Biggest Issue Winnipeg Faces for the 21st Century?

What would you say the biggest issue is for the city of Winnipeg in the future?

I believe it is integrating and assimilating our Aboriginal people. I have worked with and befriended many Aboriginal people in Winnipeg. This proud but often misunderstood ethnic group can make or break the future of this city. I've heard it will not be too long when the Native population reaches 100,000 people.
I believe the city should take a proactive approach, and start building (or imoproving existing) community centres and sports facilities in places with a high percentage of Aboriginals. IMO, this would deter young Natives from joining gangs, and dropping out of school. We Winnipeggers can learn a great deal of knowledge from our Natives.
I know some people will complain that they have been given too much already by the government, but I think the funds allocated to the Aboriginals have not been thought out too well by anyone. What's the point of giving someone a blank cheque, when they have no experience managing money? We can't just throw millions of dollars at this issue and hope it goes away. We need to create more incentives for young Aboriginals to succeed in the future.

grumpy old man wrote:Priorities

1. Aboriginal initiatives (Winnipeg needs to work with the Federal Government for funding)
   
2. Crime
   
3. Infrastructure
   
4. Planning
   

I would say if we take care of #1, #2 would drop significantly.
I agree with #3 and #4

HurtinAlbertan wrote:
We Winnipeggers can learn a great deal of knowledge from our Natives.

I would like some examples as I don't believe this to be true.....hasn't been for well over 100 years.

That is one of the problems facing aboriginals today....their leaders are freeloaders for fcuk sake...what do you expect their followers to be.???

JTF wrote:

HurtinAlbertan wrote:
We Winnipeggers can learn a great deal of knowledge from our Natives.

I would like some examples as I don't believe this to be true.....hasn't been for well over 100 years.

That is one of the problems facing aboriginals today....their leaders are freeloaders for fcuk sake...what do you expect their followers to be.???

Your post reminds me of a passage from the book of Tao:

"Wise men seek solutions, the ignorant cast only blame..."

Can't come up with one thing eh.

HurtinAlbertan wrote:

grumpy old man wrote:Priorities

1. Aboriginal initiatives (Winnipeg needs to work with the Federal Government for funding)
   
2. Crime
   
3. Infrastructure
   
4. Planning
   

I would say if we take care of #1, #2 would drop significantly.
I agree with #3 and #4

I'll disagree with #1
The initiatives are already there...but the natives don't use them, want them, or they abuse them.
The few that DO use them...usually use them to their advantage in getting OUT of Winnipeg.

#2 - Pretty high...but it has little to do with #1. In fact...it has little to do with the Natives at all. Crime is rampant in Winnipeg because criminals know they won't be charged/arrested/prosecuted/convicted for the crimes they commit. Even if it reaches convictions...sentencing is so lax...nobody is afraid to commit the crimes to begin with. Yet Winnipeg keeps cracking down on the "real criminals" of running red lights, and exceeding speed limits by 5-10kph.

Infrastructure is a problem in most cities...and Winnipeg is aware of the problem and is at least acknowledging change needs to happen. But nobody is positive what the solution is...if they were...forums like ours would be pretty quiet on the subject.

Health Care is a big problem...though it's more Provincial than Winnipeg focused. However Winnipeg could make incentives for local medical personnel to stay instead of fleeing to other Provinces or the US. They could also encourage the Provincial government on many levels for improved service and personnel.

Personally, I find the biggest challenge Winnipeg has is itself. The government is too "top-heavy", and "middle-heavy". Too many people who want to feel important giving orders to too many middle-managers who are desperate to look important. Add to that the apathetic people who are willing to scream at the top of their lungs in private, un-monitored forums...yet are unwilling to go "on record" as being for or against anything directly.

The Sandbox just passed 70 members this weekend...70 people walking up to City Hall in protest of something significant would probably not do too much. But 700, or 7000 would certainly serve the city well. But how many people are willing to go out and say it in public?

Apathy in today's age is what causes most of the problems. The attitude that "it's none of my business" is what let's politicians make stupid decisions, criminals get away with murder (literally) and fraudulent businesses to take advantage of so many people.

I don't have an issue AA with you disagreeing with my list. The issue I have is the rationale. No matter how many Aboriginal initiatives are underway it is still our top priority (IMO). And if the initiatives are not working we have to work harder and do more to help.

Crime has very much to do with #1. In fact 70% of our jail population are Aboriginals. If we can find a way to help #1 succeed a goodly part of #2 goes away. Add in the justice issues and both #1 and 2 are positively impacted.

I agree with the top-heavy bureaucracy point. I'll make it #5 on my list.

grumpy old man wrote:I don't have an issue AA with you disagreeing with my list. The issue I have is the rationale. No matter how many Aboriginal initiatives are underway it is still our top priority (IMO). And if the initiatives are not working we have to work harder and do more to help.

Crime has very much to do with #1. In fact 70% of our jail population are Aboriginals. If we can find a way to help #1 succeed a goodly part of #2 goes away. Add in the justice issues and both #1 and 2 are positively impacted.

I agree with the top-heavy bureaucracy point. I'll make it #5 on my list.

#1 is pointless though. What's that phrase? "You can lead a horse to water..."
THEY DON'T WANT INITIATIVES. What they WANT, is for someone to come over and hand them millions of dollars, a mansion to live in (and destroy) and an apology for the colour of their skin. What they WANT is for the "white man" to leave and let them still sniff, drink, and kill as they want.

Initiatives mean NOTHING if they aren't wanted.

My understanding of the aboriginal issues stem from my knowledge of the black-race issues in the US. Did you know that ANY application I make for college tuition financing...a black person in the US can make too? But that the SAME black person in the US has over 400 other options for applications for funding that I"M NOT ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR...because of MY race?

Did you know the Aboriginals in Canada have those same options for college funding? (not 400...but significantly more). Did you know that (last time I read it), over 70% of that available funding for college for ABORIGINALS ONLY goes unapplied for and unclaimed?

Did you know the trade schools here in Winnipeg have a special application program for ABORIGINALS ONLY...yet only about 40% of the classes run have aboriginal students?

I read all this in a trade magazine we get at work.

You want to know why the prisons are full of Natives? Probably because they commit more crimes. Probably because they don't care about the initiatives available...they'd rather steal a car, or pull a knife than actually work for a living.

My company hired more than 3 dozen new hires this past summer. Of which I'd say about 80% of them were Native. Of those we hired...only 2 natives are left...and 5 non-natives. Most of them...found some way to be "injured" and filed for WCB claims...which were granted on "benefit of doubt" from the WCB case worker.

Want the surest 100% way to end the problems with the Native populations? Have the feds declare ALL Native statuses revoked and that all Natives are either Citizens of Canada OR they are deported. Remove all the extra "incentives" and make them actually work for a living, or pay full price for products. MAKE them become PEOPLE, instead of "second rate"/"second class"...because for every incentive you give to THEM...it's one more "handout" that puts them farther down the totem pole (no pun intended).

grumpy old man wrote:Priorities

1. Aboriginal initiatives (Winnipeg needs to work with the Federal Government for funding)
   
2. Crime
   
3. Infrastructure
   
4. Planning
   

I'd have to say.

1. Crime
   
2. Infrastructure (for Inland Port)
   
3. Aboriginal initiatives (Tell, do not ask, the aboriginals, get with the 21st century and become the proud people they once were.)
   
4. Cut back on urban sprawl.
   

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