Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
School taxes bad, city user fees good
I was signing up for the next round of a city recreation program in which I participate, and was reckoning that costs are up 10 per cent over a year ago.
Nothing new to the program, same number of weeks, same activity, pretty much the same as it was last year ... can’t see how it could cost 10 per cent more.
And I was thinking, by the time I take part in four sessions, two in the winter/spring and two next fall, my costs will have gone up just about the same amount of money that our education property taxes will go up in Winnipeg School Division on our house.
Gosh.
But remind me again -- our city councillors are heroic tax freezers, and our school trustees are villainous, scurrilous spendthrifts who must be brought to justice.
And in a seamless segue...
Up pops the familiar name of Anthony Ramos in my email, and I’m immediately hoping that the chair of Winnipeg school board is sending me news about Gordon Bell’s field, or capital funding for new gyms, or even telling me what Mike Babinsky’s done now.
But no, turns out this Anthony Ramos speaks for an American group called the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and it was meeting with Obama’s education secretary to lobby for anti-bullying programs.
Certainly sounds to be something to which Barack should listen, and put into action, but since his attention seems to be increasingly on winning over Republicans ... sorry, I’ll turn my attention back to Manitoba.
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About Nick Martin
Nick Martin is the old bearded guy at the back of the newsroom, the most experienced reporter at the Winnipeg Free Press, having started his career in Ontario in 1971.
He’s been covering education for the Free Press since the spring of 1997, after decades primarily covering municipal politics, including a four-year stint at the Ontario legislature for the London Free Press.
Nick moved to Manitoba in 1988 with his Winnipeg-born wife, who is a professor at the University of Manitoba. They have two kids, both of whom graduated from Grant Park High School: son Chris and daughter Gillian.
Nick has won a national journalism award from the Canadian Association of University Teachers, two Manitoba Human Rights Journalism awards, and the Ontario Reporters Association investigative award.
Nick is a long-distance runner, having finished and survived 18 marathons and 15 half-marathons and 30-kilometre races, and having (barely) survived 10 years as an outdoor and indoor soccer coach.
Nick became a soccer referee in 2007, delighting in his 60s in outrunning 16-year-olds and keeping his distance from obstreperous coaches and parents.
Nick and his wife have discovered a mutual love for kayaking at their Whiteshell cottage, and are both regulars at the Reh-Fit Centre. They hold season tickets to both the Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Warehouse, and as empty nesters, have rediscovered the joys of an active winter vacation.
A native of Jarrow-on-Tyne, England, Nick is a member of the Toon Army as a Newcastle United supporter, and a proud citizen of Leafs Nation.
Blogs that Nick Martin follows:
Recent Posts:
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Why school taxes are about to go up (part two)02/6/2012 1:59 PM
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Why school taxes are about to go up (part one)01/31/2012 10:36 AM
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A very troubled young man01/29/2012 7:05 PM
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Bizarre times continue in Thompson01/22/2012 3:32 PM
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We strike out on Dalton’s promise01/17/2012 3:34 PM
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