City council candidates for Point Douglas

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This article was published 27/09/2022 (820 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three candidates are running for city councillor in the Point Douglas ward. The municipal election is Wed., Oct. 26.

Moe El Tassi

Moe El Tassi is president of Strata Supply, has been involved in numerous charitable and non-profit community organizations including Siloam Mission, and sits as a civilian on the Winnipeg Police Board at city hall, among other community boards.

El Tassi said his No. 1 priority is safety, but also prioritizes economic development and transit, and “many other things.”

“Everyone wants to receive the supports they require. Poverty, addictions tie into crime. We’re going to have to work with all three levels of government and have an open line of communication to deal with these issues and strategize,” he said.

“I’m actually running because I want to make a difference in my community. I believe in economic inclusion, quality jobs, and everyone deserves their standard of living to be adequate,” he said.

El Tassi’s website is www.votemoeeltassi.com

Joe Pereira

Joe Pereira was a real estate agent for 27 years. He said his top priority is addressing homelessness and addiction in the area.

“I would work with three levels of government to tackle homelessness and addiction… I’d be a strong advocate,” he said.

He said he envisions four “holistic” centres across the city, that would take an “all-in-one approach” to addressing these issues. He said he believes these could be financed with cooperation from the levels of government alongside “out-of-the-box thinking,” such as various large-scale fundraisers.

“I believe there is a solution. We just have to have strong political will,” he said.

For more information, visit his website at www.votejoepereria.ca

Vivian Santos (incumbent)

Vivian Santos has been the Point Douglas ward councillor since 2018 and is seeking re-election for a second term.

She noted accomplishments such as being named acting deputy mayor and sitting on the budget working group, which she said gave her an insight into how capital and operating budgets work.

Santos said she advocates for investments in community services and recreational facilities and programs, and said she believes cuts in these areas are leading to an increase in youth crimes.

“How we can participate in getting these kids off the street is affordable recreation programming and obviously fixing up our community centers and rec centres,” she said.

She said the city needs to have “strategic investments” that provide a return to the city, which will help in funding programs and services.

She mentioned active transit infrastructure as another priority, while intensifying efforts to renew the central area.

Santos’s website is www.viviansantos.ca