fyi

Today, the Free Press News Café held a Town Hall with Premier Selinger at 11:30 am. I attended and was able to ask a question of Premier Selinger. I asked:

"If elected, will your government commit to implementing a Provincial Active Transportation policy - enabling increased safe opportunities for people to walk and bike - and to put staff on active transportation." His reply was that his government would commit to an active transportation 'strategy' and will work to implement it would have people in the public service to support implementation.

I encourage you to listen to the question / and the way he answered it. The question was asked 11:24 minutes into Dan Lett's interview found here: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/LIVE-Town-halls-with-Gerrard-a nd-Selinger-130663498.html

When Premier Selinger speaks to 'the recommendations' - he is referring to the 25 active transportation recommendations made in the the recently released Greater Strides report to government http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/pdf/atag_report6.pdf (which I was holding up when speaking of study after study after study)

COMMENT: Sharp politicians! While there is a big difference between the definition of the words "policy and strategy" and I should have jumped on it at the time - at this point in the election, I think this is as good as its going to get in having a PROVINCIAL active transportation commitment from the New Democratic Party. Not as clear and concise as the Progressive Conservatives are offering by any means - but a broader commitment - and from the leader of NDP - than we had prior to today. Complete and updated overview of active transportation election promises can be seen here: http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/2011/09/23/election-promises/

This is it for emails from me on Provincial Election 2011 active transportation updates! All of this takes an extraordinary amount of time and I think for Election 2011 - this is as good as its going to be ! Now ensure you get out and vote on October 4th!

thanks Janice

Janice Lukes Manager, Special Projects - Winnipeg Trails Winnipeg Trails Association 235-614 Des Meurons Street Winnipeg, MB R2H 2P9 Cell (204) 952-4222 Fax (204) tel:%28204%29%20237-4618 237-4618 mailto:jlukes@riverswest.ca jlukes@riverswest.ca http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/ www.WinnipegTrails.ca

Member of City of Winnipeg Active Transportation Advisory Committee Chair, Province of Manitoba Active Transportation Advisory Group