Survey Responses:

Question 1.1:

Do you think municipal taxes should:

a) Reduce in absolute terms
b) Reduce in real terms (grow, but slower than inflation)
c) Reduce in relative terms (grow, but slower than inflation plus population growth)
d) Stay the same (grow, but only in line with inflation plus population growth)
e) Increase a bit (grow in line with the city’s Municipal Price Index)
f) Increase more (grow faster than the city’s Municipal Price Index)

Answer 1.1 [Choose One]:

a) Reduce in absolute terms

Question 1.2:

Comments?

Answer/Comments 1.2:

I believe that taxes in this city have increase well beyond inflation and population growth. The increase is due to fiscal mismanagement and the fall back excuse of “if we cut them services will be affected”. We can deliver services more efficiently and as such can decrease the cost needed for them and reduce taxes.

Question 2.1:

Would you vote in favour of allocating any tax dollars or giving any subsidy towards a new stadium/arena?

Answer 2.1 [Yes/No Only]:

Yes.

Question 2.2:

If yes, how much and in what form would these taxes take (direct cash, land, subsidy, indirect, etc), and why do you support public dollars being directed towards a corporation?

Answer/Comments 2.2:

I would support using public funds towards an arena ONLY if the investment can benefit the public and the area. I would like to see the contribution be defined and in the form of land or a CRL where the city can show taxes going to improving the area, similar to the mentality behind building overpasses, library or community centres that improve an area.

Question 3.1:

Recent research on Calgary’s City Council found that council spends nearly a quarter of its’ time meeting in private (in camera). Do you agree that this is too much time spent in private?

Answer 3.1 [Yes/No Only]:

Yes.

Question 3.2:

If so, what would you do to fix this? Which topics do you believe should be discussed behind closed doors and why?

Answer/Comments 3.2:

I believe the closed door secret meetings are used to avoid council having to take any heat from the public on controversial issues. I do support closed door meetings when it is required to keep personal or confidential information being presented secret but the discussions need to stop taking place there. Public money, public debate its that simple. Our current council does not see that.

Question 4.1:

From the $470,000 Blue Ring, to the $236,000 for a “Poop Palace”, and now another $500,000 for Bowfort Towers, council has consistently failed to engage with Calgarians about which public Art projects their tax dollars are spent on. Do you support continuing to use taxpayer dollars to fund art projects for the city?

Answer 4.1 [Yes/No Only]:

No. 

Question 4.2:

If yes, why do you think council and administration have repeatedly failed on this issue, and what guidelines should be used to ensure Calgarians are happy with the results in future?

Answer/Comments 4.2:

Calgarians see their tax bills increasing and certain funding needs go unmatched while we spend 500,000 on public art. Im not against making the city look good but the cost is not right and that money is needed elsewhere. No one can honestly say the 450,000 blue ring was a good value.

Question 5:

How can council support small businesses?

Answer 5:

Council can support business by doing two simple things;  First stop over taxing and regulating them. If a business pays increasing taxes and cant get approval to operate like it needs to the businesses will leave and new ones will not come. The second way is to stop doing thigns to discourage customers from coming, example being the bike lanes and parking rates downtown, people don’t go downtown if its tough to drive around or park and those businesses suffer. Council needs to get out of the way, regulate to keep us safe then get out.

Question 6.1:

Do you support the current plan for construction of the Green Line?

Answer 6.1 [Yes/No Only]:

No.

Question 6.2:

The construction of the Green Line was approved based on a cost-benefit analysis that assumed the project would be completed two years earlier than now projected, and at a lower construction cost for the entire line than is now estimated for half of the line. If the costs increase again or the project is further delayed, would you continue to support it, and why?

Answer/Comment 6.2:

I do not support the construction of the green line in its current form. The project is significantly over budget and under half the planned route. It does not serve North Calgary at all and as such the project needs to be re-examined and looked into why. A dedicated BRT route would provide better value and reach for all of us.

Question 7.1:

In July, City Council voted against a motion to hold a referendum/plebiscite on whether Calgary should bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics bid. Do you support holding a referendum / plebiscite on whether Calgary should bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics bid?

Answer 7.1 [Yes/No Only]:

Yes.

Question 7.2:

Why do you support/oppose a public vote? Should the results of a vote should be binding?

Answer/Comment 7.2:

I do support a referendum on the city taking on a possible 2.5 billion dollar plus debt to host the Olympics. This will affect our debt ratio and ability to finance and borrow in the future if the need arises. I do believe the results should be binding, this is citizens money and should be their decision.