Monday will start off with a question: after years of Bus Rapid Transit discussion and debate, when was the first time you heard about the city wanting to spend MILLIONS of taxpayer dollars to swipe land from private owners, whose properties stand in the way of the proposed BRT corridor?
For everyone I have asked so far, the answer was "today", in a Free Press expose of a leaked report, that is going to Planning Property and Development Committee on Tuesday.
All we ever heard was the phrase "rail line right of way", and never a syllable about "plus an extra $12.7 million for 11 properties we don't own".
Which by the time the lawyers and courts get involved, will be closer to $20 million. Of your money.
And today was also the first time anyone heard that city bureaucrats
insist BRT's co-funder, the provincial NDP government, must take away the right of property owners to appeal any expropriation -- because TRANSIT IS IN A HURRY to stay on schedule. For once.
We'll look at the story of one of the affected property owners, and whether this process, where the rest of us have rules to follow but Transit thinks they should stand above the law, is going to be supported by city councillors and provincial politicians who clammor about transparency and accountability and needing a positive business climate.
Also Monday; the post-Grey Cup review with Atlantic Pizza's TJ Bratt, Adam Knight, Kick-FM's Dave Shorr, and Frank the Italian Barber.
Tuesday -- Ron Schuler, PC member for Springfield, will join us for an interview;
Wednesday -- CTV's Kelly Dehn
Thursday -- The first hour will see us host Mayor Sam Katz live in studio.
Friday -- A preview of Ultimate Cage Wars event later that night at the Convention Centre, which will feature the man many Winnipeg music fans love to hate and hate to love, former Ballroom Zombie frontman turned MMA fighter Robin Black.
Congratulations to our prize draw winner Brent, who voted for "Cheez Whiz" for story of the year; it was named co-winner along with our scrutiny of the unreported multi-layered connections between the well-heeled Friends of Upper Fort Garry, the adjacent Manitoba Club, the unquestioning mainstream media, elected politicians, and millionaires with pet projects.
