Discussions

Len Isleifson said "    Trevor B said "leave near the end of his term and was too close to the civic elections too have a by-election. McCrae left mid-term which lead to a by-election. " Just for clarification purposes so people don't need to guess, my term on council ended with the October 22, 2014 Municipal Election after a full term on council. I had the extreme pleasure of ending my term as Deputy Mayor and working hard for the residents of Riverview and the City of Brandon.     I believe in fiscal responsibility and therefore, did not run in the 2014 municipal election because I was already looking forward to the Brandon East PC Association nomination held on June 12, 2015.     Best of luck Vanessa, see you on the campaign trail in spring 2016. "

for the clarification.

SJK said "    Adam said "That's going to be one heck of a race. The riding is as historically NDP as it gets, yet you have two challengers that each also have recent history of resonating with folks in the area. I know we have some posters who already have their horse in the race be it for party loyalty reasons or otherwise, but early thoughts on how the vote might split and how it having Hamilton on the ballot might effect what the other two candidates might have otherwise seen for support?           Edited by Adam, 2015-11-04 11:29:15" Vanessa needs to make up her mind on who she is and what she represents instead of running for anything and everything. Now she will expect Brandon voters to vote for her in Provincial politics while we pick up the tab to replace her as city Councillor. What has she done for Brandon residents so far? She knew full well that we are having a Provincial election next year so why bother running for city council at all. This is not the kind of politician I want for Brandon E. Shameful!   "

More wasted tax dollars. I wish politicians would stop playing around with our money!

We're seeing this a bit too often in my mind. Jim McCrae left city council with about a year and a half left on his term as councilor. Larry Maguire stepped down as MLA to run for the Brandon Souris seat left vacant when Merve Tweed stepped down as MP to pursue a career in the private sector. Now Vanessa Hamilton will be stepping down after being elected councilor just past a year ago.  
 
I think it's fairly safe to say that in at least some of these cases, these people that claim to be there to serve the people, are looking out for their own interests first and our interests come a distant second. I'm not saying a person shouldn’t look out for himself or herself, but it shouldn't be done with no respect for the taxpayers that supported and elected them.  

blewbyyou said "I was a supporter of vanessa in the civic election but am very disappointed to see her not fulfill her term. Her facebook says she will step down in March. I say leave now and lets find someone who's heart is in representing Riverview. Dont count on my support this time around. "

How can a Councillor who has already announced her candidacy for another race be allowed to continue for 6 months?  
She gets an equal vote at the table during budget and many other issues that will directly affect the lives of those in the ward she is running.  
She gets to try to use city funds to shepherd pet projects that she can point to during a campaign. (she sits on a city poverty committee and the education task force. Both are appealing topics in Brandon East given its history of electing social leaning MLA's and are hard not to fund completely during budgets) Millions of dollars are budgeted every year to the school board and funding from the city is based on discussions from this task force.  
It is outrageous she is allowed to continue in this role after announcing plans to run (even is she has not received a formal nomination) It seems hard to believe this is even a possibilty

fargobob said "We're seeing this a bit too often in my mind. Jim McCrae left city council with about a year and a half left on his term as councilor. Larry Maguire stepped down as MLA to run for the Brandon Souris seat left vacant when Merve Tweed stepped down as MP to pursue a career in the private sector. Now Vanessa Hamilton will be stepping down after being elected councilor just past a year ago.     I think it's fairly safe to say that in at least some of these cases, these people that claim to be there to serve the people, are looking out for their own interests first and our interests come a distant second. I'm not saying a person shouldn’t look out for himself or herself, but it shouldn't be done with no respect for the taxpayers that supported and elected them.   "

Long serving elected officials who spent multiple terms serving in their elected positions (Tweed ,Maguire and Jim McCrae can be given some grace to pursue jobs that do not come up very often.) It is different for someone who ran 12 months ago for a position knowing exactly when the next election was.

Crash said "    blewbyyou said "I was a supporter of vanessa in the civic election but am very disappointed to see her not fulfill her term. Her facebook says she will step down in March. I say leave now and lets find someone who's heart is in representing Riverview. Dont count on my support this time around. " How can a Councillor who has already announced her candidacy for another race be allowed to continue for 6 months?   She gets an equal vote at the table during budget and many other issues that will directly affect the lives of those in the ward she is running.   She gets to try to use city funds to shepherd pet projects that she can point to during a campaign. (she sits on a city poverty committee and the education task force. Both are appealing topics in Brandon East given its history of electing social leaning MLA's and are hard not to fund completely during budgets) Millions of dollars are budgeted every year to the school board and funding from the city is based on discussions from this task force.   It is outrageous she is allowed to continue in this role after announcing plans to run (even is she has not received a formal nomination) It seems hard to believe this is even a possibilty "

That if she does wait at all or close to 6 months that this will tell a lot about who she represents.  
 
When a elected official resigns after only serves 25% of their term(and wants to stay on for another 6 months)and then feels they have the best interests of the people that voted for them says a lot without having to say anything.  
 
Maybe one more example of why some people feel voting is not meaningful.

that she will have the choice to stay that long, I dont think the rules allow for it.

From Elections Manitoba  
 
HOW DO I BECOME A CANDIDATE?  
 
 
There are three steps to becoming a candidate in a Manitoba provincial election.  
determine your eligibility  
declare your intention to become a candidate  
file your nomination papers  
 
ELIGIBILITY  
18 years old on election day  
Canadian citizen  
living in Manitoba for at least six months immediately before election day  
 
However, people in the following positions cannot become candidates in a provincial election  
 
a member of the House of Commons or the Senate of Canada or of the Legislative Assembly of another province or territory  
 
a municipal council member  
 
 
She must resign her council seat BEFORE becoming a candidate as the above Elections Manitoba website indicates. As far as I can see she has already broken the rules!

Maybe sounds cynical, but how big a role does the almighty dollar play in the ambitions of politicians?  
A city councillor is a part-time job and paid accordingly, whle an MLA is full-time with a good salary plus benefits. Then the next step is federal MP, with a very generous salary and perks. Add an extra 80 grand if you get a cabinet post.  
And let's not forget the generous pensions at the federal level (not sure about provincial, maybe someone can enlighten me).  
Just not sure how many view politics as public service or a lucrative career choice.

I am beginning to believe that serving those who elected a person is second in the minds of many politicians, and they do look at it as a well paying career, with great benefits and pensions as well as the next move into corporate levels once they have secured all benefits made available as elected representatives.

SJK said "From Elections Manitoba     HOW DO I BECOME A CANDIDATE?       There are three steps to becoming a candidate in a Manitoba provincial election.   determine your eligibility   declare your intention to become a candidate   file your nomination papers     ELIGIBILITY   18 years old on election day   Canadian citizen   living in Manitoba for at least six months immediately before election day     However, people in the following positions cannot become candidates in a provincial election     a member of the House of Commons or the Senate of Canada or of the Legislative Assembly of another province or territory     a municipal council member       She must resign her council seat BEFORE becoming a candidate as the above Elections Manitoba website indicates. As far as I can see she has already broken the rules! "

from the bdn sun this morning...  
 
Vanessa Hamilton will resign her city council seat and then will file her nomination papers in March.

All of this begs the question.... Are you candidate enough within the requirements of the Act when you verbally declare your intentions, or when paperwork is filed? By the 21 day reference in the Act I'm guessing that the councillor has done her homework regarding intended March resignation but it does bring up questions about campaigning and what would be considered on-side before papers are filed. I haven't read the Sun piece and I'm not in Riverview but if I was I'd want the soon-to-be former councillor to be absolutely clear on their intentions as far as timelines and as far as how all of this would/wouldn't effect representation.  
 
Side note.....Not saying it makes anything more right or wrong and I'll leave it up to other folks to decide if or how relevant, but feel I need to note the elephant in the room. By their posting going back several years many posters aggressively driving the bus on this (such as Sjk, Crash) haven't been shy in their posting as being the political opposite to the councillor and would still clearly find themselves that way with the party switch. Doesn't mean their opinions shouldn't be taken into account as part of the whole picture, but it's possible that some of this on some level has a partisan element to it.  
 
Edited by Adam, 2015-11-05 09:40:39

Adam said "All of this begs the question.... Are you candidate enough within the requirements of the Act when you verbally declare your intentions, or when paperwork is filed? By the 21 day reference in the Act I'm guessing that the councillor has done her homework regarding intended March resignation but it does bring up questions about campaigning and what would be considered on-side before papers are filed. I haven't read the Sun piece and I'm not in Riverview but if I was I'd want the soon-to-be former councillor to be absolutely clear on their intentions as far as timelines and as far as how all of this would/wouldn't effect representation.     Side note.....Not saying it makes anything more right or wrong and I'll leave it up to other folks to decide if or how relevant, but feel I need to note the elephant in the room. By their posting going back several years many posters aggressively driving the bus on this (such as Sjk, Crash) haven't been shy in their posting as being the political opposite to the councillor and would still clearly find themselves that way with the party switch. Doesn't mean their opinions shouldn't be taken into account as part of the whole picture, but it's possible that some of this on some level has a partisan element to it.     Edited by Adam, 2015-11-05 09:40:39"

Politics is partisan. I will of course be supporting Len who is a standup guy and someone who is ready to bring CHANGE to this Province and Brandon East.

I do not get to cast a vote for or against Ms. Hamilton's campaign to be an MLA. I do not get to vote in the coming by election in Riverview. I do however get the privilege of paying part of the price for Ms. Hamiton's indecision/career aspirations by funding a by election.

But first I think I owe thanks to Len for his clarification.  
I really don't think money would be an issue in the case of Vanessa. We all know she is a dietitian as well as a city councillor. I don't know much about the pay involved, but if she were to win, being an MLA is a full-time job in Winnipeg.  
As such, she would be expected to leave her dietitian job in Brandon, plus travel to Winnipeg and, I suspect, obtain some type of residence there.  
I can't see money being a motivating factor.  
Ambition? Public service? Only Vanessa knows and I take her at her word.  

I quickly googled pay and reimbursements for MB MLA's this morning. They are paid just over $90,000 and are reimbursed for living expenses depending on if they choose to take a rental in Winnipeg or travel in. I don't think it would cost her anything to take a temporary residence of Winnipeg.

Adam said "All of this begs the question.... Are you candidate enough within the requirements of the Act when you verbally declare your intentions, or when paperwork is filed? By the 21 day reference in the Act I'm guessing that the councillor has done her homework regarding intended March resignation but it does bring up questions about campaigning and what would be considered on-side before papers are filed. I haven't read the Sun piece and I'm not in Riverview but if I was I'd want the soon-to-be former councillor to be absolutely clear on their intentions as far as timelines and as far as how all of this would/wouldn't effect representation.     Side note.....Not saying it makes anything more right or wrong and I'll leave it up to other folks to decide if or how relevant, but feel I need to note the elephant in the room. By their posting going back several years many posters aggressively driving the bus on this (such as Sjk, Crash) haven't been shy in their posting as being the political opposite to the councillor and would still clearly find themselves that way with the party switch. Doesn't mean their opinions shouldn't be taken into account as part of the whole picture, but it's possible that some of this on some level has a partisan element to it.     Edited by Adam, 2015-11-05 09:40:39"

I also liked the bus driver metaphor.  
 
In my opinion this is a poor decision by Vanessa. She ran for council on the premise that she wanted to serve the citizens of Riverview for her term on council.  
 
The same notion applies to Merv Tweed and Larry Maguire.  
 
I would love to see SJK and Crash have the integrity to denounce the decisions of Merv and Larry without lameduck caveats and in the same degree as they do for Vanessa. In each case the taxpayers were left to cover the costs of their self-serving decisions.

standard standard h8r said "    Adam said "All of this begs the question.... Are you candidate enough within the requirements of the Act when you verbally declare your intentions, or when paperwork is filed? By the 21 day reference in the Act I'm guessing that the councillor has done her homework regarding intended March resignation but it does bring up questions about campaigning and what would be considered on-side before papers are filed. I haven't read the Sun piece and I'm not in Riverview but if I was I'd want the soon-to-be former councillor to be absolutely clear on their intentions as far as timelines and as far as how all of this would/wouldn't effect representation.     Side note.....Not saying it makes anything more right or wrong and I'll leave it up to other folks to decide if or how relevant, but feel I need to note the elephant in the room. By their posting going back several years many posters aggressively driving the bus on this (such as Sjk, Crash) haven't been shy in their posting as being the political opposite to the councillor and would still clearly find themselves that way with the party switch. Doesn't mean their opinions shouldn't be taken into account as part of the whole picture, but it's possible that some of this on some level has a partisan element to it.     Edited by Adam, 2015-11-05 09:40:39" I also liked the bus driver metaphor.     In my opinion this is a poor decision by Vanessa. She ran for council on the premise that she wanted to serve the citizens of Riverview for her term on council.     The same notion applies to Merv Tweed and Larry Maguire.     I would love to see SJK and Crash have the integrity to denounce the decisions of Merv and Larry without lameduck caveats and in the same degree as they do for Vanessa. In each case the taxpayers were left to cover the costs of their self-serving decisions. "

They both served multiple full terms in the position they sought to be elected in. The councilor in this situation served 25% of one term.  
I don't love folks leaving mid term but they aren't indentured slaves either. Lives change over the course of several elected terms (marital changes in both of the above cases actually)  
A couple of side notes also, I'm not sure when or how I got painted as a far right politically. I would love to vote Liberal (and have in the past) but the candidates running federally as Liberals in this riding the last 2 elections have made that impossible.  
Also for all of the (perhaps justified) hate of Stephen Harper, he seemingly has full intention of sitting through his full term as a backbench MP. Many (in fact almost all) Pm's swept from power like this quit and cause a by election in their riding.

lameduck caveats have taken the lead.  
 
Merv, Larry, and Vanessa are all political opportunists sporting different colors.  
 
I would be very surprised if Harper sits through his full term. It must be very tough to go from calling the shots at the top of the heap to sitting on the back benches of opposition.

standard standard h8r said "lameduck caveats have taken the lead.     Merv, Larry, and Vanessa are all political opportunists sporting different colors.     I would be very surprised if Harper sits through his full term. It must be very tough to go from calling the shots at the top of the heap to sitting on the back benches of opposition. "

Larry served 14 years in the job he quit  
Merv served almost 10 years in the job he quit. Vannessa made it a year. They are all the same...But I'm blinded by partisan politics so maybe I'm missing something  
 
Edited by Crash, 2015-11-06 12:42:04

Also when both Merv and Larry were seeking re-election at their old positions, they did not know the opportunity they were presented with would be available.  
 
Vanessa on the other hand knew this provincial election was coming long before she even sought out a council seat.

kerry auriat said "But first I think I owe thanks to Len for his clarification.   I really don't think money would be an issue in the case of Vanessa. We all know she is a dietitian as well as a city councillor. I don't know much about the pay involved, but if she were to win, being an MLA is a full-time job in Winnipeg.   As such, she would be expected to leave her dietitian job in Brandon, plus travel to Winnipeg and, I suspect, obtain some type of residence there.   I can't see money being a motivating factor.   Ambition? Public service? Only Vanessa knows and I take her at her word.   "

your first mistake and mine too was to take her at her word. She campaigned and asked for MY vote. We talked about The merv/larry affair and I made it quite clear i wasn't in favor of people begging for my vote and not fulfilling their term. She was very clear that she wouldn't never do that. How does that old saying go? Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Well shame on you Vanessa but don't worry there will be no chance for you to fool me again. Since you have already been chosen by the Manitoba liberals without a nomination maybe you should do your riverview constituents a favor and STEP DOWN NOW.

You should resign from City Council, Ms. Hamilton. You have not fulfilled your constituents wishes and have deserted that cause.  
 
 
 
 

I wish other riverview residents would get on board and ask Vanessa to do the right thing. Its that time of year when council begins to deliberate the upcoming budget yet Vanessa will be gone by March. Let Riverview have a voice that will be here after March.

But it think in comes down to a cost - benefit analysis.  
Voters often start by copying their parents.  
That creates areas in the Province that don't change much  
regardless of who runs. That causes poor candidates running  
making the trend more pronounced.  
 
The NDP have lost popularity. Some NDP voters may swing  
Liberal if the candidate is good. Every candidate who ever  
ran must deal with conflict of interest issues of many sorts.  
 
The candidate must never choose the personal benefit.  
The candidate must always choose what is in the best interest  
of the people, regardless of the way the people voted.  
 
Think about that......  
 
May the one who has never sinned throw the first stone.  
There's another one about glass houses.  
 
We need great candidates with the courage to run and try to make  
the future better for everyone, regardless of how they vote.  
 
 

Vanessa's decision to run for MLA isn't right or wrong...it just is. Support Vanessa, or don't support Vanessa. That's the two options at hand.  
 
There is an incessant need in our society to control what others do. It gets easier in life when you realize you can't control others, but you can control how you react to them.  
 
Right, wrong, or indifferent, Vanessa is walking the political path. Don't count her out, we've seen with our current Prime Minister what can happen when we underestimate our opponent.

Elmer said "But it think in comes down to a cost - benefit analysis.   Voters often start by copying their parents.   That creates areas in the Province that don't change much   regardless of who runs. That causes poor candidates running   making the trend more pronounced.     The NDP have lost popularity. Some NDP voters may swing   Liberal if the candidate is good. Every candidate who ever   ran must deal with conflict of interest issues of many sorts.     The candidate must never choose the personal benefit.   The candidate must always choose what is in the best interest   of the people, regardless of the way the people voted.     Think about that......     May the one who has never sinned throw the first stone.   There's another one about glass houses.     We need great candidates with the courage to run and try to make   the future better for everyone, regardless of how they vote.       "

Well, after a few tries Vanessa finally won a seat on city council. I attended the debate at the east end community centre and if she thinks she can debate with Drew Caldwell she is kidding herself, she'll get shredded! Drew knows politics.  
 
I think Vanessa won east end because she got around to the most doors end of.

Dunno said "Vanessa's decision to run for MLA isn't right or wrong...it just is. Support Vanessa, or don't support Vanessa. That's the two options at hand.     There is an incessant need in our society to control what others do. It gets easier in life when you realize you can't control others, but you can control how you react to them.     Right, wrong, or indifferent, Vanessa is walking the political path. Don't count her out, we've seen with our current Prime Minister what can happen when we underestimate our opponent. "

and successful one at that to run for a city council seat, does that mean she wanted to sit on council badly?  
 
It seems like people are upset because of Vanessa not fulfilling her term on council, just s year in and she's tossing the towel in, I don't blame them.

Life has no script it changes from moment to moment.  
 
While I can understand that people are offended by Vanessa's decision to not remain on Council, the fact remains that she is running for MLA and no amount of negativity is going to change that.  
 
Time to accept the truth of the matter and move on.  
 

What it is, so why wait till March, just resign now!