two proposals from 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 Canadians should fall under the same tax apparatus as non-aboriginals. Notwithstanding his views on casinos, Atkinson supported using Video Lottery Terminals to raise revenues and rejected calls for a plebiscite on the issue. 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, Atkinson led a council in approving a comprehensive by-law against indoor smoking, with no age limits or exemptions for bars. Style Atkinson promoted a "down-to-earth" and populist approach to politics. He 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". The journal Manitoba Business once described his political style as "gregarious". Retirement from municipal politics Atkinson unexpectedly announced that he would not seek re-election in 2002. 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 federal election. He unexpectedly lost to Gary Nestibo. He 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. Electoral record 113 of 121 polls reporting Atkinson was elected mayor of Hartney in either 1980 or 1981 and re-elected in 1983 and 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 1948 births Living people Businesspeople from Brandon, Manitoba Mayors of Brandon, Manitoba