Summary: Listen to this podcast to get details on the 2013 budget debate and the failed motion to restore funding cuts to non-profits and museums, instead of into councilors ward allowance (CRA in council lingo) or as speaker Nordman protested "not a slush fund". Despite an impassioned plea from Coun. Justin Swandel for Nordman and the Mayor to show some leadership ("think of Duff Roblin"), council voted to rake in an extra $40,000 per ward. Wait till you hear why Nordman says it was soooo necessary. Also a rarity occurred when a councilor decided to withdraw his own motion to reduce fee hikes of over 100% for athletic field users (like Ultimate Sports) after being talked out of it by the administration on vague promise of future improvements to the fields - but only after an unknown number of 'illegal users' are caught in an enforcement blitz. However the motion could not be technically withdrawn without the consent of the seconder, so after some slight of mover and seconder, Brian Mayes and John Orlikow, a vote on the motion was held and defeated. The net result is Jeff Browaty wins the John Kerry Award for being for it, before he was against it. Most significant was the speech of Coun. Paula Havixbeck who assailed council for having lost the confidence of the public after FireHallGate, and for EPC refusing to look at $27M in proposed savings that could have resulted in a Property Tax DECREASE. Here is how it unfolded on Twitter: Colin Craig @colincraig1 Is Havixbeck the strongest fiscal hawk on council now? Currently ripping on admin for waste, unaccountable bureaucrats #wpgcouncil #mbpoli Bernice Pontanilla @MetroBee Coun. Havixbeck said she cannot support tax increase when not enough done to find savings #WpgBudget2013 #winnipeg #wpgcouncil TheGreatCdnTalkShow @TGCTS Havixbeck "no one's yes person, not a tin soldier" will oppose all future tax increases and says council is excluding voices #wpgcouncil Paula Havixbeck @PaulaHavixbeck Cut the entire CRA augmentation. Who gives themselves a 54% increase? #winnipeg #wpgcouncil Terry @Terry1967l Paula Havixbeck is so right. City Hall must clean up their own act before more increased taxes come in . Candace Maxymowich @candacemax #Wpgcouncil may still be dominated by the "good ol' boys", but @PaulaHavixbeck has shown that #womeninpolitics do make a difference! LISTEN TO THE SCRUMS INCLUDED IN THIS PODCAST AND OUR QUESTIONS FOR FINANCE CHAIR RUSS WYATT, MAYOR SAM KATZ, AND COUNCILOR HAVIXBECK. ********************* New City Circus tonight on Shaw TV Winnipeg Channel 9 at 7 pm, 10.30 pm, and at 3 am all week long - we will upload it to the archive as soon as possible -- How the budget got to todays' vote, with more about how the NDP devolution policy led to Phoenix Sinclair's murder, and a follow up on the reaction to the new Jets Casino.
