Winnipeg Election 2022

Jason Schreyer - Elmwood - East Kildonan

What got you into politics?

I’ve been raised and inspired to believe in the ability of politics and government to raise the human condition for the sake of human dignity, a sustainable environment and a balanced and sustainable economy.

have lived in half a dozen neighbourhoods in Winnipeg and I’ve grown to know my community as a resident, community volunteer, labourer, political assistant, elected representative, and as a husband and father. I have spent a decade in heavy manual labour: as a roughneck on the Alberta oilrigs, in construction and as a day-labourer across Western Canada, and worked for Abalon Foundation Specialists fixing homes in Winnipeg, as well as other jobs. I have worked in more working environments, side by side with people from more socio-economic backgrounds, than anyone in City politics that I’m aware of.

What experience will you bring to compliment your role as (Mayor / Councillor / School Trustee)?

 

Whenever anyone can show that I am wrong in my fundamental understanding of budgetary realities as I express them, I will thank them publically. We can’t solve a problem that we don’t understand and can’t explain. If we are given false information, we will make wrong decisions. If we are not told the truth about our budgetary realities, we will believe what isn’t true. When we can’t agree on facts, then that is our fundamental problem to resolve, as a first priority. As an example, City hall continues to state that the Police budget is one quarter of our budget. It is not – the construction/infrastructure budget is. Yet, this has never been officially recognized and discussed in City Hall reports and engagement with the taxpaying public. Why? In the last 30 years, City construction costs have gone up 10x higher than taxpayers’ income; a bridge that cost $12 million in 1987 would cost almost $200 million 30 years later. No other City sector even compares. This had already happened before Covid and recent oil price increases. In fact, it continued at the same rate when oil prices dropped by 40% almost a decade ago.

What are some issues that you would like to stand for in your role as (Mayor / Councillor / School Trustee), and why are these issues important to you?

Most of all accounatability on City Hall’s commitment and ability to deal with issues they say are priorities.  I am not asking anyone to change their values. I want people to be able to apply them to agreed-upon facts in order to have meaningful discussion and decision-making.  We’re not going to solve our challenges of potholes, inflation, poverty, crime, reduced services and increasing debt if we can’t explain our own City budget increases. Yet politicians say it all the time (I am not referring to my opponent). It’s so ridiculous and unrealistic that it’s dangerous and unfair to everyone.   Let’s explain the budget first, because we haven’t yet in this generation, and we didn’t build our city and country this way. If City Hall and political candidates want to continue to state that they’ll solve these problems without professionally and respectfully explaining our budget increases, ask them how? No one has been able to do that yet. That’s why I run.

Do you have any other comments regarding your candidacy?

It matters who represents you.  I do not pretend to able to solve problems that we have not yet explained.  If I implied that, in any way, vote against me.  we cannot solve problems we don’t understand and can’t explain, so fats first, otherwise we will continue to make wrong decisions, of course.  I will continue to strive to straighten out misinformation as I have shown above, otherwise same old same old, and how is that workin’ for us?  It would be my honour to continue working as your representative.