At an April 27 council meeting, Winnipeg councillors proclaimed deeply concerns over the housing crisis, crumbling sidewalks and roads, and funding for rapid transit.
They heard about genuine charitable need and legitimate questions about the source of repeated "official" assumptions that 250,000 human beings will come to see the "iconic" Canadian Museum for Human Rights (more than the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles).
Yet in a unanimous vote, all 16 civic leaders, led by Mayor Sam Katz, added yet another $3.63 million to the $11 million "interest free" loan the city has already handed over, to the pet project of millionaires.
However, a vast majority of online comments left on mainstream media stories reflected that readers did not agree with the acquiescence of their elected representatives to the insatiable desire of museum acolytes that taxpayers backstop their failed private-sector fundraising.
In fact, even supporters of the Museum were not impressed at all.
-- The first story of the Winnipeg Free Press, which ignored the questions that were raised with council about the $11 million loan, recorded 69 comments (some of which were duplicates).
Despite the years of unabashed cheerleading for the CMHR by the broadsheet that claims to be leading a revolution in reporting community issues, their readership continues to reject their party line.
Among the insights:
The funding faucet is now officially on, and will only become more of a torrent as the years go on! Asper could make a good gesture by donating the $4,000,000.00+ he received for the stadium fiasco into this other bottomless funding pit.
Posted by: thatsteveguy
April 27, 2011 at 12:21 PM
I'd be OK with this final payment or "relief effort" or whatever you would like to call it, as long as it came with signed documentation by the City, Provincial, and Federal government, and agreed to by those developing the Human Rights museum, that any further funds needed would be raised privately.
Posted by: Really?
April 27, 2011 at 12:26 PM
While I think a national museum outside of Ottawa is a good thing, I would have rather have seen money put towards our roads in the city. It's a crumbling nightmare.
Posted by: John Cuckaroo
April 27, 2011 at 12:27 PM
'St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel used stronger language.
"We should just shut up and get this done," he said.'
Wow talk about disrespecting the electorate. That's the precise problem here no one at the city cares about the tax payer.
Just raise the frontage levy and throw away $3.6M to a project, all the while who cares about the tax payer.
Just tell the tax payer to shut-up because we have to get this done. Nice.
Posted by: dagastino
April 27, 2011 at 12:35 PM
My councillor has just lost my vote. What a bunch of sheep.
Posted by: bogey1
April 27, 2011 at 12:54 PM
funny how the mayor is able to push thru increased property taxes for the people of Winnipeg, but let's the CMHR off the hook
Posted by: drumzan
April 27, 2011 at 12:57 PM
So we're struggling to find budget for roads...but we're able to magically come up with $3.6M for a museum that is not a primary need of this city? I don't get it. No wonder why Winnipeg NEVER puts in overpasses on any of our "freeways" or "highways" crowded with light intersections. Gas prices are soaring, so we really need to start thinking ahead to make more efficient roadways.
Posted by: DAN6
April 27, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Why not just levy a new tax and call it the CMHR subsidy.
Posted by: notme
April 27, 2011 at 1:35 PM
I was at Seven Oaks pool last night. Almost every 2nd locker is broken. So they can't keep up our city pools but they can give more money to the Asper projects???
Posted by: bomberfan68
April 27, 2011 at 4:09 PM
I've seen the Asper residences in Winnipeg. They are clearly capable of picking up this tab themselves. So why aren't they? This is disgraceful and a slap in the face to many taxpayers who in the current economic times are one paycheque away from foreclosure or not feeding their kids. I'll never set foot in this museum and they are kidding themselves with their statement of how people will travel from across the country and continent specifically to visit the CMHR. Well, maybe the other rich donors will at least.
-- A revised FP story, found in print as well as online the next day, lumped the Museum tax break into a story about other decisions, entitled City finds $14.6M for three projects; Extra expenses won't boost 2011 budget. Still, the public was not pursuaded, and none of these comments got a single "thumbs down" from other FP readers.
Posted by: ErikW
April 28, 2011 at 8:31 AM
"City council found a way Wednesday to spend an additional $14.6 million on a trio of existing projects and programs without adding a dollar to its 2011 spending plans."
Talk about voodoo economics. I am a taxpayer. One way or another this is going to cost me. If the CMHR is getting $3.6 million dollars that was coming from the federal government to Winnipeg, what is that money NOT paying for? Roads, other infrastructure, etc.? So now there is $3.6 million LESS that could be used to fix our roads. At the very least the federal government has $3.6 million less for its programs.
When will people learn? WE are the taxpayers. If $3.6 million wasn't going to the Waterfront White Elephant, that money would be going to fix our city. Is city council suggesting that somehow $3.6 million worth of problems don't need to be fixed?
Thanks to the Mayor and his sheep for robbing Winnipeggers current and future.
Posted by: Just Me4
April 28, 2011 at 9:19 AM
Where is the accountability? Why are they coming to the financial well over and over again?
I will admit that I think this whole museum is a waste of money. That being said, the decision has been made to build it, so now we build it. However, that does not mean its a open cheque. There has to be accountability, this can not become (although it may already) a bottomless pit.
Posted by: null
April 28, 2011 at 9:58 PM
St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel used stronger language.
"We should just shut up and get this done," he said.
Ah yes, a familiar refrain from those who advocate strongly for an idea museum based on human rights.
I wonder where they'll put the freedom of speech zone. Oh yeah, there isn't one.
-- CBC was flooded with 87 comments about its online story, which highlighted Coun. Harvey Smith wondering aloud if this was the last council would see of the gimme-gimme always-gets Museum boosters:
ruralreaderstandard2011/04/27
at 4:00 PM ET At one time I was an enthusiastic supporter of this museum. However, it seems it is costing far more to construct than originally planned and the proposed exhibits do not adequately reflect the wishes of the taxpayers who are, for the most part, the largest contributors. I fear it is becoming a monument to the Asper legacy in this city as well as the faith that they are a part of.
hammeronstandard2011/04/27
at 4:21 PM ET Its a complete joke. These councillors get elected by shutting their mouths and then six months later they are doing whatever they want with our tax money. The whole coucil including the mayor should be thrown out of office... I just do not like my tax money being spent on museums when our mayor is trying to find ways to tax us extra to pay for our roads that are falling apart. This entire city council should be recalled by their wards and demand answers for this spending. This was not mentioned in the election campaign.. We need recall of our politicians in manitoba.
uThkUrBttrThnMestandard2011/04/27
at 5:55 PM ET I have now been trying for two years to get the city to clean up the nearby city operated park. The children's playground area is overgrown with weeds. The park was mowed only a single time last year. In short it is a disgraceful, unkempt mess. And yet there seems to be endless millions to throw at this museum and other private pet projects.
at 11:14 PM ETIt is becoming discouraging to always hear that the Human Rights Museum needs "more" money. If citizens of this city managed their personal finances like the forces behind this project they would have to be on welfare by now.
giulealstandard2011/04/28
at 7:16 AM ET Imagine if this money went to improving human rights in Manitoba, or to all the social programs who's federal funding was pulled from them this year..
I think it is great that there will be a human right's museum, but I am constantly appalled at the state of Winnipeg.
prairiegirl27standard2011/04/28
at 10:42 AM ET I'm supportive of the idea, but it seems like this museum project has been very poorly managed. I would like to see a full auditing of their books before they see a dime more in public money.
-- The Winnipeg Sun had run an editorial stating " City council should ignore the outstretched hands of museum officials asking for another handout from taxpayers"
The subsequent report of how Council did the opposite got responses like the following:Madethistopost:
Related: Tom Brodbeck's column in today's Winnipeg Sun "Spending disorder; Swandel crazy to blast prudent citizens"
Coming in Part Two: More reaction from the alternative and social media
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Posted by: Danjac
April 27, 2011 at 12:08 PM