For immediate release
The Citizens of Winnipeg have the Right to Know
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
"All six Winnipeg Green Party Candidates pledge to improve openness and accountability at City Hall." says Markus Buchart, Winnipeg Green Party spokesman and candidate for St. Vital ward.
"Left wing, right wing or Green, without openness at City Hall, citizens are in the dark as to what their elected representatives are doing on their behalf." Buchart notes.
Each of the Winnipeg Green Party candidates has committed to routine disclosure of all campaign contributions with the name of each contributor and the amount(s).
Winnipeg Green Party city councillors will routinely disclose their city council monthly credit card statements. Constance Menzies, Green candidate in St. James - Brookland, will use her personal credit card and present receipts for expenses to the City for reimbursement. "It is citizens' money", says Constance Menzies, "They have the right to know."
Winnipeg Green Party councillors will work to improve timely and expanded access to information so that the public is able to participate in a meaningful way. This is in contrast to how the public was given a scant nine days to respond to the Mayor and Executive Policy Committee's proposal for a financial incentive package to subsidize Olywest - a massive hog slaughtering plant in St. Boniface.
Winnipeg Green Party councillors will work to ensure all Public-Private Partnerships have openness rather than confidentiality clauses built into them. Building in transparency means that the public can be afforded full and independent evaluation of City of Winnipeg public private partnerships - including joint ventures.
Winnipeg Green Party councillors would insist that all opinion polls, surveys and the like, financed by the citizens be made publicly available.
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Contact: Markus Buchart, Winnipeg Green Party Spokesman, Tel. 772-9869
Winnipeg Green Party candidates:
Markus Buchart - St.Vital
David J. Danyluk - Elmwood - East Kildonan
Robert Galston - Mynarski
Constance Menzies - St. James - Brookland
Stephen Smith - Transcona
Glenda Whiteman - St. Norbert
