Winnipeg mayoral candidate Jenny Motkaluk spoke to a crowd that included anti-vaccine activists when she reiterated her desire for The Forks to change the name of its Canada Day celebrations.
Motkaluk spoke of “the woke crowd” who she says tried to “bully” her after she criticized The Forks’ decision to change its Canada Day event earlier this summer.
“No one should tell you that you should be ashamed of our city. And when I’m mayor of Winnipeg, no one will tell me or my neighbors that we should be ashamed of our country or who we are,” said Motkaluk.
People in the crowd waved Canadian flags and signs reading “Mandate Freedom” next to “Vote Jenny Motkaluk for Mayor.”
The crowd included a number of people who spoke out against measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as Sharon Vickner, who was recently fined thousands of dollars for repeatedly breaking restrictions. of public health.
When reporters pointed this out, Motkaluk said she “wouldn’t know.”
“I know there are people here who believe in Canada who are horrified that the Forks chose to cancel it and who share my values,” she said.
Throughout the press conference, Motkaluk targeted a wide range of perceived opponents, including the media, the ‘ivory tower’, ‘poli-sci experts’, ‘industry union leaders’ public” and the “liberal limousines”.
“In Canada, we already do not discriminate based on gender, race, ethnicity, age or religion,” she said.
“I reject woke culture. I reject critical race theory and the attempt to disrupt our community with fake news, fake labels, and collective guilt for our flawed past.”
At a mayoral forum last week, Motkaluk was booed by members of the public after standing up and telling the crowd that she was done with wearing masks and social distancing. The event took place at the University of Manitoba, which requires a mask, but Motkaluk was the only contestant who refused to wear one.
Earlier this summer, Motkaluk criticized The Forks’ decision to rename its Canada Day event to “A New Day,” which included a range of cross-cultural programming, including traditional Indigenous drumming, powwow dancing , craft stations and musical and theatrical performances.
The organization has said in the past that it has not canceled Canada Day celebrations, but has “reimagined” the July 1 celebrations, as the continuation of months of panel discussions led by Aboriginals with various community members, following the discovery of potentially unmarked graves associated with the residential school. locations across Canada.
“If we fail to show that pride every July 1, then the Canada we know and love will cease to exist,” Motkaluk said at Monday’s rally.
She reiterated her promise to replace three city-appointed members of The Forks board.
“They gave in to the woke mob and they will be fired,” she said.
I will replace them with people who share our values, who share our pride in this country and who insist that Canada Day be celebrated right here at The Forks every July 1st. »
Prior to the start of the press conference, officials at The Forks informed Motkaluk that she did not have permission to hold the event on the property, but did so anyway.
Forks’ vice president of strategic initiatives released a statement from CBC News.
“This group did not have a space reservation with us, so security came over to interview the group as they do with all unforeseen events,” she wrote.
“In order to be transparent and fair to all, we do not take any reservations for campaign announcements from any candidate, regardless of level of government or candidate.”
Adelakun makes promises on business
Meanwhile, on Monday, mayoral candidate Idris Adelakun released a plan he says will attract investment to Winnipeg.
Part of his plan includes merging business tax with commercial property tax.
“But you still have to work with the province. There are some things you can do on your own, but when we sit down and figure out what the barriers are, why don’t we attract more investors into our city?” he said.
Adelakun also wants the city to work with the federal and provincial governments to complete the construction of CentrePort South and encourage tax-raised funding to support downtown projects such as affordable housing and infill.
