How will I vote in the Manitoba Provincial Election 2016

[Smallc]

b/ an opportunity for the NDP spin it as "dismantling health care" and "hurting those who need it most"

That'll be difficult, as it was under their watch that the ERs were closed, and the doctors were lost.

[Bryan]

That'll be difficult, as it was under their watch that the ERs were closed, and the doctors were lost.

NDP has never been strong on inconvenient things like "facts".

http://www.cjob.com/2015/12/04/currier-ndp-attack-ads-full-of-lies/

(a 12 minute listen, but worth every second)

[blueblood]

The hard part about infrastructure spending on the west side of manitoba is that its essentially quickly becoming depopulated due to lack of significant industry. Im afraid crappy roads and closed hospitals are in the cards as there is no population left to justify it.

I think the problem with manitoba is that its too winnipeg centred and in fairness as it should be as thats where the population is, but it causes a problem of essentially two manitobas whereas saskatchewan is more diversified. There is a significant difference when you cross the mb sk border...

[Smallc]

I think the problem with manitoba is that its too winnipeg centred and in fairness as it should be as thats where the population is, but it causes a problem of essentially two manitobas whereas saskatchewan is more diversified. There is a significant difference when you cross the mb sk border...

On the other hand, Saskatchewan lacks much of the urban amenities that are available to Manitobans. They don't have a large city. We have a large city that is growing and is now seeing massive investment, precisely because it's a large, growing city.

[Smallc]

I think it's worth keeping our roads good, and they have seen a lot of investment. Ironically, the roads to Waterhen have seen millions invested recently, but the quality of the surfaced road has gotten worse, as they surface hasn't been replaced as the road has been repaired (it's supposed to happen. I won't hold my breath and my Mustang will suffer). Hospitals like Dauphin, Swan River, and Ste Rose are busy and seeing investment. Places like Winnipegosis and McCreery...not so much.

Edited April 9, 2016 by Smallc

[Bryan]

On the other hand, Saskatchewan lacks much of the urban amenities that are available to Manitobans. They don't have a large city. We have a large city that is growing and is now seeing massive investment, precisely because it's a large, growing city.

What is it that you think they are missing? Sure, Saskatoon and Regina are much smaller than Winnipeg, but both places are very modern and growing. I'd much rather live there than here.

[blueblood]

I think it's worth keeping our roads good, and they have seen a lot of investment. Ironically, the roads to Waterhen have seen millions invested recently, but the quality of the surfaced road has gotten worse, as they surface hasn't been replaced as the road has been repaired (it's supposed to happen. I won't hold my breath and my Mustang will suffer). Hospitals like Dauphin, Swan River, and Ste Rose are busy and seeing investment. Places like Winnipegosis and McCreery...not so much.

I also agree its good to keep roads good, but to a person in winnipeg they may be roads to nowhere when people in winnipeg have infrastructure needs of their own.

My concern is with a lack of industry to western manitoba vs rural saskatchewan, its leading to a depopulated area and unfortunately as a result all the power is concentrated in winnipeg and the legislature is city hall 2.0.

[Smallc]

What is it that you think they are missing? Sure, Saskatoon and Regina are much smaller than Winnipeg, but both places are very modern and growing. I'd much rather live there than here.

Winnipeg has hit a critical mass that the other two won't for a century. Apparently, when a city reaches 800K, things start to happen. You can see that with all the recent retail arrival, and investment downtown. Winnipeg is becoming a self fulfilling force.

I will agree with this though - Saskatoon is Beautiful. Regina...not so much.

Edited April 9, 2016 by Smallc

[Smallc]

My concern is with a lack of industry to western manitoba vs rural saskatchewan, its leading to a depopulated area and unfortunately as a result all the power is concentrated in winnipeg and the legislature is city hall 2.0.

It's not just Winnipeg experiencing Growth. Everything south of the Trans Canada is growing. There really isn't much, other than a few resource industries and agriculture, up this way.

[Bryan]

Winnipeg has hit a critical mass that the other two won't for a century. Apparently, when a city reaches 800K, things start to happen. You can see that with all the recent retail arrival, and investment downtown. Winnipeg is becoming a self fulfilling force.

I don't know We've been hearing that for decades. I think that what you see downtown is a taxpayer funded illusion. Winnipeg downtown is generally a money pit. Every year or two, THIS is the thing that will turn things around -- it always starts off looking good, but it rarely pans out. The growth is in the suburbs, most Winnipeggers HATE downtown and they resent being coerced into going there. True North Square, IMO, is tomorrow's Portage Place.

[Smallc]

I don't know We've been hearing that for decades. I think that what you see downtown is a taxpayer funded illusion.

All of the recently announced projects (300 Main, 360 Main, Skycity, True North Square, Longboat, Richardson, etc) have no or very little public money. Winnipeg recently passed Hamilton to become the country's 8th largest city, and in the next few years will pass Quebec to become the 7th largest.

Winnipeg downtown is generally a money pit.

The population of downtown has nearly doubled since the year 2005 from 9000 to 16000.

Every year or two, THIS is the thing that will turn things around -- it always starts off looking good, but it rarely pans out. The growth is in the suburbs, most Winnipeggers HATE downtown and they resent being coerced into going there. True North Square, IMO, is tomorrow's Portage Place.

People your age do hate downtown. People my age want to live and work there.

Edited April 9, 2016 by Smallc

[Bryan]

People your age do hate downtown. People my age want to live and work there.

No one with any sense wants either of those things. The traffic, the parking, the crime, the drugs, the homelessness, the dearth of reasonable shopping, etc. There's a reason everything is closed at 5. The number of people who really live downtown in a single digit percentage of the population.

[Smallc]

Yes, 2%. It was 1%. Downtown is far from what you're making it out to be though. I spend a lot of time there now while in Winnipeg.

Edited April 10, 2016 by Smallc

[Bryan]

Yes, 2%. It was 1%. Downtown is far from what you're making it out to be though. I spend a lot of time there now while in Winnipeg.

Something that only 2% are interested in is a huge leap from being a "force" by any definition of the word.

I will grant you that student housing for U of W is better now than when I went there.

I spend a lot of time there too. 5 to 6 days a week. It's a shell of what it was when I lived there. It's not a safe place anymore, a lot more building as empty, the few businesses that still remain are closed at 5.

[Smallc]

Something that only 2% are interested in is a huge leap from being a "force" by any definition of the word.

It's not just about downtown - but, in the next decade, it's expected to be 3%/

I will grant you that student housing for U of W is better now than when I went there.

I spend a lot of time there too. 5 to 6 days a week. It's a shell of what it was when I lived there. It's not a safe place anymore, a lot more building as empty, the few businesses that still remain are closed at 5.

It's true, compared to decades ago, downtown has a long way to go (as do most downtowns in cold climate cities). Still, the difference from a decade ago is striking in the opposite direction. Circa 2003, there was nothing in downtown.

Winnipeg, a city that didn't grow through the 90s, is now growing faster than other cities, and actually changing it's position.

Edited April 10, 2016 by Smallc

[Bryan]

Perhaps it's just got so far to go, that even big changes on a percentage basis are a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed. The suburbs are growing much faster

Still, even in the last decade, I've seen far more things closing than opening. More buildings standing empty. If there is real growth happening, they are working really hard to hide it. I'm honestly trying to think of a downtown business I would patronize. Everything of note I used to shop at either went out of business or moved away from downtown.

[Derek 2.0]

Something that only 2% are interested in is a huge leap from being a "force" by any definition of the word.

I will grant you that student housing for U of W is better now than when I went there.

I spend a lot of time there too. 5 to 6 days a week. It's a shell of what it was when I lived there. It's not a safe place anymore, a lot more building as empty, the few businesses that still remain are closed at 5.

A "force", wanting to be downtown, huge growth.......for a minute I thought he was referring to Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal. People actually go to Winnipeg, and then stay, on purpose? What's a one bedroom condo cost, we talking Mercedes Benz range?

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Any polls out on who is expected to win the Manitoba election?

[Smallc]

The PCs are leading by a 2:1 margin over the NDP.

Winnipeg is undergoing a mini renaissance. I think it's harder for some to see, but it's there. In my lifetime, things have changed for the better in almost every way.

[Derek 2.0]

The PCs are leading by a 2:1 margin over the NDP.

Wow, the NDP must have really buggered up there......I don't know that they're hated even that much in Alberta yet.

Winnipeg is undergoing a mini renaissance. I think it's harder for some to see, but it's there. In my lifetime, things have changed for the better in almost every way.

A renaissance? Interesting, last time I had the misfortune of going through Winnipeg, late 80s I guess, parts did seem a little feudal..........so now all the learned people, oracles, wise men, minstrels and other gentry of the province are converging on the city.......last I heard, the city had a problem with stabby first nations teens and biblical flooding ......they sort that out?

[Bryan]

Wow, the NDP must have really buggered up there......I don't know that they're hated even that much in Alberta yet.

Worst education outcomes, worst healthcare wait times, highest child poverty, out of control taxation, etc. We've fallen far behind on almost every measure.

The part that did him in was an emphatic promise not to raise the sales tax during the last election, followed by an immediate incrrease in that very tax, with documents being leaked that the tax hike legislation was already drafted when he was telling people that the idea was ludicrous. The fun part was, we had a law that said PST increases must be voted on specifically by referendum. They just decided to change the law, and went ahead and did it anyway.

A renaissance? Interesting, last time I had the misfortune of going through Winnipeg, late 80s I guess, parts did seem a little feudal..........so now all the learned people, oracles, wise men, minstrels and other gentry of the province are converging on the city.......last I heard, the city had a problem with stabby first nations teens and biblical flooding ......they sort that out?

The flooding is still a problem, but we didn't have an action movie level one this year, so there's that.

The crime is still bad, especially in and around downtown. Still at the top of the most murders per capita list. Still having tourists getting assaulted and robbed.

But yes, there is a small park that holds Rennaisance Fair type events, with costumes and antique longbow competitions. Maybe that where the changes are happening.

[Derek 2.0]

Worst education outcomes, worst healthcare wait times, highest child poverty, out of control taxation, etc. We've fallen far behind on almost every measure.

The part that did him in was an emphatic promise not to raise the sales tax during the last election, followed by an immediate incrrease in that very tax, with documents being leaked that the tax hike legislation was already drafted when he was telling people that the idea was ludicrous. The fun part was, we had a law that said PST increases must be voted on specifically by referendum. They just decided to change the law, and went ahead and did it anyway.

Wow, they really did that? That's hilarious......did the party just decide it was time to go into the wilderness for 40 years like Moses? At least the BC NDP in the 90s just stole from taxpayers and awarded contracts to their buddies behind closed doors........that's ballsy, like Trudeau and price controls........

The flooding is still a problem, but we didn't have an action movie level one this year, so there's that.

Makes sense.....maybe the new found wise men in the city will decide to build dykes or not rebuild an area after its flooded.....a savvy politician might even promise to do exactly that......

The crime is still bad, especially in and around downtown. Still at the top of the most murders per capita list. Still having tourists getting assaulted and robbed.

Why is that? If Winnipeg has transformed itself into an orgy of modernity and expansive sprawling metropolis, one would think crime rates would be on the decline........high crime in cities are an indication of urban decay and rot.

Are crime rates a local election issue?

But yes, there is a small park that holds Rennaisance Fair type events, with costumes and antique longbow competitions. Maybe that where the changes are happening.

That's something I guess

[Bryan]

Are crime rates a local election issue?

Not really, because most of the city is quite safe, It's just a concentrated area downtown and slightly north of it where things are bad. There's a lot of "the criminals are the real victims" mentality in local politics about that. Poverty/addictions/despair/etc. A lot of people are terrified of being called racist no matter what direction they to go to try to help, so they opt not to talk about it at all.

[blueblood]

Wow, they really did that? That's hilarious......did the party just decide it was time to go into the wilderness for 40 years like Moses? At least the BC NDP in the 90s just stole from taxpayers and awarded contracts to their buddies behind closed doors........that's ballsy, like Trudeau and price controls........

Makes sense.....maybe the new found wise men in the city will decide to build dykes or not rebuild an area after its flooded.....a savvy politician might even promise to do exactly that......

Why is that? If Winnipeg has transformed itself into an orgy of modernity and expansive sprawling metropolis, one would think crime rates would be on the decline........high crime in cities are an indication of urban decay and rot.

Are crime rates a local election issue?

That's something I guess

It doesnt hurt that the neighbour to the west is on a prosperous tear. So much more going on in both the rural and urban parts of sk. 2 new potash mines being built for 2020 and they arent bhp...

Oh and the ndp got shellacked in sk 5:1 along with the leader losing his seat.

Manitobans see that the grass has been greener in sk for quite some time now and its going to be very hard to play catch up.

[Derek 2.0]

Not really, because most of the city is quite safe, It's just a concentrated area downtown and slightly north of it where things are bad. There's a lot of "the criminals are the real victims" mentality in local politics about that. Poverty/addictions/despair/etc. A lot of people are terrified of being called racist no matter what direction they to go to try to help, so they opt not to talk about it at all.

Sounds like a common theme everywhere, the same sorts of "poverty pimps" have made a niche industry of the poor in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and the growing issues associated with North Surrey/Whalley.

[Derek 2.0]

Manitobans see that the grass has been greener in sk for quite some time now and its going to be very hard to play catch up.

Sounds like the relationship between BC and Alberta for many, but with the crash in oil, many seem to be slinking back..........BC currently is one of the few Provinces with a balanced budget and somewhat stable economy......despite that, I'd figure a 50/50 chance that in our election next year, we bugger that up by putting the NDP back in