Amaro Silva
Encyclopedia
Amaro Silva is a former municipal politician in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
. He served on the Winnipeg City Council
from 1992 to 1998.
Silva is a computer operator, architectural draftsman and consultant. He is a member of the Liberal Party
, and was listed as thirty-eight years old in a 1995 newspaper article.
, defeating incumbent councillor Donovan Timmers in the inner-city Daniel McIntyre ward. He was considered to be a "swing vote" on council during his first term. He described himself as a progressive, although he supported the council's conservative faction on key matters in return for their support on issues of concern to his ward. He was appointed as chair of the civic protection, parks and culture committee in October 1993.
Late in 1993, Silva provided crucial support on council for the construction of a bridge in Charleswood
. He supported an early to community policing in the same period, and expressed concerns about the use of pepper spray
by city police. He later called for a comprehensive review of the city's police force, after four officers were charged with corruption. Silva also suggested that Winnipeg consider "tasteful" advertising on police cruisers and ambulances as a means of generating revenue.
As the representative of an inner-city ward, Silva was frequently involved in debates about urban renewal. He opposed a private-sector core renewal project in 1995, arguing that it would provide financial benefits to the city and province but would do nothing to help the area targeted for improvement. Silva initially opposed public financing for a new area that was proposed by the Manitoba Entertainment Complex in 1994, as a means of keeping the Winnipeg Jets hockey franchise in the city. He later changed his position, and indicated that he would support a plan to fund the arena. The plan was ultimately unsuccessful, and the Jets left the city.
Silva supported the extension of same-sex benefits to municipal workers in 1994.
He was asked to run for the Manitoba Liberal Party
in the 1995 provincial election
, but declined.
Member of Parliament
Cyril Keeper
in the 1995 municipal election
. His primary concern in this campaign was public safety, while Keeper criticized Silva for having supported the bridge and arena proposals. Silva was appointed chair of the planning and community services community after the election, and also served on the civic executive policy committee. He generally voted with Mayor Susan Thompson
and the right-wing of council.
In late 1995, Silva called for the federal government to reconsider its planned cuts to social assistance recipients. He later supported a law giving the city power to shut down massage parlours and other businesses that violate zoning bylaws, and unsuccessfully called for a youth curfew to reduce crime rates.
In 1996, Silva was one of Winnipeg's two negotiators in discussions with promoter Wayne Flett to set up "Music City Manitoba", a tourist destination planned for the downtown core. A tentative deal was announced in November 1996, although discussions later dissolved amid acrimony. The city wanted Flett to provide his financial records, while Flett argued that the city was assuming bad faith.
Silva was promoted to chair of the city's finance committee in March 1997. One day after his appointment, he oversaw the approval of a plan to give property tax rebates to new home owners. Later in the year, he introduced a plan that would have restricted discussions between city employees and the media. This plan was widely criticized.
Silva introduced a motion in October 1997 to radically reform the structure of city hall, including the hiring of a chief administrative officer and the dismissal of the four-member Board of Commissioners. The plan was strongly supported by Mayor Susan Thompson, and was passed without difficulty. The following month, Silva was reassigned as chair of the protection and community services, and was also appointed to a new expenditure management committee.
Winnipeg's community services committee granted a licence to an escort service in April 1998, even though councillor suspected (but could not prove) that it was a front for prostitution. Silva subsequently called for Winnipeg to be given the legislative powers to shut down escort services, massage parlours, pawn shops and related services.
Throughout his time on council, Silva complained that insurance firms were discriminating against residents of his ward.
Silva originally announced that he would run for mayor in the 1998 municipal election
, but he withdrew months before election day. He instead sought re-election to council, and was defeated by Harvey Smith
.
's Manitoba campaign in his bid to become leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
. Tobin eventually decided not to run.
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 served on the 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 1992 to 1998.
Silva is a computer operator, architectural draftsman and consultant. He is a member of the Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
, and was listed as thirty-eight years old in a 1995 newspaper article.
First term
Silva was first elected to the Winnipeg City Council in the 1992 municipal electionWinnipeg municipal election, 1992
The 1992 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 28, 1992 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Susan Thompson defeated Greg Selinger in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
, defeating incumbent councillor Donovan Timmers in the inner-city Daniel McIntyre ward. He was considered to be a "swing vote" on council during his first term. He described himself as a progressive, although he supported the council's conservative faction on key matters in return for their support on issues of concern to his ward. He was appointed as chair of the civic protection, parks and culture committee in October 1993.
Late in 1993, Silva provided crucial support on council for the construction of a bridge in Charleswood
Charleswood, Manitoba
Charleswood is a residential community within the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is located in the southwestern part of the city, and is bordered by the Assiniboine River to the north, the Rural Municipality of Macdonald to the south, the Rural Municipality of Headingley on the west and the...
. He supported an early to community policing in the same period, and expressed concerns about the use of pepper spray
Pepper spray
Pepper spray, also known as OC spray , OC gas, and capsicum spray, is a lachrymatory agent that is used in riot control, crowd control and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears...
by city police. He later called for a comprehensive review of the city's police force, after four officers were charged with corruption. Silva also suggested that Winnipeg consider "tasteful" advertising on police cruisers and ambulances as a means of generating revenue.
As the representative of an inner-city ward, Silva was frequently involved in debates about urban renewal. He opposed a private-sector core renewal project in 1995, arguing that it would provide financial benefits to the city and province but would do nothing to help the area targeted for improvement. Silva initially opposed public financing for a new area that was proposed by the Manitoba Entertainment Complex in 1994, as a means of keeping the Winnipeg Jets hockey franchise in the city. He later changed his position, and indicated that he would support a plan to fund the arena. The plan was ultimately unsuccessful, and the Jets left the city.
Silva supported the extension of same-sex benefits to municipal workers in 1994.
He was asked to run for the Manitoba Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
in the 1995 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1995
The Manitoba general election of April 25,1995 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which won 31 seats out of 57...
, but declined.
Second term
Silva was re-elected over former New Democratic PartyNew 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...
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,...
Cyril Keeper
Cyril Keeper
Cyril Keeper is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1980 to 1988, serving as a member of the New Democratic Party....
in the 1995 municipal election
Winnipeg municipal election, 1995
The 1995 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 25, 1995 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Susan Thompson defeated Peter Kaufmann and Terry Duguid in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
. His primary concern in this campaign was public safety, while Keeper criticized Silva for having supported the bridge and arena proposals. Silva was appointed chair of the planning and community services community after the election, and also served on the civic executive policy committee. He generally voted with Mayor Susan Thompson
Susan Thompson
Susan Ann Thompson was the 40th mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was the first female to serve as mayor of Winnipeg and served two terms as mayor and held this post from 1992 to 1998.Thompson graduated with a BA from the University of Winnipeg in 1971...
and the right-wing of council.
In late 1995, Silva called for the federal government to reconsider its planned cuts to social assistance recipients. He later supported a law giving the city power to shut down massage parlours and other businesses that violate zoning bylaws, and unsuccessfully called for a youth curfew to reduce crime rates.
In 1996, Silva was one of Winnipeg's two negotiators in discussions with promoter Wayne Flett to set up "Music City Manitoba", a tourist destination planned for the downtown core. A tentative deal was announced in November 1996, although discussions later dissolved amid acrimony. The city wanted Flett to provide his financial records, while Flett argued that the city was assuming bad faith.
Silva was promoted to chair of the city's finance committee in March 1997. One day after his appointment, he oversaw the approval of a plan to give property tax rebates to new home owners. Later in the year, he introduced a plan that would have restricted discussions between city employees and the media. This plan was widely criticized.
Silva introduced a motion in October 1997 to radically reform the structure of city hall, including the hiring of a chief administrative officer and the dismissal of the four-member Board of Commissioners. The plan was strongly supported by Mayor Susan Thompson, and was passed without difficulty. The following month, Silva was reassigned as chair of the protection and community services, and was also appointed to a new expenditure management committee.
Winnipeg's community services committee granted a licence to an escort service in April 1998, even though councillor suspected (but could not prove) that it was a front for prostitution. Silva subsequently called for Winnipeg to be given the legislative powers to shut down escort services, massage parlours, pawn shops and related services.
Throughout his time on council, Silva complained that insurance firms were discriminating against residents of his ward.
Silva originally announced that he would run for mayor in the 1998 municipal election
Winnipeg municipal election, 1998
The 1998 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 28, 1998 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Centre-left candidate Glen Murray defeated populist right-winger Peter Kaufmann in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
, but he withdrew months before election day. He instead sought re-election to council, and was defeated by Harvey Smith
Harvey Smith (politician)
Harvey Smith is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was born in British Columbia and first became involved in politics at age twelve, joining that province's Social Credit Party when it was still a fringe organization....
.
Since 1998
Silva has been executive director of the Better Business Bureau of Manitoba since 1999. A newspaper report from 2001 indicates that he was planning to co-manage Brian TobinBrian Tobin
Brian Vincent Tobin, PC is a Canadian businessman and former politician. Tobin served as the sixth Premier of Newfoundland from 1996 to 2000. Tobin was also a prominent Member of Parliament and served as a Cabinet Minister in Jean Chrétien's Liberal government.- Early life, education, and family...
's Manitoba campaign in his bid to become leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal 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...
. Tobin eventually decided not to run.