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]:

b) Reduce in real terms (grow, but slower than inflation)

Question 1.2:

Comments?

Answer/Comments 1.2:

Need to freeze select capital projects that we can’t afford with the current economic state and facing a $170M projected operating shortfall in 2018.

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]:

No.

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:

[No Answer Provided]

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:

Disgraceful the amount of needless time spent behind closed doors. This is why I chaired the sub-committee to appoint a member of Council to chair meetings effectively. In my 17 years, this has been the worst experience ever with incamera meetings.  Sometimes I just don’t go in there.

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:

Private sector should pay as part of being awarded the capital project. I co-authored the Notice of Motion with Cllr Chu to freeze this policy. Public must be actively involved and have genuine input.

Question 5:

How can council support small businesses?

Answer 5:

Reduce red tape significantly. Reduce user and permitting fees. Don’t penalize small businesses outside the core to pick up the business tax slack. Quicker turn around on applications. Keep elected officials out of the minutiae.

Question 6.1:

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

Answer 6.1 [Yes/No Only]:

[No Answer Provided]

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:

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]:

[No Answer Provided]

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 need to be convinced that the IOC has truly changed and will not require the exorbitant costs like previous games.  I also need to be convinced that their corrupt practices have been cleaned up.

I think this along with the CSEG arena could be taken out to the public for a vote. 

Should the results of a vote should be binding? Under the MGA neither plebiscites or referendums are binding. However, to me, they would be morally binding.