Two mayoral candidates were on the campaign trail as election day continues to creep closer. Both Don Woodstock and Kevin Klein held campaign announcements Monday highlighting what they would do if they became mayor. Woodstock said he wants to bring back unity in Winnipeg by restoring Canada Day festivities in the city. “On July 1, Winnipeg will show Canada what true unity looks like. We do not have to choose between honouring our history or celebrating our country,” he said. “In the morning, July 1, we will gather at city hall to honour our history with dignity and grace. A sacred fire will burn at city hall. Flags across the city…will fly at half mast to show deep civic respect for residential school survivors and those who didn’t make it home.” Following those events in the morning, Woodstock said Winnipeg would celebrate in the afternoon and evening. He plans on reopening the Osborne Street Festival, which can be used to highlight all the cultures that make up Winnipeg. Then as night falls, Woodstock said people would be able to gather for a fireworks display. “That warmth, that togetherness, that feeling of one community, that is Winnipeg at its best. That is the city I want our children to be.” Meanwhile, Klein said he wants to bring trust back to city hall, as he feels trust has been lost in Winnipeg. “Trust is not a slogan. It is a set of rules people can see,” he said in a news release. Klein said if he is elected mayor, he will implement three rule changes to ensure the public has more trust in city hall. First, he would bring an independent ombudsman back to review service complaints and any projects that run over budget. The cost for the ombudsman would come from the vacant chief construction office position, Klein said. Klein’s second rule would make it so community meetings are held in every ward two times a year, with those meetings being streamed online. Lastly, all programs that cost more than $5 million would have details showing the public cost, where funds are coming from and a kill date if the project details aren’t met. Advanced voting is now open in Winnipeg and election day takes place on Oct. 28.
