18 Facts About Reg Atkinson

Reginald C Atkinson was born on March 9,1948 and is a businessman and politician in Manitoba, Canada.

Reg Atkinson was the Mayor of Brandon, Manitoba, from 1997 to 2002 and campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in 2003.

Reg Atkinson 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.

Reg Atkinson welcomed the decision, saying that it could increase the city's population by 10,000 in a short period of time.

Reg 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 Environment Minister Jim McCrae's conclusion that a formal review would not be necessary during the construction phase.

Reg Atkinson opposed a request from councillors in the nearby Long Plain First Nation for a federal environmental assessment.

Reg Atkinson was easily re-elected in 1998, defeating two minor challengers who criticized aspects of the Maple Leaf deal.

Reg Atkinson rejected at least two proposals from aboriginal groups to construct a casino in Brandon.

Reg Atkinson opposes casinos on principle, arguing that they contribute to gambling addictions and provide few social benefits in return.

Reg Atkinson opposes the separate taxation system for urban reserve lands and believes that aboriginal Canadians should fall under the same tax apparatus as non-aboriginals.

Notwithstanding his views on casinos, Reg Atkinson supported using Video Lottery Terminals to raise revenues and rejected calls for a plebiscite on the issue.

Reg 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 Defence Minister Art Eggleton's decision to approve the transfer in early 2001.

Late in his term, Reg Atkinson led a council in approving a comprehensive by-law against indoor smoking, with no age limits or exemptions for bars.

Reg Atkinson wore a loud yellow shirt and 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".

Reg Atkinson unexpectedly announced that he would not seek re-election in 2002.

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

Reg Atkinson campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in 2003 as the Progressive Conservative candidate in Brandon West and lost to New Democratic Party incumbent Scott Smith by a wide margin.

Reg Atkinson was elected mayor of Hartney in either 1980 or 1981 and re-elected in 1983 and 1986.