the bus shelters in minus 40 degree weather or when it's raining because of City Hall's inability to address the real issues.   So I ask again, we get the Provincial, Federal, City of Winnipeg and all who are interested in solving these issues to grab your pillow & your blankie and let's make the time now to find a solution - short term and long term - for this complex issue.  It can be done.  "I am calling on all of us again to put our hearts & our minds into solving the issues, not the symptoms."

 ***June 21, 2022 -  As our society continues to erode and break down due to poor leadership, listening to bad advice and hate speech, I find an article that says to Cancel Canada Day!  I can't believe it.  What is going on?  Canada Day  is a celebratory day where our children play together and they all have smiles on their faces.  The streets are filled with colourful decorations covering up broken fences, graffitied walls, dark gray dirty sidewalks & streets - but I don't see that because of the beautiful decorations.  Imagine all the youth who won't be on their phones & tablets because they are now enjoying the festivities, food and comradery.  Being a part of a great thing, our country.  If we do not teach our children to love our country, we will lose it to another.    The majority of the folks that are part of the cancel culture BS do not work, they live off of parents or the government and really do not care one bit about me, you or Winnipeg.  I know this is true as they all do not take part in the election process, in the Legislative process or in the justice process - thereby leaving the regular elite class to stay in charge and tell us how we are so well taken care of by them with their handouts and their untruths.    The only way to make change is to get educated, join the community you live in, gain knowledge of what is going on around you, make yourself a target by running for Public Office, which by the way is very uncomfortable but necessary.  This is how change occurs.  Let's celebrate one day then get back to work helping to build a Canada that we will all happily celebrate that is truly inclusive and being mindful of the hurt & neglect that has been going on.  We can not divide ourselves in a hope of achieving unity and as imperfect as it may seem to some, we are still in a beautiful country.  Canceling Canada Day, no matter the reason, will have bigger repercussions in the future.  Let us gather, laugh and watch expensive fireworks compliments of the Elite class, and thank our lucky stars that we can still celebrate freely, while others can not.  Be thankful!!  Happy Canada Day!

 ***June 6, 2022 -  Over the years, Winnipeg's Mayor has been the given responsibility of selecting the Police Chief to serve in their administration.  I believe the time has come for us to make a change in this practice.  If elected Mayor, I would give the choice of selecting the Chief of Police to every member of the Police force - 'one person one vote.'  Besides, let's face it, politicians can not know who the best person is to serve as chief more than the personnel who are serving on the front line keeping our city safe.

 ***May 19, 2022 -  As one of the city's top environmental advocates, I strongly support biking, walking, public transportation to get around.  And as you may know, as a former Winnipeg Transit Operator, I see the value in this more than any of my opponents.  Given the opportunity to serve as Mayor of Winnipeg, I would take it a step further because vehicle electrification is the future.  Hence, I own an electric car. See picture above.  More action, less empty promises is what the Clean Sweep is about.  Action not words!

 ***April 29, 2022 -  DON WOODSTOCK - CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR  On Sunday, May 1st, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. I will be at City Hall to officially put my name in to run for Mayor of our great city.  As a successful business owner/CEO of JamRock Security and an industry leader in the field of security & automated systems for residential, commercial & industrial premises, the concerns of our city and lack of accountability at the city level leads me to my campaign slogan 'Clean Sweep'.  "The level of corruption, fraud, bribery and shoddy work all in the name of 'job security' has gone on too long.  We need checks & balances, and we must start with a truly democratic & transparent EPC model, a new slate of men & women for councilors whose desire is to serve this great city and a mayor who is truly representative of the needs of the people, and not just a chosen few individuals or special interest groups."  See you at City Hall at 10:30 a.m. Sunday May 1st - rain or shine!!