Hudson pledges to build homes, expand business
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| EXPRESS PHOTO BY AUSTIN GRABISH Peguis Chief Glenn Hudson is seeking re-election. Band members go to the polls on March 24. |
The chief of Manitoba’s largest First Nation says he is proud of progress that’s been made by his band over the last two years, but Glenn Hudson isn’t ready to step down as leader of Peguis just yet.
He is seeking re-election and will have to win votes from band members who will choose between him and two other candidates at the polls later this month.
But if you visited Hudson’s Winnipeg office you’d hardly know he’s just weeks away from the end of an election. There are no visible campaign signs posted and Hudson’s talk is all business.
“Certainly my work, I think, speaks for itself,” said Hudson.
“We’ve been moving forward certainly.”
Hudson is finishing his fourth two-year term as chief of Peguis, but said he wants to stay on for at least one more term, because the band is still in the early stages of many projects.
“The work that we’ve started is not completed,” Hudson said.
Part of the uncompleted work includes what Hudson calls a ‘comprehensive community plan,’ which he says will build the Peguis economy and create jobs.
“There’s a lot of growth that’s happening in our community,” Hudson said.
Hudson wants his band to further expand outside of Peguis onto traditional Treaty No. 1 lands in Winnipeg.
Plans to build a hotel and conference centre at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg are already in the works.
“The future’s very bright,” Hudson said.
Hudson said his biggest accomplishment as chief was the leading role he played in the historic St. Peters land claim settlement, which saw Peguis get a $126.1 million payout from the federal government in 2009.
He also said he’s brought 150 jobs to the community by creating the Chief Peguis Construction company.
“That has helped address our poverty issues and social issues within the community.”
Hudson said he’s been able to reduce debt on the First Nation while also having new projects take flight.
He used the Peguis Multiplex Centre, which opened late last year as an example.
“It acts as a gathering point for us when we do have gatherings in the community,” Hudson said.
He also said the band’s acquisition of the former motor vehicle branch on Portage Avenue in Winnipeg is something he is proud of.
The building is currently being remodeled and already has some band offices in it.
But Hudson’s tenure as chief hasn’t been without controversy.
In 2012 red flags were raised after an independent audit found issues with the way $10.5 million in flood money was handled.
Aboriginal Affairs expressed concern that not all of the federal flood compensation funding was used for its intended purposes.
Hudson dismissed the report at the time and defended his administration.
Hudson’s high salary has also come under fire.
He is one of the highest paid chiefs in Manitoba and took home a base salary of $113,646 last year in addition to the $88,794 in cash he received for expenses.
“I’m the third or fourth highest paid in the province, but yet I’m the largest First Nation,” Hudson said.
“So if you want to compare in terms of population wise I ain’t the highest paid, but certainly we have the largest First Nation.”
Hudson said he would not raise his salary if he were re-elected.
He is also pledging to build at least 50 homes per year in Peguis.
Hundreds of homes on the Interlake reserve are in dire need of repair or replacement.
Hudson also said he would work towards expanding the multiplex in Peguis.
Band members go to the polls on March 24.
-- First published in the Express Weekly News print edition March 19, 2015 p.14
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