We've led the way in reporting the NDP's attempts to impose a "safe consumption" facility in Winnipeg - and the questions posed by residents to City Council about its responsibility to address concerns about public safety in the targetted neighborhoods. In Episode 8, Transcona councillor Russ Wyatt provides his views on Council's role, the shortcomings of the Province's 'harm reduction' approach, and why City officials are obliged to step into the fray and not turn away.

5.44 Part 2- With personal, lived experience with addiction and recovery, Russ Wyatt didn't hesitate to agree that Winnipeg council has to ask the NDP government to specifically exclude youth under 18 from utilizing the SCS proposed for 366 Henry Avenue.

(See- NDP under fire for allowing minors at drug consumption site)

He addresses the broader issues about overall government policy- "when it comes to mental health and addiction, you might as well call us Mississippi Manitoba, because we're not only one of the poorest provinces in Confederation today, when it comes to health care, it seems we're kind of the most backward as well."

Wyatt believes that the Wab Kinew government needs to look towards the model implemented in Alberta, that prioritizes prevention, detox facilities, rural healing centres, court-ordered rehabilitation and private-sector participation. "You put a plan in place for the over-all healing to start."

He criticizes the layout of the sobering centre on Disraeli and says the addictions file "should almost be taken away from Shared Health" because that bureaucracy has an "ass-backwards" approach to mental health, with addicts seeking help facing long waits to get into recovery programs.

19.40 Part 3- Coun. Wyatt sees similarities between the NDP's intention to drop a drug user site into North Logan/Point Douglas, and the controversy 20 years ago about a plan for a hog processing plant in his Transcona ward.

In the present day, he's concerned that city planners aren't doing their job and are "more concerned about how to establish a bike path or how to take Graham Avenue out of circulation for downtown traffic."

Wyatt calls for intervenor funding for the neighborhood groups "to research and double-check our facts and bring their own experts to the table" and there should be a hearing process.

"Zoning has fallen behind but that doesn't prevent the area councillor (Vivian Santos) to start moving motions and raising the issue" instead of "leaving it at the Province... she can get a legal opinion on behalf of the residents to challenge that."

"There's nothing preventing a member of Executive Policy Committee like Vivian Santos, or the Mayor, from sending this off to the Director of Planning Hazel Borys and asking her to look into this ... they're not blind to what's happening out in the community right now, they can read the same newspapers I'm reading."

Wyatt added that "there's nothing preventing the residents also from approaching the public service and saying "where are you professionally on this issue. You're the ones who are supposed to be looking over the whole zoning regimen of the city."""It comes down to political courage and the willingness to represent your community," Wyatt asserts.

"I think the resident's concerns are legitimate, that they should be taken seriously, and the local representatives - at every level of government - should be working with them to address their concerns."

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Today in the Winnipeg Sun - Coun. Russ Wyatt says that Mayor Gillingham and EPC iced a proposed bylaw to restrict protest demonstrations that harass community groups and facilities "to save their own skin."

https://www.winnipegsun.com/opinion/gold-wyatt-accuses-epc-of-self-preservation-in-by-law-vote/article_6950e52b-8241-49cb-9ad5-ec207e527c63.html

Episode 7 touches on reaction to previous episodes and columns, and has information about an upcoming 3 day seminar.

Part 1 - We received a personal remembrance about our friend Peter Young from Marylene Vestergom, a former luge competitor who has provided television coverage of four Olympics.

Peter helped her at the start of her broadcast career and she wrote about how "Peter’s passing just days before another Winter Olympics has brought those Sarajevo memories back with such clarity." You'll hear her tribute to him.

12.18 Part 2- "Bridges for Peace has truly been a great friend and supporter of both Jews and Israel over the years," wrote Bill Narvey in his email about their upcoming seminar, Israel’s Battle for Truth .

It's being held Feb. 25-28th and features informedand expert speakers such as Itamar Marcus, the director of Palestinian Media Watch. The sessions deal with historical and current truths, facts and realities about Israel and the existential challenges and threats Jews and Israel continue to face.

To register or for more information, contact [email protected] or call 1-855-489-3697

21.00 Part 3- Our two latest columns in the Winnipeg Sun garnered a lot of comment and reaction. They were:

Feb. 8- Ashdown Market shutdown reflects city’s disarray

Feb. 15 - The reluctant acceptance of Louis Riel Day by the NDP

You'll hear a recap of those columns - including a terse email that Point Douglas Councillor Vivian Santos received about failing to address crime from homeless encampments in the East Exchange. There are underlying issues with the way legacy media fails to cover these kinds of stories accurately.

EVERY EPISODE OF OUR PODCAST IS AVAILABLE AT https://actionline.ca/podcast/

Our friend Peter Young, who made his mark in education, in local and network broadcasting, and in sports management across multiple leagues, passed away on Feb. 2nd after a courageous fight against cancer.

In Episode 6 we discuss our tribute column in the Winnipeg Sun, tell a few stories that couldn't fit into the newspaper, and reflect on the great friend and mentor he was and his role in Winnipeg's sports scene. He was a product of a freewheeling era, encountering legendary world famous characters almost every day.

21.16 Part 2- You'll hear an audio excerpt from our interview with Peter conducted 3 years ago about Bobby Hull.

The full interview can be found at this link -

https://actionline.ca/2023/02/feb-5-2023-the-impact-of-bobby-hull-on-winnipeg-in-the-1970s-with-guest-peter-young/

******

To support our reporting, investigations and analysis, via PayPal, E-transfer or other methods including advertising, please email [email protected]

A round-up of our recent podcasts and columns in the Winnipeg Sun opens Episode 5, and then we review a warning from a West End business owner that "The city feels more like Gotham every day. "

In Part 1 - you'll hear how, as predicted by our guest last Sunday, the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region lost another 2 members this week and are down to only 10 dues-paying municipalities in the aftermath of the failed Plan20-50.

Plus, a little insight into our exclusive in the Sun about a letter that Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine sent to the General Child and Family Services Authority that resulted in the top two GA directors tabling their resignations.

18.08 Part 2- With over 500 incidents requiring city Fire and Paramedic crews to attend to homeless encampments and almost 800 derelict buildings boarded up, Winnipeg is in a serious decline. An open letter from the Executive Director of the Sargent Business Community explained the effect on small businesses like his.

"Crime is running rampant in our city," wrote Michael Paille. "We should not have to put our staff through self-defense courses just to work in retail. "

"Dealing with shoplifting, vandalism, and violence is not something a business should have to handle alone," Paille stated, but when he evaluated police staffing numbers, he realized that despite a population increase of 200,000 in the last 15 years, there are almost 50 fewer cops.

"Seniors are being attacked in parking lots, stabbings occur in Walmarts, and drug deals are now as common as a hot dogvendor on a street corner. Where is it safe? You can't even go shopping without fearing for your life. The city feels more like Gotham every day."

Listen to the challenges facing businesses like Paille's, and his argument that "We do not need safe injection sites or vans giving out needles."

Instead, he believes, "We need to help these people with addiction through community programs and support units that focus on helping them leave drugs and gangs behind to be part of this great city."

Coming up in the Sunday Sun - city councillors are scrambling after hard questions were asked about their responsibilities for the proposed drug user facility at 366 Henry Avenue.

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- The Winnipeg Sun has an online subscription offer that's too good to pass up - $9.99 a month - get the details here - Subscribe | winnipegsun.com- PLAN AHEAD FOR VALENTINE'S DAY: Marty will be hosting the 17th Anniversary event as Canadian Wrestling's Elite kicks off the celebration tour across Western Canada on February 14th at the beautiful Ukrainian Labour Temple hall.

It's an action-packed night of fun family-friendly sports entertainment with championships on the line and a special tag team match featuring the international star, 'British Bulldog' Davey Boy Smith Jr.!

We have a limited number of discount-priced CWE tickets for our readers and listeners - and as a bonus- every order will come with a limited edition "Dr. Marty Goldstein" Trading Card!

Email [email protected] to get your tickets and enjoy a unique way to spend Valentine's Day!

The controversies surrounding the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region board continued this week after a sixth rural municipality, Springfield, voted to depart the group. In Episode 4, Councillor Mark Miller elaborates on their reasons, which echoed complaints that derailed the WMR's previous Plan20-50 development blueprint.

This interview supplements our column in today's Winnipeg Sun - RM of Springfield exits WMR

6.10 Part 2- Ward 3 councillor Mark Miller describes the district of 16,000 residents which includes the towns of Oakbank, Dugald and Anola. It's a rural setting east of Winnipeg with many commuting to the city for work and appointments. He explains how Plan20-50 was set up to allow Winnipeg to "dominate" development planning with a veto that undermines local autonomy. After being ordered back to the drawing board, that hasn't changed.

"We can breathe a sigh of relief to get out of this bad situation," Miller says, calling it "a horrendous horrible exercise" that cost his RM over $130K.

While WMR defenders smeared opposition concerns, "It wasn't misinformation - you were providing accurate information... they did not consult. I'm thankful you were on top of this from Day One."

He actually attended to the single Plan20-50 open house the WMR staged in Winnipeg in 2024, held on a weekday when "most of us are working stiffs" and couldn't go.

"I was disgusted, " Miller states. "They weren't catering to the citizen who is most affected in the rural municipalities... maybe it was strategy that they don't want the public to be involved"

23.23 Part 3- While Springfield will go back to the residents before any vote to re-join the WMR, residents of Winnipeg have had no say whatsoever on remaining in the organization, let alone be able to find out if taxpayers are getting value for their dollars.

"The hemorrhaging is continuing, and there could probably be more," Miller predicts, as other RMs determine "there's nothing for us. "

27.10- The schedule for preparing a new regional plan runs concurrent to the fall municipal elections, which Miller agrees means support for the WMR can become an campaign issue.

- "If our Mayor runs that he is for it, I can assure you his vote count will go way down because our residents don't want it. "

- "The whole process was flawed and continues to be flawed if they don't consult with the public directly... it isn't an expensive exercise, don't tell me it's too expensive."

- "I will not vote for anything that allows the City of Winnipeg to have veto power."

At the council meeting before the vote, Mayor Patrick Therrien revealed “The City of Winnipeg will be looking to expand its boundaries in the very near future."

Miller asks, "Does he know something we don't?... if that's the case are they just going to take parts of West St. Paul and Springfield and MacDonald or Headingley?... If that's their subtle agenda then we ought to be really cautious about this."

*****OUR RECENT COLUMNS IN THE WINNIPEG SUN

Top cop silent on drug site

Excuses for ridership decline fails to fool Transit usersTO DONATE TO THE SEASON 7 FUNDING DRIVE, EMAIL [email protected]

This week in Episode 2, we review some of the headlines and issues raised by recent happenings in the Crime, Courts and Public Safety Update, sponsored by JamRock Security.

Part 1- Crime

- You'll hear about a police investigation into activities near Ferry Road in St. James that led to a bust with guns, drugs, and cash seized and 8 arrested, including two underage teens.

- A not-so-upstanding citizen was tracked down and arrested after a troika of robberies and threats, to the relief of beer vendor clerks and city cabbies.

14.38 Part 2- Courts

- The conviction of ex-cop Alston Bostock and the guilty plea of a junior officer for theft, breach of trust and other offences leads to an obvious question for senior WPS brass- who knew what and when?

- The NDP government couldn't fool a judge and former PC leadership candidate Wally Daudrich proved that licences for his Churchill tourism business were pulled for political reasons and not to save the bears. We read out some of the conclusions of Winnipeg Sun publisher Kevin Klein about the ruling.

31.47 Part 3- Public Safety

About 15 years ago, a mayoral candidate's wife complained about safety on the downtown skywalk system. Instead of the authorities properly solving the problem, she and her husband were damn near run out of town.

Last week, three women were assaulted by a goon before 7am up there. “We feel that we have to ramp up safety and security in the downtown core,” a union leader said.

“If something is not addressed, this is going to become an epidemic.”

We have a few things to say about that.

*****

Coming up- more about not-so-safe consumption sites, more interviews, and more columns in the Winnipeg Sun.

We kick-off Season 7 with a review of the most-listened to podcasts we produced in 2025.

Four of the top 10 aired last January which gave TGCTS a strong start to the season, and overall five of the top 10 featured our exclusive interviews with newsmakers!

In Part 1 you'll hear which episodes didn't make the top 20 but led the months of May, June, October and December.

11.25 Part 2- Numbers 10 through 20 are discussed - which included 3 episodes about NDP cabinet ministers, 2 about safe consumption site consultations, and our federal election coverage launch.

30.33 - You'll hear a countdown from Number 9 to the most popular episode of Season 6 - which may surprise you as it did us.

Among the names and topics that helped drive listener interest in the chart-toppers include Dan Lett and Tom Brodbeck of the Winnipeg Free Press, Coun. Jeff Browaty, Police chief Gene Bowers, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine (x2), and three were interviews with political candidates.

A special mention goes to our tribute to our friend entitled 'About Joanne Cochrane, and other things' which finished in second place.

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Read our latest column in the Winnipeg Sun-

It’s time to throttle Iran-influenced demonstrations https://www.winnipegsun.com/opinion/gold-it-s-time-to-throttle-iran-influenced-demonstrations/article_cb4d6c1a-b3ee-4cf2-a637-54d0fdb8a0ac.html

*******

To contribute story and interview tips, provide feedback on podcasts and Sun columns, or to advertise on TGCTS episodes, email: [email protected]

Episode 61 reviews an editorial from Don Woodstock about the insistence of City Councillors and Mayor Scott Gillingham to disregard a ruling by the Municipal Board and ram through a Housing Accelerator Fund "affordable" apartment building on the west parking lot of the Granite Curling Club.

"When a win-win requires one side to give up land, parking, certainty, and peace of mind while being told the details will come later, it is fair to ask whether the benefits are truly shared."

Given the effect on the viability of the Club, a squeeze on area parking, and the persistent threat to neighbourhood liveability by a lawless encampment in the adjacent Mostyn Park that was allowed after every major blaze to re-establish itself and endanger the community, Woodstock's points about the proposed 11-storey project should be addressed and not dismissed out of hand.

"Winnipeg needs housing. That is not in dispute," wrote Woodstock. "But how housing is built matters. Site selection matters. Spillover impacts matter. Transparency matters. And whether the public can clearly see who benefits matters."

(We note that according to Heritage Winnipeg - "The redevelopment plans are in collaboration with the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation 2.0" and "the tender is being chosen by the city and the UWCRC, rather than through an open process as city-owned projects often are." The ghost of Sherman Kreiner looms large in this process.)

*****

Our recent columns in the Winnipeg Sun:

Dec. 21 - Unique partnership developing safe accommodations, cultural supports for northern First Nations visitors

Dec. 27 - Failures on Homelessness file top news story of 2025

Dec. 28 - Safety of Jewish Canadians compromised by political cowardice

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• To end Season 6, we thank our sponsors, supporters, guests, listeners and the readers of the Winnipeg Sun and wish you all a Happy and Safe New Year.
• TGCTS remains committed to holding elected officials, bureaucrats, and mainstream media to account as Your Watchdog!
• To contribute to the Season 7 Funding Drive for 2026, please email [email protected]

Three pieces of correspondence sent to TGCTS form the basis of Episode 60, which opens with the story of Marty's surprise meeting in a drug store with a former NDP cabinet minister.

You'll then hear a letter sent to Premier Wab Kinew and Justice Minister Matt Wiebe by an aggrieved NDP supporter.

He had asked for help with an arbitrary punishment imposed by Manitoba Public Insurance on his driving record despite a court dismissing the ticket- and got no response from Kinew or Wiebe.

"This record has already resulted in my being denied employment. I am a law-abiding citizen with no criminal record who is simply trying to earn a living."

14.35 Part 2- A follower of our independent reporting sent a note reflecting on the coverage we have provided this past year.

He touched on the federal election campaign, "the rise in unchecked anti-semitism in our city" and "the Province trying to push through a safe injection site that would be so destabilizing to the community it is established in."

21.35 - Listen to an op-ed submitted to local media outlets by Portage La Prairie PC MLA Jeff Bereza, after he took part in all four of the public meetings held in December about a proposed Safe Consumption Site for 366 Henry Avenue in the North Logan neighbourhood.

Noting how the announcement of the new location was made after the Legislature had wrapped up the fall session- meaning there could be no debate about the SCS in the House, Bereza noted:

"Only one thing is abundantly clear following these four sessions: there is no plan."

As the Critic of Homelessness, Housing, and Addictions, he itemized the unanswered questions from stakeholders, and the illogical claims from Minister Bernadette Smith and site proponents about staffing and policing for the drug user site.

Bereza concluded that "The accusation that push-back and questions from neighbours and businesses is nothing more than nimby-ism is unfair and insulting."

You can read the entire op-ed in the post for Episode 60 at ActionLine.ca.

******MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR LISTENERS AND SUPPORTERS!

The NDP government tried to throttle opposition to a drug use site slated for the North Logan neighbourhood by scheduling only one in-person meet-up. Episode 59 explains what they heard at two more hastily-added sessions this week. (Sorry for the blizzard delay!)

Part 1- In November, Winnipeg Free Press columnist Dan Lett criticized neighborhood opposition to the first proposed location for a safe consumption site east of Main Street because "they make them safer and cleaner."

His uninformed opinion clearly failed to sway the residents and businesses west of Main Street, who have voiced significant concern about the unsafe conditions already tolerated by elected officials and police around 366 Henry Avenue, where Wab Kinew now wants to open an SCS.

In fact, the experiences they described last week and again this week demonstrate how proponents of enabling users of drugs like fentanyl and meth are killing the viability of Winnipeg's core area with suicidal empathy.

At Monday night's public meeting, Housing and Addictions Minister Bernadette Smith- who is MLA for the area- showed how disconnected she is from the reality her constituents live with, as she claimed "We are focused on safety and security in the community. Police will be there to make sure enforcement is happening."

Ed Gallos, owner of the roofing company next door to the proposed SCS, rebuked her:

"I'm not very confident in the Winnipeg Police Service... we have to barricade our business, we look like a bunker from the Second World War."

You'll hear the comments and questions voiced at the Chinese Cultural Centre by people who have suffered repeated serious violent incidents with no meaningful response by Winnipeg Police or the Winnipeg Police Board.

13.40 Part 2- The North Logan community held their own meeting on Tuesday night at Pampanga Hall across from 366 Henry.

Stakeholders, which includes industrial, food services, and child program facilities, continued to press Smith and project operators, the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre, for substantive answers to their safety concerns. This isn't 'NIMBYism' as Kate Kehler of the ultra-leftist Social Planning Council insinuated- it's democracy.

17.30-Listen to Bernadette Smith tell the meeting "this is meant to bring the crime levels down."

Yet a businessman pointed out that as Siloam Mission has expanded and line-ups outside have quadrupled, social disorder has not been addressed, with officials not even ensuring there are bathroom facilities for the indigent. Instead, cleaning up the human waste left in nearby doorways and on properties became the responsibility of the affected private citizens.

The resulting tensions have community members who confront the derelicts wandering through their yards and using it as a toilet fearing for their safety. There's only so much mayhem and disorder that can be inflicted on a neighborhood.

Somehow, despite being their MLA, Smith had nothing to offer aside from "I'm sorry."

27.50 - Unreported by the media in attendance, WPS Inspector Helen Peters answered a question about her opinion if the SCS "will make the area safer."

We have the audio of her shocking reply, which no doubt ruined Dan Lett's Xmas.

******

Catch up on Marty Gold's columns in the Winnipeg Sun-

Dec 10- North Logan neighborhood demands answers to safe consumption site concerns   https://www.winnipegsun.com/opinion/gold-north-logan-neighbourhood-demands-answers-to-safe-consumption-site-concerns/article_32e5e23b-dce4-46a8-b811-c1b4800f590b.htmlDec 14- Survey says Winnipeg Metropolitan Region fumbleslatest public poll

https://www.winnipegsun.com/gold-survey-says-winnipeg-metropolitan-region-fumbles-latest-public-poll/article_c8fd78eb-0d97-47d9-af04-1edafcf2b6cb.html

Dec 17- Anhart's big plans for affordablehousing in Winnipeg

https://www.winnipegsun.com/opinion/gold-anharts-big-plans-for-affordable-housing-in-winnipeg/article_42efee06-df8d-49f0-9ee8-d161b68f26a2.html