Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 67

  

Wake Up Winnipeg - Episode 67

Hosted Live/Produced/Recorded by: Andru Valpy, Natty Somers

Air Date: 03/02/2011 6:00 PM on UMFM 101.5 FM
Download Location: iTunes.
Web: http://wakeupwinnipeg.com/
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Rebroadcast: 3/09/2011 on CJUM 101.5 UMFM - 6:30 AM

On this weeks episode we sent show host Andru down to City Hall for our annual meeting with Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz to discuss his outlook on the upcoming year. This kicked off "The People In The Neighborhood" segment which we hope to do once a month on Wake Up Winnipeg. 

We touched on a few topics on the city, including new retail developments, a revamped downtown atmosphere, updates to the police department and more city planning. 

On Episode 41 of Wake Up Winnipeg, we learned that Mayor Katz wanted to spend additional funding to research the benefits of bus rapid transit and light rapid transit. This came after studies were already approved by the city and construction had already started.  

In a statement released by Mayor Katz at the time, he stated:

“I remain committed to working towards building a rapid transit system in the City of Winnipeg,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “But we need to ensure that what we build makes sense for the long term development of our City and provides Winnipeggers the necessary incentives to leave there car at home and embrace public transportation alternatives, and provides solutions for financing with all our funding partners.”

When we last spoke with  Mayor Katz shortly before his election in the summer of 2010 we had talked about the BRT/LRT and he was confident that construction would continue and we would see more as the days progressed.

During this interview, I asked him about the progressions and where we stood with the rapid transit corridor. 

"We are in the process of completing the link from basically Queen Elizabeth Way to Jubilee so that's the first step, and once they get there that same bus will use the diamond lanes and go straight down Pembina Highway. 

I'm still having conversation, and some positive conversation I might add, with the premiere about light rail transit which I think will most definitely motivate more people to leave their vehicles at home. Number two, spur more private sector investment and Number 3 is much better for the environment. As you know, there is a difference in using electricity and fossil fuel.

I think we're making some headway there because in order for us to accomplish that goal and to get the federal government to get on board, you know I need to get the province to be part of this going forward and feeling a little more optomistic than in the past...

...I would hope that sometime in the next four to six months we'll be able to agree on the approach, go to Ottawa and find some more funding for rapid transit, that would definitely be my goal. 

We will continue to follow up with Mayor Katz on this transit in upcoming episodes. 

Also in this Exclusive interview we ask Mayor Katz about the announcement made by him on the CFL Grey Cup coming to Winnipeg in 2014. 

On episode 64 of Wake Up Winnipeg I was the first journalists covering the State of The City address to report that Mayor Katz announced to Winnipeg that the 2014 Grey Cup would be here in our city at what will be the new home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. 

“And won’t it be great when Canada gathers together, in Winnipeg, for the 2014 Grey Cup in our new state of the art stadium”. 

The announcement was met with confusion from CFL officials who have not yet discussed plans past the 2012 festivities. During this interview, I questioned Mayor Katz about this announcement, where it came from, and why the CFL had yet to acknowledge this comment. 

"Well, (the announcement) came from reality real simple.  Put it this way, here is what I can tell you. I've been involved in the world of sports and I've built venues and I've seen other cities. Anytime a city invests that kind of money, one of the first things they talk about...if you're in the NFL you talk about you getting the Superbowl. Dallas, vis-à-vis. If you're building a new hockey arena in the NHL, you talk about getting the all star game ect. These are things that are automatic, it's all part of the process. Now weather or not people want to admit this or not, that's their prerogative, my job as Mayor is to tell the truth. "

 Sources close to Wake Up Winnipeg have said that The CFL will not comment on the 2014 Grey Cup as they have yet to release host cities past 2012. We will follow this story closely as developments arise.

To learn more about Mayor Katz's plan for 2011we have now posted the entire interview for free download on the Wake Up Winnipeg iTunes Podcast. You may access it by searching Wake Up Winnipeg in iTunes.

Finally, Mayor Katz announced that he would be happy to sit down with our show once every three months to discuss your ideas on a future Winnipeg. Those of you interested in contacting the Mayor's Office for ideas, constructive critisism or thoughts on plans already in the works, please e-mail us at info@wakeupwinnipeg.com and we will make sure that The Mayors Office receives your request.


Stay tuned to future episodes of Wake Up Winnipeg as Natty and I will continue to educate you more on what's happening within your city.

-Andru Valpy