Two years ago, my wife and I were volunteering to clean an abandoned homeless camp near our St. Boniface home when I realized a woman had been living in a hollowed tree. I knew then, if I really want to change things, I have to run for mayor.

I’ve spent the past 16 months sitting with Winnipeggers in kitchens and backyards.  You want our city to be safer and you want the homeless to be housed.

NOW, imagine we create jobs in carpentry and plumbing for people who have criminal records, like former gang members. NOW, imagine we teach them how to insulate attics and install water-saving fixtures. Imagine that instead of costing millions of dollars in policing, courts and jails, they NOW have meaningful jobs and pay taxes. Wouldn’t it be amazing—preventing crime, improving houses and increasing our tax pool all at once?

Well, it’s happening right NOW in Winnipeg at one of the five non-profit businesses I’ve started here. Hundreds of people line up to get training and jobs. They don’t want to make a living breaking into cars, homes or businesses. They want the same things we all want—a decent job and a meaningful way to contribute.  New ideas like this are how we make actual progress.

Winnipegger—we can change what we’re seeing and hearing in the news, but it means changing the way we think about “problems” at city hall.

Other candidates are trapped in old thinking. These politicians are good at spending money on one-off projects. As a result, Winnipeg now spends more each year on emergency services at the expense of fixing potholes, pools and parks. Winnipegger, we need real change. We need to shift our approach to fixing problems rather than just managing them. We need to house the homeless and treat addictions, which will free up police and paramedics.

 “New” thinking can address all kinds of issues. Over the years my business ventures have saved governments money while also improving people’s lives.

I can do that NOW for all of Winnipeg—for our children and grandchildren, and for the woman who was living in the tree.

Sincerely,

Shaun Loney, Winnipeg Mayoral Candidate