Treaty 1 Territory, Homeland of the Red River Métis, Winnipeg, Manitoba –
From Mayoral candidate Rick Shone:
“I am disappointed that CBC has excluded me and others from their televised debate. CBC’s decision to exclude these voices does a disservice to Winnipeggers and to our democratic process; Winnipeggers deserve a fair process and a competitive race.
“While it has been an honour and privilege to seek the support of fellow Winnipeggers, it has also been a tremendous amount of work. I have watched for a long time as important issues have been ignored in our city and as Winnipeg has been left behind while other, similar-sized cities have moved forward and succeeded.
“We need look only at issues such as the state of our roads, homeless, poverty, liveability, crime and of course the very serious issue of climate change. I threw my hat in the ring because I believe that we can have a city we can be proud of. I believe that Winnipeg can lead and that with the right leadership and energy, we can unleash our potential. We have so much to be proud of.
“I am not a career politician and I’m not an insider. I’m a father, a husband, a small business owner and a proud Winnipegger, this is my home and I’m here to stay. I believe that decency and integrity still matter, now more than ever. It has been my belief that Winnipeg needs a mayor who can work on our immediate challenges while keeping an eye on what could be.
“I believe that CBC is doing Winnipeggers a great disservice to us all by not having a diverse and inclusive debate. This was made all the more clear to me in the CBC’s decision to exclude the only 2 women in this race and all the people of colour.
“While I am disappointed, this decision has no effect on how hard I will work to ensure that important issues are added to the public debate this election and I will continue to challenge the status quo.
“It is time for a new vision and a new voice at city hall. It is time for a change. It’s time to support our democracy and ensure that all voices are heard.
“I urge CBC to reconsider its decision and include all candidates in the televised debate.”
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