Don's Press Releases Winnipeg Civic Election
Glen Murray is a Habitual Quitter & we shouldn't trust him
Glen Murray is a Habitual Quitter & we shouldn't trust him
Glen Murray is a Habitual Quitter & we shouldn't trust him
***August 10, 2022 - On October 28, 1998, Glen Murray was elected Mayor of Winnipeg and took the oath of office to serve the people of Winnipeg. On May 11, 2004, Glen Murray quit on the people of Winnipeg two years early to run for the Federal Liberals and lost. Glen Murray quit his job because he is a habitual quitter! His quitting cost Winnipeg taxpayers approximately $2M for the city to run a by-election, giving us Sam Katz and the mess we call City Hall today.
On February 4, 2010, Glen Murray was elected the Member of Provincial Parliament (M.P.P.) for Toronto Centre. He took the oath of office to serve the people of Ontario for eight years as their M.P.P. and the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, but on September 1, 2017, Glen Murray quit on the people of Ontario nine months early to take his dream job. This left his riding, Toronto Centre, without representation. Glen Murray quit his job as a M.P.P. because he is a habitual quitter!
On July 31, 2017, Glen Murray resigned from Cabinet, effective immediately, and would leave Toronto Centre one month later as he accepted the position of Executive Director at the Pembina Institute. His position was to begin on Sept 5th, 2017 where he could help make changes that would help protect the environment. This was his ‘Dream Job’ he said! He was quoted as saying “I’m really glad to be out of politics.” On September 10, 2018, barely a year into his term with the Pembina Institute, Glen Murray quit yet again on the people of Calgary leaving his dream job.
Not too long after, he announced he was running to be the leader of the Green Party, which he lost. Glen Murray quit his dream job because he is a habitual quitter! The cost of a new executive search to replace him could not have been cheap and I am sure the Pembina Institute spent a lot of money relocating Glen from Ontario to Alberta.
Glen Murray’s history of quitting on the people who elected or hired him is habitual. He quit on the people in three cities, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Calgary. Can the people of Winnipeg trust Glen Murray not to quit again?
Today, I demand that he sign a contract by August 15th that states he will not abandon the people of Winnipeg for a second time to search for greener pastures.
If he does not sign it, then Winnipeggers know where he stands.
As of Today: No signed agreement back.
Operation Safe Ride for our Transit commuters
Glen Murray is a Habitual Quitter & we shouldn't trust him
Glen Murray is a Habitual Quitter & we shouldn't trust him
***August 3, 2022 - Welcome Folks, My name is Don Woodstock and I am running to be your next mayor.
In the last 4 years, we have seen an increase in the number of assaults on the drivers & passengers while on Winnipeg Transit buses. Some being reported in the news and some not.
For any city to be sustainable we need a safe, reliable mass transit system. Not every working person can afford a car, and we don’t want every working person using their vehicle as transportation to their workplace. This would only create a different problem.
After the death of a Bus Operator, Winnipeg Transit management promised Safety but it only came in the form of increased Transit Supervisors.
Four years ago, I laid it out that this is not a feasible approach to this issue, and I was correct. It’s only getting worse.
Let’s look at a comparison:
Transit Supervisor vs. a First year Police Officer
Transit Supervisor salary is $80,000+ per year
First Year Police Officer is $60,000+ per year
Transit Supervisor can not arrest someone, can’t even touch them.
First Year Police Officer can arrest and take the person to jail.
An assault on our public transit is an assault on our freedom to move around and our opportunity to encourage increased ridership which is a sustainable approach.
Therefore as mayor, I will be treating this issue with the utmost priority for our great city.
The violence has driven a new level of fear into passengers who are just going about their daily commute, as well as the drivers who are fearful that today may be the day I get stabbed or punched or spit on or jabbed with a used old needle. Their families are very concerned when their loved ones leave for work.
So many drivers are looking for other places to work – so many have already quit in the last 4 years – and those who can take retirement are taking it and happy to get out. This was not the Transit of 10 years ago.
There is a committee that was formed called the Transit Advisory Committee (TAC) to look at Transit Safety in 2017. Where are we today? As Mayor, my Administration, will make the necessary changes & policy directives, whatever that may be – administrative or otherwise, to ensure that safety is the #1 priority and as your mayor this will be delivered to the public & the workers of the City of Winnipeg.
Bare in mind, Winnipeg Transit has a responsibility to provide a Safe Work Environment that is healthy for their drivers, mentally & otherwise. So before it gets to a state of PANIC and there are not enough drivers to drive all the routes, as mayor I would implement a two phase approach:
1) ‘Operation Safe Ride’immediately.
2) Examine the possibility to reduce or eliminate fares over the next 6 years. We will get it done!
Operation Safe Ride:
- Reduction of at least 10 acting Transit Supervisors who will return back to driving.
- The salary allocation would allow for a complement of at least 13 plain-clothes first year Police Officers.
- The Police Officers will ride routes that have a tendency to attract trouble makers.
- Police Officers will be able to apprehend them immediately, take them off the bus and have the bus carry-on in-service.
This will send a very strong signal – assaults will not be tolerated on drivers and passengers.
The Transit management has just received $500+ million dollars from the federal government. It is fiscally possible.
After 6 years, the best idea Councilor Scott Gillingham and his cronies came up with was to give approval to spend more taxpayers’ money for an increased number of Supervisors who don’t have the power a Police officer has. Increasing the bureaucracy does not get us to where we need to be. Let’s not give them the influence and power from $500M to sit and do nothing but have committees, after committees and nothing improves.
I am calling on all the current councillors –
There needs to be a motion on the floor at the next Council Meeting to vote on:
· Having plain-clothes officers on the buses immediately.
· Implement Operation Safe Ride.
We do not need to wait on:
a child,
a mother,
a daughter,
a father
killed or maimed for life before we implement this. Prevention is always better than cure.
Proposed 'Change Order' policy for the City of Winnipeg
Glen Murray is a Habitual Quitter & we shouldn't trust him
Letter to Councilor Scott Gillingham about the Corrupt EPC he sat on for 6 years
***July 26, 2022 - Recently, the candidate for Mayor & former Finance Chair Councillor Scott Gillingham was asked about the enormous amount of change orders for the police headquarters which cost hundreds of millions of dollars in overruns, “Why do you pay them?” And Mr. Gillingham’s response was alarming & shocking to say the least. He said, “We paid them because there was no policy in place.”
Since there is no policy in place for change orders, I am asking the new Finance Chair Councillor Jeff Browaty – “Will you just be paying all change orders like your predecessor, Scott Gillingham?”
I am proposing a new way of preventing people from gouging the taxpayers unnecessarily – taking more than their fair share. This new policy is:
Any & all change orders must be presented on the floor – not to EPC – for discussion & approval which should have a minimum of 75% approval from the 15-member Council body.
This policy will ensure that no ‘backroom deals’ are made & the taxpayers’ dollars are spent appropriately.
Therefore, I ask ‘that a councillor put a motion on the floor to have this new policy be adopted immediately since there is ‘no policy in place.’ Who will act in the best interest of the taxpayers of Winnipeg?
Finance Chair Councillor Browaty I look forward to your reply.
To date: No reply
Letter to Councilor Scott Gillingham about the Corrupt EPC he sat on for 6 years
Letter to Councilor Scott Gillingham about the Corrupt EPC he sat on for 6 years
Letter to Councilor Scott Gillingham about the Corrupt EPC he sat on for 6 years
***July 21, 2022 - In response to your article in the Free Press on July 21st, where you were quoted as saying that "you want to immediately shrink the EPC by one chairperson and drop the deputy mayor & acting deputy mayor from the roster." Are we to understand Councilor Gillingham, that you have suddenly seen the light after 6 years? That you are openly saying, for the first time, that both Councilor Janice Lukes and Councilor Kevin Klein were right in their criticisms of the governing body that you sat on for 6 years? To me, I believe that you are just saying whatever you think will get you elected and this is dishonesty.
If Mayor Brian Bowman appointed you as Finance Chair for 6 years and now you are saying it is wrong for the way in which he governed – proves that you took part in a corrupt act and said nothing about it. Received your extra pay for 6 years and with extra benefits – now you expect us to believe that you have now seen the light. And weren’t you a minister in your prior life?
What has happened to honesty & integrity?
Let’s think of this differently, if you believe now that the EPC was wrong does it mean all the decisions that were made during this process – should be reversed? All the policies that you and this corrupt model forced down our throats should they be under a microscope?
You should refund your EPC salary back to the city since you believe it is wrong.
You are a typical politician where you do one thing but say something different. Mayor Bowman trained you well.
Did you pay for this article? I ask this because I am wondering why the reporter did not ask the poignant question, why now after 6 years?
Looking forward to hearing the truth as God loves it.
A new era for Road Construction
Letter to Councilor Scott Gillingham about the Corrupt EPC he sat on for 6 years
A new era for Road Construction
***July 17, 2022 - With a limited-time construction season, we owe it to the taxpayers to be more efficient with our road construction dollars. Other cities work round-the-clock or extended hours of 2 or 3 shifts to get the job done - we can do the same.
Too often, we have stretches of barricades with nothing being done & no reason to be there other than the contractors are billing us for extended time. Handcuffing the commuting public due to the lack of ingenuity and with the lack of project supervision we are bankrupting the city - this is wrong. Time is money!
As to the 'no bid contracts' - these will end.
Don Woodstock as Mayor of Winnipeg will ensure that all contracts will be made public – the contractor awarded & the total amount paid to the contractor & subcontractors at the end of the project. No FIPPA requests needed for this information.
A Vision to Solve Crime
Letter to Councilor Scott Gillingham about the Corrupt EPC he sat on for 6 years
A new era for Road Construction
***July 15, 2022 - Now that we have the Premier of Manitoba Heather Stefanson engaging in the crime situation in Winnipeg and saying on the record she does not want the level of crime to be normalized, this presents a glorious opportunity for the city & the province to have a working relationship on this issue.
This is something that Mayor Bowman and others who criticize her opinion of stating the obvious just 'do not see.'
Seeing the need for a different approach to solving crime which includes keeping our youth busy, I formed the West End Football Clinic in 2013. I will continue to consistently make this point as it's the one true way of getting to the root cause of the problem and addressing crime at a different angle. This vision is needed for our city. In the Free Press on Wednesday, an opinion piece by Dan Lett spoke of "vulnerable youth were missing out on recreational opportunities and contact with social and mental health services provided by schools."
As I am the only candidate with this approach, I believe that it is worth mentioning that this is the same approach I took when encouraging our city to look at recycling to make it a part of our everyday life. My same consistent approach was taken to make the point about reusable bags.
I am telling the youth of Winnipeg today there is hope - we will have a program in place that sees us spending $400M annually for 5 years to start on recreational facilities, arts & crafts, sports fields, music - anything that will create the avenue to reduce your enticement to do drugs & gangs. This is where I believe Premier Heather Stefanson will play a key role in making this happen. There was no shortage of the media talking about Portage & Main last election - if we were to give my vision of solving crime this way - we will have a solution that we will all be proud of. Crime will reduce and this will make for a healthier more sustainable city. More tourists will come and the only down-side is my business, JamRock Security, will see less customers.
Let's do it!!
Is Dan Lett the only one in my corner?
Chief of Police must put all 'hands on deck'
Chief of Police must put all 'hands on deck'
***July 14, 2022 - Seeing the need for a different approach to solving crime which includes keeping our youth busy, I formed the West End Football Clinic in 2013. I will continue to consistently make this point as it's the one true way of getting to the root cause of the problem and addressing crime at a different angle. This vision is needed for our city. Thanks, Dan, for acknowledging this in your yesterday's opinion piece when you spoke of "vulnerable youth were missing out on recreational opportunities and contact with social and mental health services provided by schools."
As I am the only candidate with this approach, I believe that it is worth mentioning that this is the same approach I took when encouraging our city to look at recycling to make it a part of our everyday life. The same consistent approach was taken to make the point about reusable bags.
I am telling the youth of Winnipeg today there is hope - we will have a program in place that sees us spending $400M annually on recreational facilities, arts & crafts, sports fields, music - anything that will create the avenue to reduce your enticement to do drugs & gangs. There was no shortage of the media talking about Portage & Main last election - if we were to give my vision of solving crime this way - we will have a solution that we will all be proud of. Crime will reduce and this will make for a healthier more sustainable city. More tourists will come and the only down-side is my business, JamRock Security, will see less customers.
Let's do it!!
Chief of Police must put all 'hands on deck'
Chief of Police must put all 'hands on deck'
Chief of Police must put all 'hands on deck'
***July 12, 2022 - As a business owner, a concerned citizen & mayoral candidate, who is alarmed about the level of crime that is being allowed to be perpetrated on our citizens, I am demanding that the Chief of Police Danny Smyth pull his units who hide behind trees at sleepy stop sign corners and who sit at the bottom of bridges to reel in money and not safety - place them on active duty combating crime, which is what the Winnipeggers pay them to do or be 'fired.'
From 2014 in St. Boniface for example:
- 90% increase in property crimes
- 27% increase in violent crime
- 78% increase in crime overall in their neighbourhood
- Car-jackings & stolen catalytic converters are through the roof
and this is the consensus that crime is up significantly throughout all neighbourhoods in Winnipeg but, our Chief of Police says, "it's not new."
Cease the fundraising/traffic unit at once and put the officers to work combating the ballooning crime in this city. "All hands-on deck!"
Challenging the Chief of Police to be honest
Challenging the Chief of Police to be honest
Challenging the Chief of Police to be honest
***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.
No to Diesel - Yes to Electric & Safety
Challenging the Chief of Police to be honest
Challenging the Chief of Police to be honest
***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.
Construction Mayhem
Challenging the Chief of Police to be honest
Rainy Day Fund is going broke and I know why
***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.
Rainy Day Fund is going broke and I know why
Rainy Day Fund is going broke and I know why
Rainy Day Fund is going broke and I know why
***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.
$400M to keep our youth engaged
Rainy Day Fund is going broke and I know why
$1B for Road Construction 2014-2023
***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.
$1B for Road Construction 2014-2023
Rainy Day Fund is going broke and I know why
$1B for Road Construction 2014-2023
***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.
Keeping it Financially Real Winnipeg
Keeping it Financially Real Winnipeg
Keeping it Financially Real Winnipeg
***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.
Removal of Bus Shacks on Regent Ave
Keeping it Financially Real Winnipeg
Keeping it Financially Real Winnipeg
***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."
Canceling Canada Day - Not!
Keeping it Financially Real Winnipeg
Selecting a new Police Chief process
***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!
Selecting a new Police Chief process
Pledge for the environment and better transportation
Selecting a new Police Chief process
***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.
Pledge for the environment and better transportation
Pledge for the environment and better transportation
Pledge for the environment and better transportation
***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!
Registering for Mayoral Race
Pledge for the environment and better transportation
Pledge for the environment and better transportation
***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!!