Dallas Hansen (b. February 14 1977) is a Winnipeg, Manitoba-based writer whose work appeared periodically on the Winnipeg Free Press editorial page from 2000 until December, 2006, when he wrote a column the newspaper later learned was fabricated.

Hansen is an advocate for the construction of a subway system in inner-city Winnipeg, which he believes will lead to increased densification and the rebirth of Winnipeg's troubled inner city. In 2005, he co-founded TRU Winnipeg, the city's Transit Riders' Union, which aims to promote urbanism and the resurrection of the inner city though the construction of a subway and through urban planning based upon the ideas of Jane Jacobs.

Views

Although a fierce advocate for regenerating inner city neighbourhoods via new urbanist infill, he has expressed his admiration of the free market. He supports the free movement of goods, capital, and ideas across international borders, but also the free movement of labour. He has written that both the United States and Mexico would be better served by an open border between the two countries. He believes cities, to prosper, require proper infrastructure—rapid transit—and that urban neighbourhoods feature high residential densities and mixed-use storefront-apartment commercial strips.

Hansen is also a strong supporter of traditionalist architecture and is unsympathetic to modernism.

Hansen is also critical of Ritalin treatment of ADHD, as well as the increasingly widespread use of such antidepressant drugs as Zoloft, and Prozac.

In the summer of 2006, Hansen gained headlines in the Winnipeg Free Press after he was barred from the new skateboard park at The Forks after officials alleged he was being disruptive and disrespectful to others.

In September, 2006, Hansen wrote a controversial piece headlined "Willpower best weapon against poverty," which celebrated individual achievement under capitalism while calling for welfare reform. In a libertarian vein, Hansen believes welfare creates poverty rather than solves it.

In December 2006, Hansen wrote a controversial piece headlined, "Time to put a cork in liquor monopoly" calling for the dismantling of Manitoba's government-run liquor retailing monopoly. It featured an anecdotal lead about how he and his girlfriend weren't allowed to purchase a bottle of wine from a Manitoba Liquor Control Commission store because he didn't have identification.

Recently one afternoon, my girlfriend Denise and I sought out a bottle of red wine to enjoy later that evening. Such a common consumer good, and an obvious companion to dinner, ought to be readily available. But, alas, the experience turned out to be quite difficult.

We headed for the government monopoly store at Portage Avenue and Banning Street and selected, with the assistance of a Liquor Mart staff member, a promising Chilean merlot. As luck would have it, however, that same helpful employee decided at the time of purchase to demand from me some form of government-issued identification.

"For proof of age," I said, pointing to the worrisome number of white strands to be found atop my head. "Aren't these dozens of grey hairs sufficient?"

They were not. Apparently my being a frequent and regular customer (as well as a public figure) meant nothing either. Another Liquor Mart employee, apparently a supervisor, then advised me to come back with my ID.

Since we had walked to the liquor store, I did not bother bringing my driving licence, and since I was not planning an exit from the country I did not think to bring my passport. I was, to say the least, rather miffed that an identity document could be demanded from someone so obviously above the age of majority just so he could purchase so simple a consumer good as a bottle of vino. Yet in the interest of avoiding conflict I simply allowed Denise to present her driving licence.

"Sorry, this is no good," the clerk said to her. Although the photographic component of her two-part Manitoba driving license was valid until 2008, the paper portion had expired some months earlier. Since Denise, unlike myself, does not drive at all, she hadn't bothered renewing it. Thus now, despite showing definitive proof of age, she was being denied the opportunity to enjoy Chilean merlot with that evening's meal on account of an arcane technicality.




The Free Press ran an Editor's Note on December 12th about the column as follows:

"A Dec. 9 column on the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission contained an inaccurate account of an incident at a liquor store. The column began with an anecdote about a writer being asked for identification at a liquor commission outlet. The commission has provided the Free Press with taped evidence and witness statements showing that an incident occurred, but was not accurately described in the paper and contained false information. In fact, liquor store staff were following a policy that requires them to ask any customer who appears to be under 25 for identification. The writer became agitated, used profanity and made rude gestures, according to liquor store employees. The writer was not accompanied by a female, though his column said that a woman with him produced expired identification that was rejected. The Free Press has withdrawn the column from its website and apologizes to the liquor commission and readers for the errors."

Hansen stands by the veracity of his writing, maintaining that the taped incident and the anecdote mentioned in his column were two separate incidents, and that his leading anecdote happened as described.

Radio and Television

In 2006, Hansen appeared on CBC Radio, the Alex Jones Radio Show, and Charles Adler's radio show.

Hansen also appeared in the Showcase TV documentary Webdreams.

External links

Transit Riders' Union of Winnipeg

9/11 article

dallashansen.com