Civic
May 5th, 2016 | D. Stone
This year, I'm sticking to my guns and doubling down, because I know I'm right. Regina taxpayers are fed up with city hall. They're fed up with the same career councillors telling them what they need and how they're going to pay for it. Last June, Regina had a water crisis due to an overgrowth of algae and 35% of its roads and overpasses were a mess. This year, there is less algae but the roads are still crumbling, downtown is still riddled with vacant storefronts and property taxes are set to increase. The taxes are set to increase because Regina's city council and mayor, Michael Fougere, approved a multi-million dollar stadium on the backs of taxpayers without a referendum or any meaningful input from citizens.
August 1st, 2015 | T. Norris
It’s
hard to understand how Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi ever got elected.
Calgary is the most conservative major city in the entire country, and
Nenshi is anything but a conservative. Time and time again, without
failure, Nenshi has found ways to spend more and more money. Of course,
when you can continually raise taxes, it isn’t hard to find that money
and then use all this new spending in some twisted attempt to justify
these tax increases. Nenshi’s flaws go far beyond his policies. He may
possibly be the most thin skinned politician in Canada. He’s a continual
source of anger and embarrassment on Twitter, stooping as low as to lob
personal insults at other people on his own council (namely fiscally
conservative councillor, Sean Chu).
June 5th, 2015 | D. Stone
Anyone who has lived in or spent time in Regina knows that the city is in dire need of revitalization. The city's centre core is riddled with vacant storefronts that no businesses seem willing to fill. The city's crime and congested infrastructure are putting a strain on commuters, residents, business owners and tourists. To this day, Regina has remained in the top three for most violent Canadian cities and city traffic has been steadily rising, creating a barrage of complaints to local council offices. Yet, with all of this, Michael Fougere and city council have remained openly and vocally stubborn.
July 1st, 2014 | R. Rados
To make matters worse, during the 2013 municipal election, Naheed Nenshi promised to back a redevelopment plan for one of Calgary's poorest neighbourhoods. To most people, redeveloping Forest Lawn sounds like a great idea. However, making Calgary even less affordable is one consequence of gentrifying too many low income neighbourhoods. At the end of the day, citizens who don't own homes need affordable places to live.
Soknacki, Spice Dealer With Potential
May 1st, 2014 | D. Stone
He was once a councillor in Scarborough, but in 1997 when Scarborough became a part of Toronto, he lost. Then in 1999, he won again and became an official member of Toronto's city council. David Soknacki has had a long and successful political history, but you wouldn't know it by only paying attention to Toronto's major media.
30% Approve Of Calgary Council
April 1st, 2014 | Poletical Poll
Through the month of March, Poletical asked Calgarians whether they approve of Naheed Nenshi and Calgary City Council. 391 single votes from Calgary IP addresses were counted and divided into four quadrants. Overall, Calgarians approve of Naheed Nenshi's performance as mayor, with support for the mayor strongest in Calgary's Southwest.
Wealthy Criminals, Bankrupt Media
December 1st, 2013 | R. Rados
In the midst of Rob Ford's admission to smoking crack while in office, Canadians seem to have forgotten what lengths some bloggers and journalists were willing to go to have him brought down. Gawker – with the support of the Toronto Star – was willing to hand $200,000 to drug dealers for a video showing the mayor doing something illegal. As if publishing rumours without real evidence wasn't bad enough, they were willing to put nearly a quarter of a million dollars into the hands of known Somali criminals.
Fluoride And The Role Of Government
October 1st, 2013 | R. Rados
If I told you it would be a great idea to outlaw sugar and replace it with aspartame, you'd probably call me an idiot or an asshole. If I told you that fluoridation of public water supplies was a good idea, you might agree with me. If that's the case, you'll need to check your philosophy and worldview for glitches and inconsistencies. If you believe fluoride is harmless, good for you.
Nenshi, Telekinesis, And Anti-Oil
September 8th, 2013 | R. Rados
Two men have played an integral role in Naheed Nenshi's campaigns and leadership since 2010. Both are strategists and campaign managers who have acted, or continue to act, as chiefs of staff. One has a known history of unethical practices, while the other has engaged in bizarre behaviour and has connections to a strange group that opposes the Alberta oil sands.
August 1st, 2013 | R. Rados
It might be slightly ironic for a city like Calgary to declare a war on cars. No one would suspect that a city with an economic backbone built on oil and gas would want to discourage driving in one of the most aggressive and arrogant ways ever witnessed in Canada. Looking around the city, you wouldn't immediately suspect that such a war has been declared.
July 1st, 2013 | A. Marshall
After the June 21, 2013 flood in Calgary, it has been surreal to see some of the city’s best known places turned into extensions of the river. Unfortunately, in times of crisis, people clearly begin to lose their minds. Mayor Naheed Nenshi has been made out to be some kind of super hero for doing his job and it’s sickening.
July 1st, 2013 | D. Stone
In most polls among Toronto voters, Olivia Chow beats Rob Ford in a one-on-one race. Her chances slip dramatically when the field of candidates grows. Tabloid newspapers like the Toronto Star have been desperate in their attempts to destroy Rob Ford. The cause of their desperation isn't a mystery, it comes from the fact that Ford is conservative, out-spoken, loud, and completely unsympathetic to progressive and left-wing causes.
Calgary: In Need Of Real Change
July 1st, 2013 | R. Rados
The Calgary flood of 2013 is over. People are still cleaning up, but Calgary is ready to bounce back. Almost every single councilor stepped up and served their wards admirably. Now it's time to get back to politics. This October there will be a civic election and Calgarians will be forced to decide whether to re-elect some of their leaders.
June 2nd, 2013 | D. Stone
Ever since Rob Ford took office as Toronto's new mayor in December of 2010, local and national media have been relentless in their attempts to destroy him. The Globe & Mail was one of the first to imply that Ford had broken election rules by paying campaign expenses with funds from Doug Ford Holdings, a family company.
Cut Them All: Police, Fire, EMS
May 1st, 2013 | C. Wang
There are three municipal services that are seen by many as untouchable when talk turns to cuts. Unlike many other public services, these three untouchables are viewed through the lense of emotionalism and exciting melodrama. When cuts are floated, the arguments quickly turn to “What if YOUR family home was on FIRE?!” or “What if a SERIAL KILLER breaks into YOUR HOUSE?!” or “What if YOU got SHOT and had no way to get to a HOSPITAL?!
