Nenshi a hit in Toronto!

[4X4]

A Calgary based architecture firm paying to send Nenshi (Canada's latest celebrity) to TO sounds more like good business by the firm. They're probably hoping to get their name spread around TO more than hoping that one vote on Calgary city council is going to mean slam dunk business for them here.

In my uneducated opinion, this sounds like the aldermen raising a stink about it are just trying to get their own free press.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by llama64

Yes... a working visit to Toronto versus a vacation to Monaco.

Totally equivalent. Which councilor is it?

It wasn't a vacation and don't believe everything you read in the Sun. It's only a matter of weeks before this fella makes the front page of that fish wrap:

[mesaywee]

Gord Lowe and that witch Urqhart are just butthurt they lost the vote on the tunnel. Talk about making an issue about nothing.

[HotHotHeat]

I love Nenshi's way of dealing with people through the media. That line "It's a conversation I'd love to have" is very effective. I have a feeling ald. Lowe is going to shutup quite quickly.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

It wasn't a vacation and don't believe everything you read in the Sun. It's only a matter of weeks before this fella makes the front page of that fish wrap:

I think I forgot the green text... But I'd vote Bat Boy on to the council.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

i laughed when i read that Toronto elected a redneck mayor after we had elected a young progressive. definitely not something i would have expected to happen, certainly shows how much the demographic has changed in Calgary over the last 10 years

And how much the previous Mayor(s) have screwed people in Toronto. They're sick of being taxed left, right, and center.

Originally Posted by SebC

The heart of Toronto got a mayor they didn't vote for thanks to amalagamation.

http://torontoist.com/2010/10/which_..._for_mayor.php

Amazing splits, but it sure shows that a lot of the areas (with 60+% for Ford) are sick of the current situation. It also shows that people with like minds live in similar areas (left wing people living in high-density downtown.. who would have thought).

[Muta]

I'm just going to make my obligatory presence in this thread, for those of you who know why I'm here.

Thank you for your time.

[Bunk]

A couple of glowing Toronto Star Articles about his appeances there:

Dubbed "Canada's Mayor" by Christopher Hume:

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...764197885789,0

On him leading the urban agenda nationally:

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...37156be4108c,0


I was living in Toronto when Nenshi and Ford were both elected. Nenshi's election had an enormous impact in that city of the perception of Calgary. It was quite remarkable actually. Calgary's reputation is finally starting to catch up with its reality within Canada - and that's a positive thing for the city.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Muta

I'm just going to make my obligatory presence in this thread, for those of you who know why I'm here.

Thank you for your time.

I don't get it. Can someone explain?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I don't get it. Can someone explain?

I'm going to take a wild guess and say it was Muta's firm who sent him there.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by fotze

There was a big guy at TDSquare food court today wearing a white lab coat and on the back with big bright lettering said "Nenshi is brainwashing you".

I saw that guy on the corner of 6th Ave and 2nd St SW right by Bow Valley Square. He said to us as we walked by "Nenshi is brainwashing you!" So I replied "Hey Borat, who is brainwashing you to stand out here in minus 30 degree weather and spread these lies around?"

[Slava]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I heard on QR that a couple of alderpeople are trippin because Nenshi's plane fare was paid for by a local architecture firm.

Look I'm a Nenshi fan and all, but lets call this what it is: conflict of interest. The city has the cash and "saving taxpayers money" is ridiculous when the amount is about $721. This is a firm that bids on city work, and even though I don't think that there is any impropriety its bad optics.

I do worry a little about the rift that seems to be developing between the mayor and some of the alderman actually.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm going to take a wild guess and say it was Muta's firm who sent him there.

Ok, phew - I thought Muta was of the gay as well.

[The Yen Man]

Man, I hate Gord Lowe. I'm ashamed he's representing my ward. I voted for the Italian guy (Bag something), and I had no idea what his platform was. All I know is, I don't want Lowe representing me.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by Slava

Look I'm a Nenshi fan and all, but lets call this what it is: conflict of interest. The city has the cash and "saving taxpayers money" is ridiculous when the amount is about $721. This is a firm that bids on city work, and even though I don't think that there is any impropriety its bad optics.

I agree, and I'm a massive Nenshi fan. I think the intention was great and he was trying to do the right thing, but it sorta backfired. If because of this some sort of conflict of interest code is created and clearly implemented and stated within city hall, I think we'll get some positives out of this "controversy".

It's pretty obvious that Nenshi wasn't trying to do harm, but find away to reduce his offices travel expenses for the tax payers. Is this small blunder really front page news? No. Is it enough to tarnish a trip to Toronto, where he is clearly promoting all the great things happening in the city and marketing us on a world stage? Oh H3ll no.

Is it a clear indication, that there are some horrible councilors still lingering in City Hall, who will do anything for attention. Yes.

The thing that gets me about this "controversy", is that it's clearly overblown and almost makes us look a bit silly. There's a national buzz floating around about our city and our new mayor and there are still people that want to try and belittle it for their own petty personal exposure. It's petty and embarrassing.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by Slava

Look I'm a Nenshi fan and all, but lets call this what it is: conflict of interest. The city has the cash and "saving taxpayers money" is ridiculous when the amount is about $721. This is a firm that bids on city work, and even though I don't think that there is any impropriety its bad optics.

I do worry a little about the rift that seems to be developing between the mayor and some of the alderman actually.

I agree. I am not all up in arms about this but Nenshi made a mistake. Hopefully he realizes this and makes the proper amends. As in pay for the ticket out of his budget.

I also look forward to see how he handles this. Does he get agressive? I hope not.

I will check back in a week or so and see how things are at that time.

[Golden Jet]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Man, I hate Gord Lowe. I'm ashamed he's representing my ward. I voted for the Italian guy (Bag something), and I had no idea what his platform was. All I know is, I don't want Lowe representing me.

Lowe was always in Bronconnier's pocket. He was Bronco's (old) boy... I think for the money the firm spent for an airline ticket, Nenshi won't be beholding to to them. It was a rookie mistake but not the newsworthy even that the 2 aldermen are making it out to be. I'm sure Nenshi won't do that again.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Bunk

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...37156be4108c,0

“I want Vancouver to be deliriously successful. I want Toronto to do so well,” Nenshi said. “I want Montreal to be a jewel for the world. I even want Winnipeg to be great.”

Nenshi wants to see “a muscular urban agenda,” whereby cities are given the resources they need and deserve.

theonlywhiteout believes this means Nenshi supports the return of the Jets.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Slava

Look I'm a Nenshi fan and all, but lets call this what it is: conflict of interest. The city has the cash and "saving taxpayers money" is ridiculous when the amount is about $721. This is a firm that bids on city work, and even though I don't think that there is any impropriety its bad optics.

Interesting how it fits in the City's gifts and conflict of interest policies though. I'm not disputing that this can be turned into a negative thing, but you know that Nenshi must have known what was likely gonna be said when he did this and made sure his butt was covered.

[mariners_fever]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

i laughed when i read that Toronto elected a redneck mayor after we had elected a young progressive. definitely not something i would have expected to happen, certainly shows how much the demographic has changed in Calgary over the last 10 years

Sure, either that or you have a city that's always elected mayors who were previously liberal activists.

Nenshi - centre-left 'progressive'.
Bronconnier - failed Liberal candidate and liberal activist.
Duerr - Liberal activist
Klein - was a card-carrying Liberal member until becoming Mayor then running for the PCs.

As someone who studies electoral habits, I've heard over and over again since Nenshi won that Calgary is changing the way it votes. Sadly for 'progressives', the habit is merely perpetuating itself. The change in Toronto's voting pattern, however, is more tangible as since the amalgamation they have elected mostly centre-left mayors and councils and have now elected Ford. This is an actual marked shift that may be indicating a true change in voting pattern in the GTA apart from the downtown core.

Until Calgary either elects a centre-right mayor/council, a Liberal/NDP MP, or more than a handful Liberal/NDP MLAs, there is no tangible shift to speak of.

Of course, this is not to be partisan, but it is indeed an objective recollection of Calgarian voting habits. We didn't see much of a change in political beliefs of either Mayor, just different personality styles in achieving their goals.