View source for Reg Atkinson

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = |
| name = Reg Atkinson
| caption =
| death_date = 
| residence = 
| office1 = Mayor of [[Brandon, Manitoba|Brandon]], [[Manitoba]]
| term_start1 = 1997
| term_end1 = 2002
| predecessor1 = [[Rick Borotsik]]
| successor1 = [[Dave Burgess (politician)|Dave Burgess]]
| office2 = Mayor of [[Hartney, Manitoba|Hartney]], [[Manitoba]]
| term_start2 = 1981
| term_end2 = 1989
| predecessor2 = Allan Lougheed
| successor2 = Leo Peloquin
| party = 
| religion =
| occupation =
| birth_date={{birth date and age|1948|3|9}}
| birth_place=[[Hartney, Manitoba]], Canada
}}

'''Reginald C. Atkinson''' (born March 9, 1948)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shillington.org/fam-rep-526-560.html |title=Shillington Kerfoot Family Tree |website=www.shillington.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040411195939/http://www.shillington.org/fam-rep-526-560.html |archive-date=2004-04-11}} </ref> is a businessman and politician in [[Manitoba]], Canada. He was the Mayor of [[Brandon, Manitoba]], from 1997 to 2002 and campaigned for the [[Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]] in [[2003 Manitoba general election|2003]].

== Early life and career ==

Atkinson was mayor of [[Hartney, Manitoba]], from 1981 to 1989 and owned a small farming implements business in this community before relocating to Brandon in 1994.<ref name="His Honour 1999, p. 14">"His Honour, Mr. Business", ''Manitoba Business'', 1 March 1999, p. 14.</ref> He was elected as Mayor of Brandon in a [[by-election]] on September 24, 1997, after the previous mayor, [[Rick Borotsik]], was elected to the [[House of Commons of Canada]]. Atkinson was 49 years old.

== Mayor of Brandon ==

;Hog processing

In late 1999, the president of [[Maple Leaf Foods]] announced that Brandon had been selected out of 42 possible communities for the construction of a $112 million hog processing plant. Atkinson welcomed the decision, saying that it could increase the city's population by 10,000 (to 50,000) in a short period of time. Maple Leaf selected Brandon, in part, because it was known to be one of the least expensive areas in Canada to raise hogs.<ref>Casey Mahood, "Maple Leaf to build $112-million hog plant", ''Globe and Mail'', 3 December 1997, B3; Bill Redekop, "Brandon boom begins", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 3 December 1997, A1. Brandon's population had increased to 43,000 by 2001. See "Maple Leaf plant sparks growth spurt in Brandon", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 30 October 2001, A11.</ref>

Atkinson spoke against a proposed Clean Environment Commission review of the Maple Leaf project in 1998, describing it as a stalling tactic, and supported provincial [[Minister of Environment (Manitoba)|Environment Minister]] [[James McCrae (politician)|Jim McCrae]]'s conclusion that a formal review would not be necessary during the construction phase.<ref>Bud Robertson, "Review could delay hog plant", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 2 June 1998, A9; Helen Fallding, "Hog plant allowed to skip hearing", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 11 September 1998, A1.</ref> He also opposed a request from councillors in the nearby [[Long Plain First Nation]] for a federal environmental assessment.<ref>Helen Fallding, "Band wants feds to halt hog plant", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 22 July 1998, A8.</ref> Construction of the plant began in April 1998, and operations began in August 1999.<ref>Bud Robertson, "McCain breaks ground on massive Brandon plant", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 21 April 1998, B6; Helen Fallding, "New economic era begins when first hog butchered", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 30 August 1999, A1.</ref>

Atkinson was easily re-elected in [[1998 Manitoba municipal elections|1998]], defeating two minor challengers who criticized aspects of the Maple Leaf deal.<ref>Helen Fallding, "Brandonites fork over big, fat mandate to pro pork-plant mayor", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 29 October 1998, A12.</ref> The following year, he the led council in approving a plan for the city to own and operate a wastewater treatment plant to serve the Maple Leaf facility.<ref>Helen Fallding, "Brandon council votes to keep waste plant", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 23 February 1999, A3.</ref> The project ultimately cost $13.5 million (some of which was paid by the province), and was derided by critics as "[[corporate welfare]]".<ref>"His Honour, Mr. Business", ''Manitoba Business'', 1 March 1999, p. 14. See "Waste water treatment plant announced for Brandon", ''M2 Presswire'', 14 May 1999.</ref> The city administrator responded to this charge by arguing that most of the money went to improving Brandon's existing capacity for water and wastewater treatment.<ref>Helen Fallding, "Give Schneider's 'well-run' city", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 13 December 1999, A9.</ref>

;Other issues

Atkinson helped coordinate other projects for the city. [[Simplot]] opened a new Brandon facility in 1999, setting up a $230 million plant for liquid and granular fertilizers.<ref>Geoff Kirbyson, "Simplot enjoys growth spurt", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 16 September 1999, B9. See also Helen Fallding, "Simplot plays ball with Brandon", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 6 January 2000, A8.</ref> The [[Netherlands|Dutch]] firm Installatie Techniek Boxmeer set up a plant to manufacture livestock ventilation equipment in the same period.<ref>Geoff Kirbyson, "Brandon chosen as site for $1-million plant", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 11 September 1998, B6.; "Maple Leaf plant attracts Dutch manufacturer", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 14 July 1999, p. 3.</ref>

Atkinson rejected at least two proposals from [[Aboriginal peoples of Canada|aboriginal]] groups to construct a [[casino]] in Brandon. He opposes casinos on principle, arguing that they contribute to gambling addictions and provide few social benefits in return. He also opposes the separate taxation system for [[urban reserve]] lands and believes that [[Aboriginal peoples of Canada|aboriginal Canadians]] should fall under the same tax apparatus as non-aboriginals.<ref>Helen Fallding, "Minnedosa Monte Carlo of the Prairies?", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 5 November 1998, A4; Helen Fallding, "Brandon mayor gives first nation cold shoulder", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 18 January 2000, A2. Atkinson was once quoted as saying, "It will be a frosty day in July before I sign the papers to allow a casino in Brandon. It will just be a vacuum cleaner that will suck people's money right out of their pockets." See Daniel Lett, "Casino plans luck out for 5 first nations", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 2 June 2000, A3.</ref> Notwithstanding his views on casinos, Atkinson supported using [[Video Lottery Terminal]]s to raise revenues and rejected calls for a plebiscite on the issue.<ref>Bud Robertson, "Few eager to hold VLT vote", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 25 July 1998, A4.</ref>

Atkinson was a prominent supporter of a plan to move [[Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry]] from [[Winnipeg]] to the [[Canadian Forces Base Shilo]] in Brandon and welcomed [[Minister of Defence (Canada)|Defence Minister]] [[Art Eggleton]]'s decision to approve the transfer in early 2001.<ref>Helen Fallding, "Task force to help new residents", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 6 April 2001, B2.</ref>

Late in his term, Atkinson led a council in approving a comprehensive by-law against indoor smoking, with no age limits or exemptions for bars.<ref>Leah Hendry, "No public smoking indoors, period!", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 11 April 2002, A12; "Brandon passes what is being called toughest smoking ban in North America", ''Canadian Press'', 28 May 2002, 20:12.</ref>

;Style

Atkinson promoted a "down-to-earth" and populist approach to politics. He wore a loud yellow shirt and [[Smiley|happy face]] tie to an all-candidates debate in 1998 and was quoted as saying, "I don't use a lot of big words because I don't know them".<ref>Helen Fallding, "Brandon mayoral hopefuls mark territory", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 16 October 1998, A3.</ref> The journal ''Manitoba Business'' once described his political style as "gregarious".<ref name="His Honour 1999, p. 14"/>

;Retirement from municipal politics

Atkinson unexpectedly announced that he would not seek re-election in 2002.<ref>"Atkinson won't run again", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 23 August 2002, A10. This article indicates that Atkinson's relationship with Rick Borotsik, whom he replaced as mayor, was very poor.</ref>

Atkinson is the current Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis, which surrounds Brandon on three sides.

== Federal and provincial politics ==

Atkinson sought the [[Canadian Alliance]] nomination to contest [[Brandon—Souris]] in the [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000 federal election]]. He unexpectedly lost to Gary Nestibo.<ref>"Nestibo gets nod", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 22 October 2000, A3; Helen Fallding, "Alliance stars faltering", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 26 October 2000, A1.</ref>

He campaigned for the [[Legislative Assembly of Manitoba]] in [[2003 Manitoba general election|2003]] as the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba|Progressive Conservative]] candidate in [[Brandon West (Manitoba riding)|Brandon West]] and lost to [[New Democratic Party of Manitoba|New Democratic Party]] incumbent [[Scott Smith (Canadian politician)|Scott Smith]] by a wide margin.<ref>Mike McIntyre, "NDP scores historic victory in Brandon", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 4 June 2003, B2.</ref>

== Electoral record ==

{{2003 Manitoba general election/Brandon West}}

{{1998 Brandon municipal election/Mayor of Brandon}}

113 of 121 polls reporting

{{1997 Brandon, Manitoba municipal by-elections/Mayor of Brandon}}

Atkinson was elected mayor of Hartney in either 1980 or 1981 and re-elected in [[1983 Manitoba municipal elections|1983]] and [[1986 Manitoba municipal elections|1986]].

All provincial election information is taken from [[Elections Manitoba]].  The 1998 mayoral results are taken from the ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 29 October 1998, A13. The final results did not significantly change Atkinson's margin of victory.

== Footnotes ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkinson, Reg}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Brandon, Manitoba]]
[[Category:Mayors of Brandon, Manitoba]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Manitoba]]
[[Category:21st-century mayors of places in Manitoba]]