Amaro Silva facts for kids
Amaro Silva (born September 9, 1957 – died March 27, 2015) was an important local politician in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Winnipeg City Council for six years, from 1992 to 1998.
Before becoming a politician, Silva worked with computers. He was also an architectural draftsman, which means he drew plans for buildings. He was a consultant too. Amaro Silva was part of the Liberal Party.
Amaro Silva's First Term on Council
Amaro Silva was first chosen to be on the Winnipeg City Council in the 1992 election. He won against the person who held the seat before him, Donovan Timmers. This was for the Daniel McIntyre area of the city. During his first term, people saw him as a "swing vote." This means he could help decide close votes. He called himself a progressive, which means he liked new ideas. But he also worked with more traditional council members. This helped him get support for issues important to his area. In October 1993, he became the head of the committee for city protection, parks, and culture.
In late 1993, Silva strongly supported building a bridge in Charleswood. He also supported starting "community policing" programs. This meant police worked closely with local communities. He was worried about police using pepper spray. Later, he asked for a full review of the city's police force. This happened after some police officers faced serious concerns about their actions. Silva also thought Winnipeg could put "tasteful" ads on police cars and ambulances. This was a way to earn money for the city.
Since he represented an older part of the city, Silva often talked about making cities better. He did not support a private plan to fix up the city center in 1995. He felt it would only help the city and province financially. It would not help the people in the area directly. Silva first did not want public money for a new sports arena in 1994. This arena was planned to keep the Winnipeg Jets hockey team in the city. But he later changed his mind and supported the plan. However, the plan did not work out, and the Jets team left Winnipeg.
In 1994, Silva supported giving benefits to city workers who were in same-sex relationships. He was asked to run for the Manitoba Liberal Party in the 1995 provincial election. But he decided not to.
Amaro Silva's Second Term and Key Decisions
Silva was re-elected in the 1995 election. He won against Cyril Keeper, who used to be a Member of Parliament for the New Democratic Party of Canada. His main focus during this election was public safety. Keeper, his opponent, criticized Silva for supporting the bridge and arena plans. After the election, Silva became the head of the planning and community services committee. He also served on the city's main executive committee. He often voted with Mayor Susan Thompson and the more traditional side of the council.
In late 1995, Silva asked the national government to rethink cuts to money for people who needed help. He later supported a law that let the city close businesses that did not follow city rules. He also tried to get a rule for young people to be home by a certain time to lower crime. This idea did not pass.
In 1996, Silva helped Winnipeg talk with a person named Wayne Flett. They wanted to create "Music City Manitoba," a tourist place in downtown Winnipeg. They announced a possible deal in November 1996. But the talks later stopped because of disagreements. The city wanted to see Flett's financial records. Flett felt the city did not trust him.
Silva became the head of the city's finance committee in March 1997. The very next day, he helped approve a plan. This plan gave property tax money back to people buying new homes. Later that year, he suggested a plan that would limit how city workers could talk to the media. Many people did not like this plan.
In October 1997, Silva suggested big changes to how city hall worked. This included hiring a chief administrative officer. It also meant letting go of the four-person Board of Commissioners. Mayor Susan Thompson strongly supported this plan, and it was approved easily. The next month, Silva was moved to head the protection and community services committee. He also joined a new committee to manage spending.
During his time on council, Silva often said that insurance companies were unfair to people living in his area.
Silva first said he would run for mayor in the 1998 election. But he decided not to a few months before the election. Instead, he tried to get re-elected to council. He was defeated by Harvey Smith.
After City Hall
From 1999 to 2014, Amaro Silva was the CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Manitoba. This organization helps people find trustworthy businesses. A newspaper report from 2001 said he planned to help manage Brian Tobin's campaign in Manitoba. Tobin was trying to become the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. However, Tobin later decided not to run. Amaro Silva passed away on March 27, 2015, after a serious illness.
