Franco Magnifico
Encyclopedia
Franco Gaetano Luigi Magnifico is a businessperson and politician from Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
. He represented the St. Boniface ward on Winnipeg City Council
from 2004 to 2006.
before running for office himself, and was a supporter of Member of Parliament
Ron Duhamel
.
He criticized a Manitoba Liquor Control Commission
decision that prevented him from selling alcohol during World Cup of Soccer matches 2002. The games took place in Japan
and South Korea
, and were broadcast during early morning hours in local time.
Magnifico was an opponent of Winnipeg's anti-smoking bylaw, and sought to provide his bar patrons with a loophole
to the law in 2003. Although he enforced the ban in the bar itself, he also purchased an old yellow school bus
that he parked outside his hotel as a "smoking section". Provincial inspectors later argued that the bus constituted a public indoor space and was therefore in violation of the bylaw, and issued a $1,500 fine. Magnifico initially contested the charge in court, but ultimately decided to pay the fine. He sold the bar and hotel in 2004, and has said that he considered moving to the United States to open a Tim Hortons
franchise.
stepped down to run for mayor. He won an upset victory, defeating two better-known francophone candidates.
Magnifico quickly emerged as a vocal ally of newly-elected Mayor Sam Katz
. He supported the mayor's decision to shelve a rapid transit
plan in September 2004, arguing that the money would be better spent on other priorities. In October 2004, Katz appointed Magnifico as chair of his newly-formed "red tape commission". The commission's finished report was issued in June 2005 with 50 recommendations, including an overhaul of Winnipeg's entertainment tax and a plan to reduce neighbourhood conflicts over new construction projects. The entertainment tax was subsequently eliminated, and Katz reported that 15 of the 30 recommendations had been completed by January 2007.
Magnifico was also appointed to chair Winnipeg's alternate service delivery committee in June 2005. This committee was charged with streamlining some municipal services and contracting out others. In this capacity, Magnifico spearheaded a controversial move to privatize the city's garbage collection services. Katz promoted Magnifico to his executive policy committee (i.e. the municipal cabinet) in November 2005 as chair of the downtown development committee.
Following his election, Magnifico promoted a plan to turn an abandoned Canada Packers site in his ward into a major indoor recreation complex. The funding for this project never materialized, and it did not come to fruition. He also supported a controversial plan to build an OlyWest pork producing plant in the vicinity of his ward. This was unpopular with ward residents, and was abandoned when the provincial government withdrew its support. Magnifico was not aligned with any political party in this period, although he acknowledged that he was an opponent of the New Democratic Party
.
Former councillor Dan Vandal challenged Magnifico in the 2006 municipal election
. Magnifico was endorsed by the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg
, and was joined on door-knocking duties by Mayor Katz. The contest was expected to be close, but Vandal ultimately won by a significant margin.
fan in a 2005 interview, and said that AC/DC
was his favourite band.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He represented the St. Boniface ward on Winnipeg City Council
Winnipeg City Council
The Winnipeg City Council is the governing body of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors.-2006-2010:Council elected in the 2006 election:-2010-2014:...
from 2004 to 2006.
Early life and career
Magnifico was born and raised in Winnipeg, and worked for Canadian National before buying the St. Boniface Hotel and Club St. Boniface bar. He worked on several campaigns for the Liberal PartyLiberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
before running for office himself, and was a supporter of Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Ron Duhamel
Ron Duhamel
Ronald J. Duhamel, PC was a Canadian Member of Parliament and Senator.Born in Saint Boniface, Manitoba, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Lakehead University and a Master of Arts and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto...
.
He criticized a Manitoba Liquor Control Commission
Manitoba Liquor Control Commission
The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission is a Crown Agency mandated with regulating, distributing and selling beverage alcohol in the Canadian province of Manitoba....
decision that prevented him from selling alcohol during World Cup of Soccer matches 2002. The games took place in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, and were broadcast during early morning hours in local time.
Magnifico was an opponent of Winnipeg's anti-smoking bylaw, and sought to provide his bar patrons with a loophole
Loophole
A loophole is a weakness that allows a system to be circumvented.Loophole may also refer to:*Arrowslit, a slit in a castle wall*Loophole , a short science fiction story by Arthur C...
to the law in 2003. Although he enforced the ban in the bar itself, he also purchased an old yellow school bus
School bus
A school bus is a type of bus designed and manufactured for student transport: carrying children and teenagers to and from school and school events...
that he parked outside his hotel as a "smoking section". Provincial inspectors later argued that the bus constituted a public indoor space and was therefore in violation of the bylaw, and issued a $1,500 fine. Magnifico initially contested the charge in court, but ultimately decided to pay the fine. He sold the bar and hotel in 2004, and has said that he considered moving to the United States to open a Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons Inc. is a Canadian fast casual restaurant known for its coffee and doughnuts. It is also Canada's largest fast food service with over 3000 stores nationwide. It was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade, after an initial venture in...
franchise.
City councillor
Magnifico ran for Winnipeg City Council in a 2004 by-election, called after sitting St. Boniface councillor Dan VandalDan Vandal
Daniel 'Dan' Vandal is a politician in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He has represented St. Boniface on the Winnipeg City Council for all but two years since 1995, and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Winnipeg in 2004...
stepped down to run for mayor. He won an upset victory, defeating two better-known francophone candidates.
Magnifico quickly emerged as a vocal ally of newly-elected Mayor Sam Katz
Sam Katz
Samuel Michael Katz, OM is the 42nd mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is also a businessperson and a member of the Order of Manitoba.- Life before mayorship :...
. He supported the mayor's decision to shelve a rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
plan in September 2004, arguing that the money would be better spent on other priorities. In October 2004, Katz appointed Magnifico as chair of his newly-formed "red tape commission". The commission's finished report was issued in June 2005 with 50 recommendations, including an overhaul of Winnipeg's entertainment tax and a plan to reduce neighbourhood conflicts over new construction projects. The entertainment tax was subsequently eliminated, and Katz reported that 15 of the 30 recommendations had been completed by January 2007.
Magnifico was also appointed to chair Winnipeg's alternate service delivery committee in June 2005. This committee was charged with streamlining some municipal services and contracting out others. In this capacity, Magnifico spearheaded a controversial move to privatize the city's garbage collection services. Katz promoted Magnifico to his executive policy committee (i.e. the municipal cabinet) in November 2005 as chair of the downtown development committee.
Following his election, Magnifico promoted a plan to turn an abandoned Canada Packers site in his ward into a major indoor recreation complex. The funding for this project never materialized, and it did not come to fruition. He also supported a controversial plan to build an OlyWest pork producing plant in the vicinity of his ward. This was unpopular with ward residents, and was abandoned when the provincial government withdrew its support. Magnifico was not aligned with any political party in this period, although he acknowledged that he was an opponent of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
.
Former councillor Dan Vandal challenged Magnifico in the 2006 municipal election
Winnipeg municipal election, 2006
The 2006 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 25, 2006 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Sam Katz was re-elected Mayor of Winnipeg over left-leaning challenger Marianne Cerilli.-Council:...
. Magnifico was endorsed by the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg
United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg
The United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg - Local 867 is a union in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Its president as of December 2008 is Alex Forrest.The union has supported several candidates for political office...
, and was joined on door-knocking duties by Mayor Katz. The contest was expected to be close, but Vandal ultimately won by a significant margin.
Personality
Magnifico was a brash and flamboyant figure on council, and was known for the energy he brought to political life. He described himself as a classic rockClassic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
fan in a 2005 interview, and said that AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
was his favourite band.