She’s been in the news more often in the last year than at any other time of her 12 year stint on Winnipeg city council, and in Episode 28 you’ll hear directly from Councillor Cindy Gilroy about the key issues heading into her re-election campaign.
In Part 1, Gilroy reviews initiatives undertaken to preserve infrastructure and restore parks and trees in her Daniel McIntyre ward.
11.00- Marty Gold compares her success in saving amenities for the west end with the destruction of Happyland Pool in the St. Boniface neighborhood.
“You’re raising a very big challenge that all inner-city wards have … we don’t really balance it out,” saying she is “always terrified of what could happen to Sherbrook Pool.”
17.25 Part 2– Gilroy describes her fight to ensure Sherbrook Pool is properly staffed and that the area is made safer for users, including adding cameras and staff. She advocates hiring locals as they ‘get’ the community, and wants to help establish programming to train kids to become lifeguards.
As to homelessness and addictions, “that is something that has impacted residents and businesses in my ward,” and she explains why she supports a managed encampment that city leaders refused to consider.
“I cannot understand the rationale for leaving things the way they are… You are correct Marty, we would see a reduction in the (emergency) services that are required… I do think there is room for the province to be part of the discussion.”
If services were delivered there and “not in neighborhoods where it’s affecting families (it would be) much safer than we have it now.” Gilroy also believes overdose deaths would be reduced.
25.30 – Gilroy is asked about the NDP provincial government refusing to provide space on provincial property for homeless women and addicts at risk of exploitation in encampments. She called for law enforcement to arrest the perps.
“They need to be in jail. If you are exploiting somebody, if you’re raping somebody, they’re not in an encampment- I want them in jail, that’s the reality… if you’re doing something so blatantly violent towards other people, you need to be in jail and kept in jail.”
31.00– In regards to the recent police blitz on open drug use, which included her ward, Gilroy supported it, stating “I have seen very blatant” outdoor drug dealing, and “my business owners are threatening to shut their doors because they feel unsafe.”
Importantly, she noted that “sometimes, it was because they were arrested” that addicts sought treatment and recovered.
While Mayor Gillingham directed citizens to complain to the Police Board after police chief Gene Bowers bowed to the demands of social service agencies to back off the crack-down, “I don’t feel as a councillor, I have a say… It’s a frustrating system in terms of what I can and can not do as an elected official.”
Gilroy explains how the NDP’s “Your Way Home” strategy prevents the city from removing encampments and move people along, and a lack of coordination between departments.
37.45 Part 3 – We went into overtime to get Cindy Gilroy’s views on issues like
– The Arlington Bridge controversy after former Councillor Terry Wachniak tried to blow the whistle on potential risks to the public purse -“he has concerns that are valid.”
– The new restrictions on valuable public input to council, including that “5 minutes is not enough” and being denied the chance to respond to dubious ‘verbal reports’ by the bureaucrats.
– “Dealing with the ‘Strong Mayor’ model that is not equitable” is Gilroy’s solution, as “people who are not on EPC do not have the access to information.”
– (At 50.40) on the city nearing its borrowing limit: “I 100% think it’s dire and we need to prioritize looking at these big massive projects when there’s no need.”
– The “unbearable” effects of the disastrous Winnipeg Transit roll-out and routing buses onto narrow residential streets: “I’ve used the system, they aren’t being whiners.”
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On Saturday night you can see Marty in the ring in a featured tag team bout on the CWE Cruel Summer Tour, presented by the Winnipeg Sun. These family-friendly events are held at the Ukrainian Labour Temple and starts at 7 PM.
Marty is now holder of fifth place all-time in the record book for longest in-ring career in Canadian history- and this bout extends his streak.
If you would like to get tickets at our special price, please message Marty ASAP to arrange securing yours for the event. See you at the matches!
