I've gotten a few interesting responses from FOI requests over the years that I haven't had time to do anything with.

As some of you might find them of interest, I thought I would post them as a big "FOI Buffet" and put all the goods out there...enjoy!

1) WINNIPEG ZOO: A few years ago I wondered what was happening with the zoo in terms of its bottom line. I asked the city for details on attendance as well as revenue and expenditure forecasts. The numbers are a bit stale, but as you can see, the zoo wasn't doing too well - losing about $4 million in 2008.

As new changes at the zoo and Assiniboine Park area are completed, it'll be interesting to see if it finally breaks even.

Click here to see the FOI response.



2) ASSINIBOINE BIKEWAY GAFFE: This issue dates back to the changes on Assiniboine Ave east of the Legislature in Winnipeg. Remember how the city went in there and messed everything up? Then they had to make a bunch of additional changes to accommodate residents and businesses who weren't properly consulted in the first place? (See the Great Canadian Talk Show's site for extensive news on this issue.)

Well, I asked the city what the cost of the additional work was due to improper consultations in the first place. Looks like the poor consulting job cost taxpayers an extra $41,215. It's not a huge sum in the grand scheme of the City's $1 billion budget, but every $41,215 adds up. Not to mention the need to hold third party groups and staff accountable for these types of screw ups. If one gets away with it, guess what the next one will think? I'll be writing to the Councillor in charge of Public Works to determine what changes have been made to city consulting contracts to hold firms accountable in the future for these types of mistakes.

Click here to see the FOI response.



3) WINNIPEG WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE: The City of Winnipeg contributes to a "Writer-in-Residence" program. A what? Basically it seems like they help foot part of the cost of a writer to work at the downtown library and teach people about writing and that kind of stuff. I inquired a while ago as to the city's portion (thinking it wasn't really a core city service) and learned it costs city taxpayers around $15,000 per year; plus whatever funds flow to the program from other governments sources. Is it something your tax dollars should go towards given our roads are crumbling? I'll leave that up to you to decide. In the mean time...

Click here to see the FOI response.



4) PROVINCIAL PAYROLL TAX: Under the infinite wisdom of the NDP many decades ago, they brought in a payroll tax to punish big business. Basically, if your business has a payroll of over $1.25 million, you get to pay a 'bonus' tax based on salaries you pay out to employees above that threshold. In other words, it's a job killing tax and a disincentive to hire more employees. Don't believe it? I've actually heard employers tell me they watch their payroll carefully due to getting dinged by the ridiculous tax.

As it brings in $410 million per year and as the province is running a massive deficit right now, the tax isn't going anywhere anytime soon. But what is useful to know is that killing it isn't as big of a problem as it first appears to be. As of 2010, the province estimates only 55% of the revenue comes from the private sector. Sure, it's still a big number, but one that's more manageable for the government to tackle if anyone ever wants to start encouraging more private sector growth and attract some of those "head office jobs" people always long for.

Click here to see the FOI response.



5) HYDRO CAPITAL ESTIMATES: Last but not least are some Manitoba Hydro estimates for four of their major capital projects; Keeyask dam, Wuskwatim dam, Conawapa dam and the Bipole III project. I asked for the crown corporation for its 2007 estimates for each of those projects as well as current estimates. As you can see the numbers have exploded over the past few years.

However, I would note that Hydro has indicated in its response that the scope of thoe estimates have changed in a few of the cases. I would also note that my request should have gone back sooner as Wuskwatim's original price tag was $900 million back in 2004, not the $1.67 billion it has come in at.

Click here to see the FOI response.
 

That's it for now. I'll see what I can do about dessert!