Eadie doesn’t believe Motkaluk can deliver… but he’s backing her anyway

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This article was published 14/10/2018 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Coun. Ross Eadie is encouraging residents in his North End ward to vote for Jenny Motkaluk even though he thinks her campaign promises are unrealistic and will result in service cuts.

Eadie formally endorsed Motkaluk Monday, becoming the third incumbent councillor to support Motkaluk’s mayoral campaign.

Eadie said he decided to throw his support to Motkaluk because he believes her property tax plan, which she unveiled last week, will aid seniors and low-income earners.

“She understands what’s going on in our older neighbourhoods where seniors and people on low incomes and fixed incomes are having great difficulty with these big (property tax) increases,” Eadie said during a noon-hour news conference at his campaign headquarters on Main Street, where he was accompanied by Motkaluk and members of her team.

“I believe that Jenny Motkaluk is somebody who will listen and actually collaborate with people, because Mr. Bowman doesn’t. I have good ideas, they’re ignored all the time. My main reason for endorsing, though, is going back to what is the real problem and it comes down to fair taxation.”

Eadie is the second labour-endorsed candidate to support Motkaluk, along with Jason Schreyer, who announced two weeks ago that he had voted for her at an advance poll.

Jeff Browaty, a Tory supporter and the incumbent from North Kildonan, has also endorsed Motkaluk.

Political differences aside, Eadie’s support for Motkaluk is even more surprising because they had been challengers in the 2010 civic election when the Mynarski ward seat was up for grabs following the retirement of veteran councillor Harry Lazarenko. Eadie easily defeated Motkaluk then, pulling in 4,007 votes to her 2,734.

Motkaluk said she made no promises to the three incumbent councillors, adding they approached her. She said their support shows her ability to work with individuals across the political spectrum.

“It’s not about partisan politics. It’s about doing what’s best for the city. It’s about making sure all of Winnipeg continues to grow and have success moving forward,” she told reporters.

Eadie said he has many doubts about Motkaluk’s campaign promises and is concerned they will result in service cuts. He said her planned property-tax increase is too low, and she won’t find enough department efficiencies to raise any significant amount of money.

“I think (a 1.16 per cent hike) is too low a number because it’s not realistic unless you want to start cutting services that people use every day,” he said.

But he insisted her plan for a fairer property tax system is what’s needed in Winnipeg.

“Whether it’s 1.16 per cent or whatever it is, as long as people are paying to the ability that they can pay,” Eadie said. “We all need to pay something but it should be based on our ability to pay.”

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca