The Great Canadian Talk Show

On Saturday evening we learned that our friend and colleague, Shane Whiteside, had passed away a few months ago.Shane was a loyal and trusted friend, starting with our first meeting at the Osborne Village Inn, and progressing for almost 30 years. He was a working-class everyman, raising a family of 3 kids with his wife Joy in the North End.Shane progressed through careers as a nightclub DJ (using the moniker Monkey Man), courier driver, a vendor clerk at the Marion Hotel, and especially as one of the most knowledgeable and clever computer techs around. He knew lots of people and was a tremendous source of information and a sounding board for issues that affected families like his - from inadequate Child Care Centre funding to the botched Transit relaunch to the never-ending construction on Redwood Avenue. For the last decade or so, Shane was battling health issues that finally took him from us.Episode 45 is entirely dedicated to Shane Whiteside, who supported TGCTS and City Circus with his technical know-how, wise counsel, good humour, and insights into life in Winnipeg and Canada. Never to be forgotten.

On November 6th of 2006, TGCTS debuted on 92.9 KICK-FM and we mark the occasion by kicking off Episode 44 with former co-host and producer Spirited Kenny. It’s a fun discussion of the legacy of the radio show, the transition to podcasting, and of course some commentary from Kenny on current-day politics, sports and media. 25.44 Part 2- We review two columns about the results of the civic election. In the first, Tom Brodbeck of the Free Press reinforced the accuracy of our investigative reporting as we identified early on what he called the major issues for voters- "public safety, homelessness and transit."You'll hear some explanations for questions asked in the column that Tom seemed to be unaware of, and we add important context to the "mayor needs to pay attention" part. Scott Gillingham said things in his re-election campaign that puts him offside with incoming council members-who are expecting City Hall to deal with those issues. And, as Tom put it, "The new council should be prepared to ask tough questions about what is working, what isn’t and where taxpayers are getting value for their money." 37.50- The smug elitism of urban visionary Brent Bellamy was on full display in his post-election plea for City Council to continue to steamroll what he derisively called, quotation marks included, "neighborhood character" with more infill housing. Blowhard Brent typed up a missive the Free Press was glad to print, a parade of propaganda we have sliced and diced for our audience to enjoy.The architect invented a new term, "housing diversity" to perpetuate the offensive disinformation that the barely-regulated new builds provide "affordable housing". We exposed that lie with our on-the-ground election coverage in the Sun-Tribune. Notably missing from Bellamy's bloviations is any hint that the new builds are straining schools and other resources to the detriment of long-time residents - blackouts and low water pressure anyone? - and are a windfall for land speculators and - guess who? - architects. Mr. "Bigger Picture" also displays zero comprehension that needing to take three transfers and ride a bus for 90 minutes is what's making people choose to use a vehicle and spend LESS TIME commuting to visit family and friends. 49.24 Part 3- Marty Gold reflects on the last 20 years of helming this talk show. You'll hear about the influence of journalists like Peter Warren, Yoram Hamizarachi and Kelly Dehn on this enterprise. We revolutionized drive-home radio in Winnipeg, pioneered public affairs podcasting in our city, and today give thanks to the supporters and listeners who have helped along the way- all made possible by the trust and confidence that 92.9 KICK-FM station manager Rick Baverstock placed in us twenty years ago. Thank you for listening.****New column in the Sun-Tribune: Rural election races showcase scandals, skirmishes, and the importance of scrutineers

Episode 43 welcomes Kelly Ryback, who unseated Shawn Dobson by over 2800 votes to become the new Councillorfor St. James. A longtime advocate for the ward, Ryback discusses the campaign, his priorities his district, and the challenges Winnipeg Council will have to address.Part 1 includes a few words about the civic election, our columns in the Winnipeg Sun-Tribune (links below), and the upcoming 20th anniversary of the debut of TGCTS on 92.9 KICK-FM.8.25 Part 2-After a second place finish in 2022, Kelly Ryback took a solid victory to become the city councillor for St. James. In discussing the election campaign, he notes "there's no repercussion to the rules that are in place" so some candidates willfully break signage rules. More significantly, Ryback says the current time frame from June 30th to election day needs to be reviewed because "it is tough to canvass into October because of daylight. People are not opening their doors once it gets dark... you have very little time to campaign Monday to Friday."He agrees there are issues with the placement of voting stations, citing the absence of advance polls at the Courts of St. James for seniors or at Winnipeg Square for downtown workers. Ryback offers ideas to improve democracy at City Hall and improve stagnant voting rates and believes "we have to give them a reason to vote." Marty Gold references lack of parking and amenities at 510 Main Street and council holding meetings during working hours as impediments to citizen participation. 36.00 Part 3- Ryback established himself as a frequent delegate on council agenda items, starting with the Transit revamp, because "I wanted to have a voice at city hall. I had no intentions of running." He walks though the numerous flaws in the rushed development of the new schedule and routes, especially that "Council placed too much faith in the public service... I thought this was not going to fly, and I was right." It was his intervention that restored services to schools and medical facilities.45.25 - "My message to Council is two things- we are all in this together. And we have one job - make this city better, better value, better safety, better livability , for everybody. And we have to improve customer service."You'll hear the scoop of his idea for easier access to paid parking downtown to put "the resident and the business owner first."A surprising concern Ryback heard from voters was the NDP decision to not having the clocks fall back, and the dangers to seniors and school kids walking in the dark on icy streets and sidewalks with sunrise delayed until after 8.30 am. "Maybe the provincial government would have to change the hours of school," he wonders.57.50 Part 4- Ryback says the next city budget has to identify priorities to fund, trim non-essential spending, find new revenue, and work with governments and aboriginal leadership. The common thread across the country is the costs of the addictions and homelessness crisis. Marty sets out some examples of wasted tax dollars, including the expansion of bike lanes - which Ryback thinks is being done wrong. The other side of the crisis is public safety and the need for more enforcement - "Crime is number one today." In west Winnipeg, people are refusing to go to Unicity Mall and Polo Park."Something has to be done quickly," Ryback states, noting "the shoplifting, the drug dealing, the panhandling" and he wants community policing, beat officers and cadets on site. Also, some talk about infill housing... ******Here are the most recent columns from Marty Gold in the Sun-Tribune - Happy Reading !Election Notebook- Signs of troubleIncumbents Sharma and Santos under scrutiny, while St. Vital hopeful Sigurdson ducks itFamilies want closure of drug houses on Furby Street nowFurby Community Garden to be fenced off from out-of-control addicts  Post-election Notebook: Winners, losers, upsets and unions“If they want to steal, let them steal”: NDP MLA Cross-es the line

Fallout from the televised Mayoral debate, a councillor's last-ditch effort to shore up support from ethno-cultural voters, and a remarkably honest ward report from a retiring EPC member highlight Episode 42.Part 1- All about our hard-hitting election reports in the Winnipeg Sun-Tribune (links below), and a plea from a listener to all other voters in the city to heed the importance of casting a ballot: "I can not see anyone wanting this [downward] spiral to continue and it’s time to hold leaders accountable. "  11.30 Part 2- Marty provides some background about his work with our new sponsor, Canadian Wrestling's Elite. Hear why CWE events are so popular across Manitoba as entertainment, a fundraiser, or a night out, and how to get an event planned for your community.17.50 - The broadcast media didn't notice this, but we did: The mayoral debate on CBC spurred Marion Willis to refute a remark she saw Scott Gillingham make asserting he had funded St. Boniface Street Links.She added:"The decisions made by the current Mayor and Council havesignificantly contributed to the state of homelessness and public safety issues the City now faces."She had more to say the next day: "Kevin Klein was the truth teller." We read both her statements aloud to get it on the record.Then, after a Free Press headline about Gillingham's debate pronouncement about the future of the Portage and Main concourse, critics raised questions about his ignoring the 2018 plebiscite results to keep the corner closed to pedestrians and his evolving explanation about the safety of the underground passageway.Meanwhile, his belated admission the Transit launch was botched gets a hot take from us.30.30- In a fight for his political future, Matt Allard made a late-campaign pledge to hold onto Francophone voters in St. Boniface by promoting extending French language services city-wide. Allard was hoping the English media didn't notice - but we did, and he knows it, because he ignored our question about potential costs when the City is broke.36.48 Part 3- An in-depth review of a Facebook post from retiring Waverley West councillor Janice Lukes. She provided a detailed overview of what's happening in the ward and spills the beans about how federal Liberal policies created a "system overload" that undermined getting civic services to her constituents. "I just want residents to understand – the ‘doors wide open to immigration policy’ had a significant impact oncities, and ultimately in the Waverley West ward." That complicated how the city had approved housing builds in her ward that ran over 50% past the planned rollout pace. Lukes also exposed another key failure in the process: "Managing this rapid growth with an inexperienced developer (Manitoba Housing) has been a significant challenge."We review her comments, and push back on some, but Lukes deserves credit for not only publishing the report, but for allowing comments in response to it. Every council member should distribute a report like this at the end of every year of service. *****Our most recent columns in the Winnipeg Sun-Tribune:Voters can turn the dial back on “unmitigated infill housing” disasterhttps://www.winnipegsun.com/opinion/columnists/voters-can-turn-the-dial-back-on-unmitigated-infill-housing-disaster/article_50c586a0-de53-45c8-89a4-cd96dc5c7133.htmlPublic concerns that didn’t go away, but worsened, during the election campaignhttps://www.winnipegsun.com/opinion/safety-fears-rise-for-families-biking-downtown-amid-drug-use/article_4c521a29-2f67-4526-b09f-62d4407963d4.htmlComing up: The other side of Small Business Week under Scott Gillingham

Episode 41 clears the desk of some correspondence and research that's piled up. Hear what's been said, and needs to be said, in a round-up that's fun weekend listening! Part 1- Dingers: Our columns and podcasts that have garnered big reaction and created important discussions during the civic election. Hear more from readers about unrelenting crime in St. Boniface and their experiences with thefts, assaults, and encampments on the Seine River. 19.40 Part 2- Dingbats: From simply misguided takes to far-left ad hominem attacks on our reporting, the online space can get cluttered by dingbattery. Your favorite podcast host recounts two cases where a public smackdown was in order and delivered with ruthless efficiency and a healthy dash of sarcasm.32.05 Part 3- Dingwall: The loony left have taken a big run at longtime North Kildonan councillor Jeff Browaty in this election. Late-breaking research into unionista Orvi Dingwall revealed an unexpected surprise about her poltiical allegiances.Orvi may have neglected to tell NK voters about the hundreds of financial donations from her to the people who literally trampled our human rights, swung the country's doors open to terrorist-lovers, and cratered the chances of owning a home for young families - Prime Minister Blackface and his trusted deputy, Minister Twitchy.*****This week's columns in the Winnipeg Sun-Tribune: Crime concerns in St. Boniface hit boiling pointas Matt Allard feels the heat Gillingham cornered by audio of Transit’s arrogant anti-business agenda  

A mother of three, Jessica Wiebe has long connections to the Elmwood- East Kildonan ward and in Episode 40 she explains why she entered the election race: "Sometimes you're called for a bigger purpose, and I feel like this is mine. I never thought this would be a direction I'd be going down."7.40 Part 2- Jessica Wiebe says a lot of Elmwood-East Kildonan voters "are just feeling ignored and left out, like our current leaders don't care. There's a lack of compassion and empathy towards everybody now.""Our residents need to know exactly where we're spending tax dollars... I think there's a lack of trust when it comes to certain people spending it." With crime and addictions a top-of-mind ballot issue and social disorder undermining Transit use, Wiebe suggests pro-active neighborhood care be provided through community hubs. She says the new routes and schedules - and bus stops being removed - have harmed seniors and users with disabilities. As councillor, she would fight for service restorations. 23.45- Wiebe cites her background in the addictions and mental health field to substantiate being "really concerned about the direction of Winnipeg and where it's going." Hear her comments about the NDP's safe consumption site, encampments, and seeing "a village" near the Louise Bridge.29.46 Part 3- Jessica Wiebe is an example of a motivated collection of younger candidates who are concerned about the quality of life the city will be able to provide families. A murder down the street from her was a catalyst to entering the world of politics."It's not safe. A lot of families aren't feeling safe anymore just being in their own homes and it's a scary reality for many of us." Wiebe questions the motives of some officials steering public policy, and vows to "flush out the political opportunists."34.35- Ward residents tell her they make calls to 311 "and it doesn't matter what they say, nothing gets done." Back lanes repeatedly flood with no repairs initiated by the City - "where is our money going?" Infill housing "is popping up everywhere ... and people are not happy about it." Issues include crowding, loss of privacy, and construction fatigue. In the campaign, Wiebe keeps hearing about "property thefts, property damage, people that are high, like zombies walking down the street, and there's little kids that are around." Her goal: "A city that we're all proud of." Her pitch to voters of Elmwood-East Kildonan: "We need a powerful voice - someone who is not scared to make the tough decisions that need to be made, whether that goes against the grain or the narrative, and I'm the person that will do that."Find out more about her platform at https://www.jessicawiebeforek.com/*****Read Marty Gold's latest report in the Winnipeg Sun-Tribune:Furby Street turns into “a dumping ground” as requestsfor infill housing ignored

As part of our series of reports on the disastrous effects from infill housing on his ward, St. Vital Councillor Brian Mayes didn't hold back. In Episode 39 you'll hear his views on the unfairness of the approval process, the false promises of affordable housing, and how bylaw enforcement of subsequent construction in neighborhoods like Glenwood was abandoned."Welcome to my life the last 8 years," said the departing council member. “311 directed (complaints) into the void - and I would get these outraged, profanity-laden calls “they’re blocking the back lane, they’re blocking the sidewalk, they’re blocking the front street.” Among the eye-opening highlights:12.50- Regarding the hundreds and hundreds of complaints about the horrific damage to existing homes, sidewalks, roads, and loss of enjoyment of resident's property: "I am not embellishing this stuff." One call came in about construction at 7 am on Christmas morning. - City planners thought they should get awards for a program that jammed over 200 multi-unit, shoddy, over-priced homes onto 50 foot lots in Glenwood and ruined the quality of life for long-established properties. "The sheer volume of it is what drove people crazy... we have a planning department that couldn't seem to plan." 18.20 - "It's a class based thing. The other councillors didn't want any of them in their ward." Mayes recounts how opposition to a project on a 150 foot lot in Tuxedo was accommodated by a council committee but at the same meeting Glenwood residents objecting to a 50 foot lot being split for infill housing got the shaft and were called "climate change deniers." We asked who carries the blame for the assault by planners and power-brokers at City Hall on the stable, quiet neighborhood. 22.56- Mayes provides an explanation about why triplexes are not being built; because building 2 houses with 2 units on a lot doesn't require expensive sewer discharge requirements.26.00- Mayes says the selling point of the City supplying affordable lodging was "a complete fiction - none of this was creating low-income housing." 30.00- The most outrageous revelation by Mayes:Planners were focusing on the fate of the politicians and not the taxpayers suffering the consequences of their "urban vision.""We've crunched the numbers and even if you got no votes at all out of Glenwood you'd still be fine (to be re-elected)."Mayes replied:"My job is not to abandon the people who elected me."******Our recent columns in the Sun-Tribune: Before voting for “more housing” candidates, read what infills did to St. Vital homeownersNeighbourhood anguished over Gillingham’s bait-and-switch housing promise“Your flowers die” as Gillingham’s infill housingplan destroying old neighborhoods  *****HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEKEND!

With a history of hospitality industry experience and labour union expertise, Robyn Vilde promises to "make a difference" and wants St. Boniface residents to "Vote for Change" as he seeks to oust Matt Allard for the city council seat. Episode 38 has a wide-ranging interview with the outspoken Vilde, who moved here from Toronto 6 years ago.3.46 Part 2- Crime and public safety dominate doorstep campaigning. "People have definitely noticed a major change in terms of a negative sort of way - there's a lot more petty crime" all across the ward, including "voiceless" neighborhoods like Archwood and Holden. Vilde notes reports of "constant retail crime at grocery and convenience stores like the closed 7-Eleven beside Nelson McIntyre High."Vilde wants to implement a Toronto model of community policing "that I've seen works quite well", using 5-year vets as a direct contact for a few years in the community, and also wants a full-time crisis unit to take calls diverted from the 911 queue. Vilde maintains that Mayor Gillingham's proposal to deal with homelessness and addictions wastes existing resources. "It seems we're trying to reinvent the wheel'" by creating new services instead of providing adequate funding to homeless outreach agencies. He is critical of the City funding only Main Street Project. "StreetLinks is doing a lot of good work in the community. I feel like it's a crime that they're not currently getting any funding from the City for the work they do... we need to start holding people accountable for government funding." Vilde explains, "We're writing the cheques and if the results aren't being delivered then maybe this isn't the best way to be doing this and see if other organizations can deliver better results.""I may be a progressive, sure, but I don't think we should be throwing money at something just for the sake of doing it - if we want to fix this problem we need accountability and I don't think currently we're doing that."22.30- " I thought it was insane" that the City demolished Happyland Pool. "It makes absolutely no sense to me how that whole process was done." A former lifeguard, Vilde will fight to preserve the pool in Windsor Park. 25.00- The City tore down the Holden community centre 20 years ago, and then couldn't sell the land for 20 years until bureaucrats gave up. Vilde calls that "another example of total incompetence on the City's part". 29.16 Part 3- On Transit, Vilde says the attitude of city officials is "it's ok to have 20-30 minutes delays and stop running" when people still need to get around. "It doesn't make any sense to me the service become unusable after 7 pm" directly affecting workers and customers, especially women. "It's upsetting". Vilde proposes 24/7 service on major routes and extending hours generally. "A lot of my coworkers, they basically intentionally work later until after (midnight) to get a cab slip to get home instead of waiting 45 minutes for a bus to get home." With a second area fire hall slated to close, he explains why he filed a Freedom of Information request to investigate possible affects on emergency response times.43.33 Part 4- Under Matt Allard as councillor, "the entire time I've been in the community, I've only seen a slow and steady decline" in the ward. "This is not how we build a city that we all want to live in," Vilde insists, vowing to fight for the community.He also discusses ongoing infill housing problems -"we don't enforce existing By-laws", the strain the new Water Tower district is placing on infrastructure, and his opposition to big-money road expansion plans for Chief Peguis and Kenaston. Vilde's website is at https://www.robynvildecampaign.com/****Marty Gold's columns in the Sun newspaper:Before voting for “more housing” candidates, readwhat infills did to St. Vital homeowners Neighbourhood anguished over Gillingham’sbait-and-switch housing promiseComing up - St. Vital councillor Brian Mayes on infill nightmares

A lifelong St. Boniface resident who’s been a French school board trustee and is National Health and Safety Coordinator for a 13,000 member union local, Sylvie Schmitt is one of 3 challengers for Matt Allard’s council seat. In Episode 37, she sets out the concerns she’s hearing from residents and businesses, and why her experience can craft solutions that will actually work.  Part 1 is a brief recap of recent goings-on and upcoming coverage and an introduction to this 2026 civic election interview.4.07 Part 2 - Sylvie Schmitt lives in Norwood Flats and led the fight to save Norwood Pool - but "the elected councilor for the ward even voted to decommission it" and the City demolished it in 2019. She explains her personal connection to the next free outdoor pool the City targeted in St. Boniface, Happyland Pool."The reason I'm running is because after I saw that the residents raised close to $90,000 to keep it open... and it's been torn down, that was the turning point for me. We need somebody else at City Hall that will actually listen to the residents. "A former life guard supervisor, Schmitt provides specific insights into the facilities and their importance to the community.16.00- Residents in the sprawling ward have informed her of the radiating effects of homeless encampments and disorder.Schmitt discusses the waves of thefts from businesses, garage, home and car (3 in her family) break-ins, and the need for community policing, citizen patrols and metal health units - and better lighting - to restore public safety. Hear her describe the frustrating experience felt by victims of "low priority" bike thefts with the lack of action when they find their possession being sold online "which discourages people from reporting."25.55 Part 3 - A longtime Transit user commuting to downtown, Schmitt has had her own bad experiences and is concerned for riders and bus drivers."At night I would not take the bus past a certain hour... I would find another means to get home."She's in favour of a transit patrol but wants to examine the cost/benefit ratio of adding Community Safety Officers. Ultimately, "the catch and release laws have to change, you have to have consequences for your actions." 44.24 Part 4 - Infill housing and the disruptions caused by overloading neighborhoods is a big issue in St. Boniface and Schmitt maintains "growth should not come at the expense of community input." As councillor she'd hold her own regular public meetings about local development projects. She didn't find the recent City-run consultations about a proposed aquatic centre truly listened to the community. Schmitt explains how slanted consultations resulted in building bike lanes on Goulet that narrowed the roadway - obstructing emergency vehicles going to the Hospital - and eliminating parking for seniors in high-rises. "The Goulet part is not well-planned."In concluding the interview, Sylvie Schmitt assures voters "I have the community at heart," citing her volunteer and school trustee background. "I'm here to be the voice of the people."Find out more at her campaign website - -https://sylvie4citycouncil.neocities.org/sylvie-schmitt-campaign*****Marty Gold's latest column in the Winnipeg Sun-Tribune: Canada’s Jewish community facing dark future under Carney****COMING UP - ANOTHER CANDIDATE INTERVIEW IN ST. BONIFACE, AND AN INTERVIEW WITH DEPARTING ST. VITAL COUNCILLOR BRIAN MAYES

In Episode 36 you'll hear an analysis of the early maneuvers in the Mayoral race, a look at some Council candidates and contests, and the serious issues local neighbourhoods need addressed by City Hall. Part 1- General information about recent columns - links below - and podcast shows, with an explanation about Coun. Santos mistaking the Salvation Army as responsible for the encampment on Alexander and Lizzie. That was one of 3 encampments we've covered that got some degree of clean-ups last week, one requiring a Hazmat team. 9.51 Part 2 - Our first chance to comment on the mayoral election and the initial polling. We recap a few of the announcements and promises of:- Mayor Scott Gillingham: he wants to upgrade Marty's childhood neighbourhood along Main Street, if we can wait two years. - Late entrant, the former city councillor and Sun-Tribune publisher Kevin Klein: He pledges to make Winnipeg Canada's safest city in 4 years with an expert panel chaired by former police chief Devon Clunis, and another former chief Herb Stephen signaled he wants to help. 23.34- We were at Klein's presentation with St. Vital councillor Brian Mayes about a dirty walk-on motion sneaking through to the upcoming final meeting of the outgoing council- because Janice Lukes wants to take away the right of Transit Plus drivers to a minimum wage.- Upstart outsider Mike Vogiatzakis: He says he'll "make Winnipeg the best-run city in Canada" and "not treat failure as normal."While others on the ballot may not have political machinery, a few have come up with sensible, out-of-the-box solutions to Winnipeg's failures, inefficiencies, and community fears, and those merit a review to help improve this City.30.30 Part 3- Ward races saw two notable late additions to the ballot: former councillor Terry Wachniak trying to retake Mynarski, and Transcona's incumbent Russ Wyatt, hoping voters look past his current criminal charges. We review a commentary “Dealing with misconduct by city Councillors” by retired political science professor Paul Thomas about the controversy.Next, why the safe consumption site and encampment concerns could affect the vote in Point Douglas and North Logan. On Sargent Avenue, we were told by business owner Michael Paille how the West End is dealing with an onslaught of overdoses (over 250 he's intervened in) and gang colours. We wonder what police chief Gene Bowers will do- especially now that a modified homemade bear mace is being used by a bike rider to attack residents. 45.30 - We have details about a Halloween Market and Spooky Fundraiser on Sargent this Sunday from 1-8 pm that helps fund the annual free pancake breakfast.Finally, we look at the three competitors who have lined up to try to oust St. Boniface councillor Matt Allard, some of their platform statements and political alignments, and which two have already agreed to be interviewed on our podcast. ******Marty Gold's latest columns in the Winnipeg Sun-Tribune:⁠City’s repeated clean-up refusals raise serious safety concerns⁠⁠Details behind Lizzie Street homeless encampment removal a big secretMayor’s promise of special 311 help for businesses rings hollow*******