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Post by joelzillmanwpg on Apr 3, 2006 18:52:52 GMT -5
Winnipeg: Prosperity around the corner, or beginning of the end?
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Post by Kenny S on Apr 3, 2006 21:01:44 GMT -5
Geez, I hate this question. I love this city and I am always a huge supporter and backer of Winnipeg, actually more Manitoba than Winnipeg but none the less. There is, or at least was, great potential in this city. Things were just turning around, then the people of Manitoba voted the NDP in (I think it was 1999?). I couldn't believe it. The promise of eliminating hallway medicine was such a crock, but people believed it. Things have gone downhill fast since then.
Building a couple of nice buildings doesn't make a better city. A thriving business community with head offices moving their better paying positions here is better. Leaving the minimum wage call centers here and moving the high end positions elsewhere does not help a city proper. I'm doing okay financially here, but I could be doing great anywhere else (believe me, I've looked and asked but am staying here to try do my part to help this city grow and become great). Don't bring up housing, the cost for new housing in Alberta and Winnipeg beginning to equal out once income and property taxes are taken into consideration. We can't rely on cheap housing anymore as a selling point as for example, the price for a 900 sq. ft split (mine) in south st.vital is worth over $175,000 now. Thats not affordable. Its getting pretty close to Edmonton and Calgary prices. Go take a look at mls.ca and find a decent home in a good area for under $100,000.
How do I feel about Winnipeg right now? I hate to say this, but I'm pretty uninspired. Sammy needs time to turn this thing around, but the old farts are complaining already. There is a lot of bureaucracy at city hall, more than Sam realized and its going to take time. Geez people, give the guy a chance instead of calling for his head. I went on a Winnipeg Forum and I couldn't believe the animosity towards him. All that animosity will result in Sammy saying forget it and Winnipeg will continue moving no further ahead with the old boys club running the show again.
This whole Metis Landmark Case concerns me, but I do not have enough information about what the potential end results could be, so I can't comment nor have an opinion.
Let's attract IT companies, cargo and shipping head offices. Lets take advantage of our natural resources (hydro, oil, tourism (we have some of the most beautiful beaches and lakes in the world yet nobody outside Manitoba knows that)). We have a thriving arts community. We have great citizens famous for their spirit, giving and volunteering. The city needs to work together with the province and begin to thrive on all of these resources.
Sam needs to put together some town-hall forums asking for ideas, not to attack him and the city. I seem to recall him asking people to submit ideas of how to improve Winnipeg. Thats a start. Heck, if he needs help organizing a town-hall forum, I'll be first in line to help him.
My apologies for going on and on, I've probably bored you all. I want to see this city become something special. An NHL team would help, but its certainly not the only solution, its only a small part of the solution. This city needs to do so much more before we can really entertain the thought of housing an NHL team. The idea of progressing and doing are two different things. In order to turn this city around, Lets Start Doing!
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