Election Survey 2025 - Council Candidates

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: I held a seat on the Calgary Cross Constituency Association for over 10 years. I've also worked on the regulatory side of Oil and Gas, and I spent the past 10 years working in research at the University of Calgary. Throughout each role I had the opportunity to learn from leaders in our community. I would bring great communication and problem solving skills to City Hall.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: Working in a successful industry of service of 27 years has given me the ability o connect with the beautiful folks of Calgary to hear and connect with the reality of grassroots challenges. I have been accountable to my employees, my family, my loyal and new customers, my bookkeeper, my accountant, the city departments, my provincial federal government. Accountability and transparency are essential for all.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: I have a diverse professional background, ranging from working in the insurance industry to owning a performing arts business. I have worked professionally at senior levels in both the federal and provincial governments. My experience in policy development and community services has given me insight into how our governments work and positions me well to advocate for the needs of our community.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: I have professional experience managing complex projects and budgets, coordinating teams, and ensuring regulatory compliance. These experiences taught me the value of collaboration, working closely with diverse stakeholders to find practical solutions. This background equips me to balance competing priorities, build consensus, and make decisions that deliver essential services, maintain infrastructure, and ensure fiscal responsibility for our community.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: I’ve spent nearly two decades building community in Calgary North bringing people together, amplifying underrepresented voices, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen and valued. I’ve conducted hundreds of interviews with political, business, and social leaders, and organized hundreds of events that uplift seniors, empower youth, and foster cross-cultural understanding. As a business leader, I’ve managed budgets, built partnerships, and delivered results. As a civic advocate, I’ve worked with all levels of government to advance inclusive policies and promote awareness around city services like Police, Fire, Transit, and Parking. Before seeking any elected position, I spent years working directly with the community. My journey began with deep roots in multicultural service organizing inclusive events like Canada Day celebrations, free-entry fun days, Vaisakhi Mela, CII Expo, Family Day gatherings, indoor cricket tournaments, and civic responsibility forums. These events welcomed thousands of families from all backgrounds, creating spaces for joy, connection, and civic pride. I’ve also actively promoted city-wide initiatives such as the Dragon Boat Races, Immigrant Distinction Awards, GlobalFest, Asian Heritage Month, Black Heritage Month, and outreach programs at the Military Museum. I proudly represented our community in the City of Calgary’s Prairie Winds Park Public Art Project and its Grand Reopening, ensuring local voices were part of the redesign. I helped found and support the North Calgary Senior Society, ensuring our seniors stay connected and active. I’ve volunteered across many spaces ICE hockey games, senior events, youth programs, and cultural gatherings, especially at Vivo for Healthier Generations and The Hub in Livingston, which truly feel like second homes. One of my proudest joys has been watching my son grow through his hockey journey—starting with the Saints, developing with Storm, and playing with the Raiders where I’ve contributed through media coverage, community storytelling, scorekeeping, and other support. It’s been an honour to serve both on and off the ice, helping build the spirit of our community. I’m a visionary community leader, media personality, hockey dad, cricketer, and tech entrepreneur. My leadership is rooted in multiculturalism, civic engagement, and a deep belief in bringing people together. These experiences have taught me how to listen deeply, act decisively, and lead with transparency skills I’ll bring to City Council every day. In times of global uncertainty, including the impact of international trade policies and economic shifts, we need leaders with diverse and versatile experience people who understand both local needs and broader realities. I believe I’m the best-suited candidate to serve Ward 3 with clarity, compassion, and results-driven leadership.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: With a career in sales, public relations, and as a small business owner, I’ve also served on various municipal, provincial, and federal boards throughout my life. These roles have given me valuable experience in governance, collaboration, and decision-making — skills I will bring to City Hall.

Jaspriya Johal: I am an engineer by training, I have worked with Alberta Health Services, and I have run my own small business. Those roles taught me problem-solving, managing budgets, and delivering results. On top of that, I have been an active community volunteer, raising my family here in Ward 3, so I understand first-hand what families need from city hall: safer streets, better transit, and real accountability.

Danny Ng: I’ve built community organizations and local businesses from the ground up, where results—and budgets—matter. I’ve led large volunteer teams, managed tight timelines, and delivered events and projects across Ward 3 and the city. That means I know how to set priorities, measure outcomes, and be accountable for every dollar. I’ll bring a builder’s mindset to City Hall: listen first, solve problems fast, and focus on reliable basics—snow clearing, roads, transit, safety—so families and businesses can thrive.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: I have spent 20 years in Supply Chain and Logistics and for the past 9 years I’ve been in the Managerial and Executive in my current role as VP of Operations at SOLE & ReCORK. I have been in many different industries over the course of my career including Lumber, Oil & Gas, and Footwear. I have also volunteered for a few non-profit organizations over the past ten years. I was on the Advocates for North Calgary High School Steering Committee which advocated for the Design and Construction funding for what is now, North Trail High School. I spent some time with LRT on the Green Foundation to advocate for the Green Line. I also founded the Nose Creek Preservation Society to advocate for more green space in the Nose Creek Valley. I believe the combination of my experience in both the corporate and non-profit sectors will be a great asset to our next council.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: I have over 15 years of leadership experience that includes senior policy roles in both provincial and municipal government, as well as previously serving as a community pastor in the Ward 4 community of Beddington. In my time in provincial government, I served in the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Culture, and municipally I have most recently been involved in leading the administration of board appointments and governance. I hold a Master's degree in Public Policy and am experienced in community engagement, board governance, policy analysis and project management. I believe Ward 4 residents are looking for a representative that has the competence, character and commitment to represent them well, and I believe I bring those attributes to the role with my background and experience.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: Over the past three decades, I’ve built experience both professionally and within the community that I believe directly applies to the role of Councillor. I’ve managed businesses where responsibility for budgets, staff, safety, policy and operations required both accountability and transparency - skills that are essential in ensuring taxpayer dollars are respected and wisely spent. In addition, raising my family and now grandchildren in Ward 4 has given me the long-term perspective of someone who has lived through the challenges and changes our communities face. From navigating growth and infrastructure needs to understanding how city decisions affect everyday families, I bring both professional management experience and the lived experience of a resident who has shared in the successes and struggles of our ward. These combined perspectives - practical leadership and deep community roots - equip me to advocate effectively, ask tough questions at City Hall and ensure the voices of Ward 4 residents are not just heard, but acted upon.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: For over 20 years, I have operated a consulting business, helping nonprofits and small businesses with strategic planning, budget oversight, and governance. I have worked across various sectors, from energy and education to arts, culture, and community development, giving me a broad perspective on Calgary's challenges and opportunities. My volunteer leadership in community associations, Rotary, and local arts programs has kept me grounded in what matters most to residents, while my political and advocacy work has prepared me to navigate complex policy environments and speak up for my community. My experience in governance, stakeholder engagement, and financial accountability makes me ready to bring a thoughtful, balanced, and collaborative approach to City Hall. I know how to listen, build consensus, and turn good ideas into practical solutions. More specifically, my relevant skills include: • Community Engagement & Representation- Councillors need to connect with residents and represent diverse voices. My long-standing volunteer work with community associations (e.g., Wildwood), arts programs, and Rotary shows that I am deeply rooted in grassroots engagement. • Governance & Leadership- Councillors work within a governance framework and must navigate policy and budgets. My business experience in operations management, strategic planning, and fund development grounds my commitment to governance, financial stewardship, and accountability. • Policy & Political Experience- Councillors need to navigate complex political processes, cooperation, and advocacy. My work in provincial and federal politics and government give me valuable experience with collaboration, teamwork, and policy development. • Cross-Sector Perspective- Municipal decisions affect multiple industries and communities. My career has encompassed oil & gas, education, arts & culture, nonprofit, and government, providing a broad lens for decision-making.

John Pantazopoulos: I’ve built a career in leadership roles across business, finance, and energy. I served as Vice President at ATB Financial and as CFO at Tangle Creek Energy, before becoming CEO of Lucky Strike, a mid-sized oil and gas producer (among other professional experiences). I have also served as Chair of E3 Lithium and the Calgary Parking Authority, and as a volunteer on the Calgary Board of Education audit committee, where I gained direct experience overseeing public funds. These roles taught me how to balance budgets, manage growth responsibly, and deliver results through collaboration. I’ll bring that same discipline and focus to City Hall — listening to residents, asking tough questions, and making sure Calgarians get value for every tax dollar.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: I've had the honour of serving four consecutive terms as a federal Conservative Member of Parliament (2004-15), including as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport (2013-15). I bring significant experience in governing, getting results from bureaucracy, working with other orders of government - including in the US. This next Council will have 8 new faces, and less experience governing than the last Council. I'm job ready, day one - not year 3 or 4.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: As a local business owner and someone that has over a decade of high level executive and managerial experience, I am a expert at team building, project management, developing relationships and collaborations with different departments, managing deadlines and balancing budgets.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: Since 1984 I have been involved in city building, public service, and community leadership, including 30 years in management at The City, 10+ years as community association and business improvement area leader, and 4 years in my current role as Councillor for Ward 7. These experiences gave me a deep understanding of municipal governance, financial stewardship, IT and infrastructure asset management, and community engagement. I know how to navigate City Hall while staying rooted in the concerns of residents, skills that ensure pragmatic decision-making and accountability.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: I am a community builder and business connector. I have experience working in the business sector and in the non for profit sector. I have worked in projects with large corporations and also with small and medium sized companies. I have established relationships with government officials from the federal, provincial, and municipal level. I have a lot international management company and I am co-owner of a cafe in Marda Loop. My diverse roles in different sectors are providing me a great vision from different perspectives to understand the challenges and opportunities that our city has. I also have a Master’s in Business Administration and a degree in Accounting.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: I have taught on and off for 20 years and have owned and operated a business specializing in Ward 8 for over 20 years. I have also lived in 4 communities of Ward 8 (Elboya, Parkhill/Stanley Park, Mardaloop and grew up in Elbow Park. I come from a fairly affluent background and have taught in more than 5 Ward 8 communities and taught in every quadrant of the city. I have many years of experience teaching first generation immigrants, refugees and multi-generational Calgarians that live in homeless shelters because their parents are on the streets, in jail, are struggling with poverty, addiction, mental illness or have passed. I am the Candidate with the most vast and broadest perspective of our society, specifically in Ward 8. I have lived and taught in Brooks Alberta, Taiwan and Canmore as well as all over Calgary and in every quadrant. I have the most first hand experience and people are my passion. I believe that my intentions are the most honourable in this civic election and I have the most integrity among the Ward 8 Candidates.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: For the past eight years I have been a small business entrepreneur. I own and operate a brick and mortar storefront in Inglewood. This has provided dynamic experience in financial management and strategic execution. We also navigated the implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic. I highlight this because the parameters of which we could run our business continued to change on a regular basis. Testing my ability to make important decisions quickly. I've served as a Director of the Board for the Inglewood Business Association, elected by my fellow independent business collogues. Prior to this work, I was the Constituency Manager of the Provincial constituency office of Calgary-Bow. My role was Community and Stakeholder Relations, as well as office and budget management. Major projects we undertook at the time included Upstream Flood Mitigation, navigating communications between the Ministry of Environment and Parks, The City of Calgary, and local community. We also worked to navigate the completion of the West Calgary Ring Road completion.

Tony Dinh: I bring over 18 years of experience as a builder, developer, and community leader, working directly with families, small businesses, and city departments to revitalize East Calgary. As President of the Albert Park/Radisson Heights Community Association, I’ve learned how to unite diverse voices, navigate city processes, and deliver real results, new housing, trees, safer streets, and stronger neighbourhoods. My background in construction teaches accountability, efficiency, and respect for every dollar spent. These experiences give me a hands-on, common-sense perspective that City Hall needs, one grounded in doing the work, solving problems, and building a Calgary that actually works for people.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: I bring over 20 years of grassroots leadership in Ward 9, where I have served as President of the Forest Lawn Community Association and founder of the Ward 9 Community Association Presidents’ Council. These roles gave me direct experience working with residents, businesses, and city departments to solve issues such as traffic safety, public spaces, and community revitalization. I am also the founder of the Youth Empowerment & Skills Centre (YES Centre), which has supported thousands of youth and families through mentorship, employment readiness, education, and food security programs. Through initiatives like YYC Kids Ride (6,500+ bikes donated), YYC Kids Learn (5,000+ computers distributed), Forest Lawn Neighborhood Food Hamper, and the East Calgary Pet Food Bank, I’ve proven my ability to mobilize resources, build partnerships, and deliver real results for Calgarians. Professionally, I hold a Bachelor of Business Administration and have served on governance boards including the SAIT Board of Governors, Alberta Attendance Board, and the City of Calgary’s Mental Health Inclusion Committee. These experiences have strengthened my skills in governance, fiscal responsibility, accountability, and collaborative problem-solving. What sets me apart is perspective. As someone who arrived in Canada as a refugee with no English and grew into a recognized community leader, I understand what it means to face barriers and work tirelessly to overcome them. That experience gives me a deep commitment to ensuring every voice in Ward 9 is heard, respected, and reflected in City Hall decisions.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: As Executive Director of International Avenue BRZ I have over 25 years experience in leading effective change in Ward 9. From total redesign and reconstruction of 17 Ave SE with 176 million of improvements, incorporating public art into East Calgary (55 pieces), maintaining all site amenities throughout the zone, creating crime prevention and award winning safety strategies, responsible for overseeing all litter and graffiti abatement to regularly representing the area on developments and land use and being responsible for numerous placemaking strategies. I am a innovative, collaborative problem solver and have created the following organizations: International Avenue Arts and Culture Community, 12 Community Safety Initiative, international Avenue Mural Society, Social Disorder Task Force, co-founded Global Fest, East Town Get Down Independent Music Festival, EMERGE Hub and economic development org and many others. I have received 14 awards for my leadership and have worked collaboratively with most departments of the City. Finally I am passionate about poverty reduction and was behind the lowering of egregious payday loans interest rates and helped the Alex Food Centre locate in our area for food sustainability etc.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: I'm a successful small business owner that focuses on creativity and sustainability. I also have experience advocating for residents, notably with the Save the Inglewood Pool campaign that convinced Council to change course and keep the pool open for longer. I'm not waiting for the job of councillor, I have heard from residents about their difficulties with development issues and have assisted in several communities, including Ogden, Forest Lawn, Renfrew, Inglewood and Albert Park. I have spent hours researching, engaging with city administration and preparing presentations before Council. I think residents need more than 5 minutes to share their experiences and information with councillors and wish to make changes to how residents can access and present to their representatives.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: I have served on City Council for 16+ years. Prior to that I worked in the Electronics Industry doing everything from shipping and receiving to running the company and subsequently starting my own company. My experience and understanding of the Corporate structure, finance and Planning knowledge and experience would be invaluable considering that every other future Council members will either be new to this role or have only served for one term. My extensive knowledge and proven work ethic would be valuable to not only my constituents but to the city as a whole.

Mahmoud Mourra: I bring a strong background in business ownership, community leadership, and supervisory roles that directly relate to accountability, leadership, and problem-solving. I studied at SAIT, where I earned my HET and AST licenses, and my technical training gave me a solid foundation in discipline and professionalism. In my career, I worked as a Service Supervisor for ALSA Road Construction and as a Shop Supervisor for A&A Paving, where I was responsible for managing teams, ensuring quality work, and meeting deadlines under pressure. These roles taught me how to balance operational needs with staff support and performance expectations. As a business owner and operator, I sign the cheques for my staff and carry the responsibility of making sure work gets done. I believe in rewarding performance and addressing issues directly when expectations are not met. My perspective is shaped by the belief that transparency and accountability are the keys to success in any organization. Beyond business, I have also served as Chairman of the Alberta Muslim Social Association. Before COVID, I organized multiple family-focused programs, and after COVID, I helped launch several campaigns to support the community both locally and abroad. This experience allowed me to bring people together, manage resources effectively, and deliver results that directly benefited families and vulnerable members of our community. I am confident that these combined experiences and values will help me serve effectively in this role.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: I bring more than 17 years of hands-on experience as a Red Seal–certified Journeyman Electrician and Truck & Trailer Mechanic, combined with years as a small business entrepreneur right here in Alberta. Running businesses has given me a deep understanding of financial discipline, customer service, and the challenges faced by everyday Calgarians—especially small business owners navigating city permits, taxes, and regulations. Beyond business, I have led a not-for-profit soccer club that mentors youth, helping them stay active, confident, and away from addictions. Supporting young people and families through sport has strengthened my belief in community-driven leadership. These experiences—grounded in hard work, responsibility, and service—have shaped my commitment to take practical solutions to City Hall. I understand what it means to build from the ground up, and that’s exactly the perspective Ward 10 needs.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: As the councillor for the last four years I have answers not ideas. I know that the role is about strategic direction, governance, and policy review. I know where to spend my time on issues and how to let things go.

Rob Ward: I bring more than 15 years of professional experience in business management, finance, marketing and communications combined with strong community involvement and leadership. Most recently, I was a key contributor in the design, programming and launch of a new mobile app in Calgary. I combined marketing, consumer service and technical acumen to deliver a project that improved customer service and engagement. I plan to apply this expertise and experience to modernizing and improving how the City delivers services and communicates with citizens. I’ve served as a marketing strategist, business consultant and community volunteer consistently focused on project delivery as measured by cost efficiency, accountability and results. I’ve managed budgets, led teams, negotiated contracts and achieved measurable outcomes. That’s what I plan to do at City Hall. Running in the 2021 election gave me detailed experience in municipal issues. I built and led a grassroots campaign team, managed communications, and engaged with thousands of residents across Ward 11. That experience reinforced my ability to listen to differing perspectives, build consensus, and deliver solutions. By combining leadership, business discipline, technical skills and community engagement, I plan to propel practical, results-driven perspectives and accomplishments at City Council.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: I was elected as Ward 13 City Councillor in 2021. Prior to being elected to City Council I owned and operated my own business - McLean Golf. Initially, it was a small operation selling golf carts from my acreage. Within a few years, I expanded the business and secured distribution rights for Alberta and British Columbia for the best-selling golf cart in the world. My experience in the private sector taught me the importance of respecting taxpayers dollars, ensuring taxes are as low as possible, and ensuring government operates efficiently and effectively.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: I bring over 10 years of engineering experience, 8 years working in the disability sector, and I run my own disability support agency serving adults and seniors. I’ve managed teams, budgets, and projects where accountability matters. I serve as Director of Volunteerism with the Legacy Community Association, where I’ve led events and programs that directly impact families. I’m also an elected councillor with the Athabasca University Students’ Union, where I’ve represented students at the provincial and federal level. These roles have taught me how to listen, advocate, and deliver results skills I will bring to City Hall.

Erin Averbukh: I bring over 30 years of business, consulting and project management experience across sectors including energy, finance, technology and real estate. My work has focused on strategic planning, fiscal management and stakeholder relations which are skills directly relevant to effective governance. I know how to deliver projects on time, on budget and with accountability. This experience, combined with my business lens and community focus, will help ensure City resources are managed efficiently and decisions are made with both practicality and compassion.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: City Hall needs some accountability. My experience and roles, along with my attention to detail, asking the "right questions" to obtain the "right answers", and having some fresh eyes and fresh perspective, gives me a strong foundation to serve my Ward 14 constituents and the greater Calgary citizens. Longer answer: I have worked in a vast number of industries over my career, from retail, agriculture, oil and gas, financial, logistics, transportation, food, and IT. In there I filled in various roles ranging from hands-on, to supervisor, to management. I have had to work with teams, work with others, and also work independently to understand the needs and bring solutions to issues to solve the pending needs. This breath of knowledge and experience allows me to have a greater understanding of more aspects the city may be dealing with. I have gained a vast amount of experience in having quality discussions and asking quality questions to dig deep to understanding the pertinent details. I am a very detailed person, and I like to ask lots of questions and analyze issues to apply an informed quality solution. I have understood for some time that if you do not ask the "right questions", you will not get the "right answers". City Hall needs to be more accountable to the taxpayer. Therefore, I intend to ask a lot of questions so that we can have quality answers to make quality, informed decisions.

Landon Johnston: I’m a builder and an operator. I own and run three businesses, employ staff, and deliver large construction and service contracts end-to-end. That means living with budgets, schedules, safety, and accountability every day—bidding government procurements, managing change orders, meeting OH&S/WCB/insurance requirements, and closing projects on time and on budget. I hold multiple trade tickets and have worked across jurisdictions and permitting regimes, so I’m used to solving practical problems under pressure while keeping customers informed and satisfied. I also led the Recall Gondek petition when others wouldn’t—recruiting and coordinating hundreds of volunteers, working 16-hour days in sub-zero weather, handling media, navigating pushback, safeguarding thousands of residents’ personal data with Commissioner-of-Oaths verification, and helping drive legislative improvements—ultimately gathering more than 70,000 signatures. I work 60–70 hours a week and bring a contractor’s mindset to public service: clear scope, transparent budgets, measurable results, and honest communication. On council, that translates to scrutinizing spending, demanding service standards for roads, transit, and safety, and real engagement through a Ward 14 portal where residents can see votes, weigh in 24/7, and hold me accountable.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: I believe growth is the most prominent issue facing Calgarians. It affects housing, affordability, transit, and infrastructure. How we manage that growth has a huge impact on our communities. We still have a lot of work to do on rezoning, where our residents voices are heard regarding local developments. The challenge is to manage our growth on a balanced budget. We need to support our Police, Fire, and Social services which help to make Calgary a great place to live. I would like to see our City grow with a lot more stability in our property taxes.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: I believe the biggest threats to the city of Calgary has been blanket rezoning. It has changed the landscape of Calgary communities without thought or care of community input, safety and practically, destroying the stewardship of our greenspace and tree canopy as well as the unique identity that is unique through out or beautiful city

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: Lower the cost of living and taxes by reducing wasteful spending. Make our communities safe by hiring 500 more police officers, and reopening the 24/7 police station downtown. Repeal blanket zoning by passing a motion first thing after being elected with fellow Communities First candidates. Deliver strong services for all Calgarians by focusing on the basics and recognizing the responsibilities and limits of the municipal level of government. Return common sense to City Council by truly being a servant of the public and accurately representing their voice at City Council.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: Calgary faces challenges with traffic safety, aging infrastructure, affordability, and emergency service responsiveness. I would approach these issues by collaborating with residents, businesses, and city staff to identify practical solutions, invest in road and transit safety, maintain and upgrade infrastructure proactively, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently on what matters most.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: Here are the key challenges facing Ward 3 and how I plan to address them . 1. Safe, Accessible and Customer focused Transit with 2024 RouteAhead Annual Staus Report Connect 144 Ave North BRT with Red and Blue C-Train lines Permanent bus service in Livingston & Carrington I will fight to revive the North Green Line and give North Calgary the transit it needs to grow. 2. Affordable Growth with GamePLAN Support Calgary’s GamePLAN to build and operate better recreation facilities : City Operated or Partner-operated facilities—that strengthen social recreational organizations for Northern Hills communities and the rest of Ward 3. 3.Engaged Leadership Town halls & open-door policy Faster responses to community needs Bringing more diverse voices to City Hall—so every community is heard, barriers are broken, and inclusion is strengthened. Growing Ward 3’s Economy I will deliver real results by advancing the Naato’siyinnipi Area Structure Plan and Keystone Hills projects creating good local jobs, attracting new Canadian and foreign investments, and strengthening small businesses for a thriving Ward 3 economy with proven leadership skills to do advocacy at all levels of Canadian governments. Creation of approx. 5,700 New Jobs across distribution centres, warehousing, manufacturing, logistics, Tech & E-commerce industries. Establishment of a Central Wetland Complex and Regional Park, Dog Park ensuring environmental balance and enhancing quality of life in North Central Calgary. More housing choices, including affordable homes. Integration of the airport connector alignment, improving transportation links and driving long-term economic growth. Ward 3 deserves its first Business Improvement Area (BIA)—joining Calgary’s 15 others to support local businesses

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: I’m running for councillor because City Hall needs strong voices who listen to residents — not push top-down decisions like the recent blanket rezoning, which ignores community input and unique neighbourhood needs. I want to address rising costs, improve infrastructure, ensure responsible spending, and preserve the character of our neighbourhoods.

Jaspriya Johal: The biggest issues affecting Calgary right now are affordability, unreliable transit, public safety, and poor planning around growth. Families are struggling with rising costs, long commutes, and services that do not keep up with communities. My approach is simple: focus on smart growth, protect green spaces, invest in reliable transit, and make sure every tax dollar is tied to real results. I will bring accountability and transparency back to city hall so Calgarians can see their money at work in their neighbourhoods.

Danny Ng: Top issues: affordability, public safety (especially on transit and around problem properties), and getting the basics right after major infrastructure failures. My approach: cap spending growth, redirect dollars to front-line services, and publish clear service standards ward by ward. On safety, back enforcement and addictions treatment at the same time. On infrastructure, adopt a “fix it before it fails” plan with independent audits and public dashboards. (The 2024 Bearspaw feeder main rupture showed how critical this is.)

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: I would say the greatest issue that Calgary is facing that is most felt in Ward 3 is the rapid growth without the supporting infrastructure. Ward 3 has always felt like the forgotten ward when it comes to infrastructure. Since my family was one of the first houses in Hanson Ranch we knew that we would have to wait for the supporting infrastructure. However the sprawl when I was growing up was low density. The high density we are seeing on fringe Ward’s like mine cannot wait for infrastructure the way we did in the past. Ward 3 has grown out to a population size of a city like Airdrie, but has a third of the infrastructure and amenities. Between the infrastructure deficit from the past and the impending infrastructure issues created by our rapid growth I will be advocating for more infrastructure dollars invested in North Central Calgary. Rec Centres, Transit Corridors, Regional Parks, are all needed to support the booming population up here.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: While talking with thousands of residents in Ward 4, the top issues I have heard are: 1) Fiscal responsibility: Stopping wasteful spending at City Hall, limiting property tax increase, and having better value for tax dollars. 2) Public Safety: Requires supporting and funding our emergency services, including our Police, Fire and Bylaw services. 3) Focusing on Core services: Prioritizing drinking water, roads, snow removal, and key infrastructure projects. 4) Sensible and Respectful Planning: Real community engagement and repealing blanket rezoning.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: I believe the biggest issues facing Calgary today are affordability, trust in City Hall and how growth is being managed in our communities. Families are struggling with higher taxes, rising costs and fewer services in return. At the same time, blanket rezoning and densification are being pushed onto neighborhoods without meaningful consultation, leaving residents feeling ignored. My approach is straightforward - focus on accountability, fiscal responsibility and genuine community engagement. That means ensuring tax dollars are spent wisely on core services like roads, policing and transit, instead of ballooning pet projects. It means pushing back against top-down policies and putting decision-making back in the hands of communities. And it means advocating for growth that makes sense, prioritizing infrastructure, schools, parking and safety before cramming in more density. Calgarians want a Council that listens and takes responsibility, not one that governs by experiment. That’s the kind of leadership I plan to bring to Ward 4.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: My platform highlights 4 key priorities: 1. Focus on Essentials – Core Services First Back to basics: safer streets, better infrastructure, well supported first responders. • Fix roads and improve transit with more reliable, accessible and safer service. • Support police, fire, and emergency responders with the tools they need. • Make streets, public infrastructure (like water mains), and public spaces safer and more reliable through smart design, community partnerships and maintenance • Keep parking fair and affordable for families and businesses. 2. True Affordability – Responsible Spending Cut waste, lower costs, and build a city that families can afford. • Cut red tape and identify efficiencies at City Hall, in part by focusing on “needs” over “wants” • Lower taxes while protecting core services by choosing cost-effective strategies and better coordination, and staying in our municipal lane • Speed up approvals and partnerships to enable affordable housing • Protect green spaces and promote cost-saving, environmentally responsible solutions as part of routine upgrades and maintenance. 3. Economic Growth – Prosperity Planning Jobs, investment, and opportunity for every Calgarian. • Streamline permits, approvals and administration to help small businesses grow; and coordinate infrastructure upgrades to avoid lengthy disruptions to businesses. • Encourage local procurement, partnerships, and private investment. • Revitalize vacant spaces into hubs for startups, culture, and housing. • Expand Calgary’s global reach through trade, logistics, and innovative initiatives. 4. Engage and Advocate – A Strong Voice for You Your voice at City Hall — listening, advocating, delivering. • Listen and understand what communities and residents say, and act on that advice • Champion balanced, sustainable growth guided by community input. • Expand seniors’ housing, health, and recreation options. • Support community centres, programs, and spaces that bring people together. • Celebrate Calgary’s diversity and strengthen civic pride.

John Pantazopoulos: The top issues I hear at the doors are property taxes, blanket rezoning and public safety. Families can’t afford endless tax hikes, so City Hall must live within its means and cut waste. On housing, I oppose blanket rezoning and instead support a community-driven, targeted growth plan that balances new supply with neighbourhood character and infrastructure. And on safety, Calgarians want to feel secure on transit and in their communities — which means more front-line officers and emergency services, along with upstream investments like recreation facilities that give kids better options and keep communities strong.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: Top three issues at the door in Ward 6: a property tax cut, repeal blanket rezoning, and focus on delivering core services. I'm the only candidate in Ward 6 campaigning on a property tax cut, backed by my record of lowering taxes while fortifying essential programs as a Member of Parliament (2004-15). Council must decide what constitutes core and non-core services, look for reductions beyond wasteful spending in non-core areas to both strengthen core services and deliver tax relief to Calgarians who say they still face affordability challenges. On blanket rezoning, it's repeal the bylaw; restore the previous zoning, applications for RCG land use changes, public hearing, and Council's vote on applications. Beyond that, kill the draft land use bylaw the City is floating, and use the leverage of a vote at Council to ensure developers are meaningfully engaging the community on potential projects to ensure fit.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: At the Municipal level, overspending on projects that are either outside of our Municipal responsibilities (Climate Emergency), homelessness and safety issues, especially downtown, and flat out not listening to our communities. A prime example of that is blanket rezoning, which a majority of Calgarians were against. City Hall needs to be responsible and accountable for it's decisions. I will repeal Climate Emergency and Blanket Rezoning, and I will make public safety and homelessness a top priority. I am in favor of re-opening our downtown police station and have more officers patrolling high crime areas, including our train stations.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: Calgarians are most concerned with affordability, public safety, housing, transit, and reliable civic services. Families, seniors and individuals are stretched thin by rising costs. Downtown residents want safer streets, LRT stations, and bus transit. Everyone needs and wants an affordable place to live. And large and small businesses need predictable regulations and lower fees to remain financially viable and competitive. My approach is to focus on core services, manage costs responsibly, and partner with community groups and private industry to deliver results that keep Calgary livable and competitive.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: The biggest issues facing Calgary, based on my conversations with residents in Ward 8: 1. Housing affordability & responsible development In my conversations with residents, I’ve heard strong concerns about how growth is being managed. People want more housing options but also want to protect the character of our neighbourhoods. I oppose blanket rezoning and will advocate for responsible, case-by-case development that addresses affordability and respects communities. 2. Public services, infrastructure & transportation Many residents tell me they are worried about infrastructure not keeping pace with growth. I will advocate for reliable public services, safe streets, better pathways and wheeling lanes, and stronger public transit connections across the city. 3. Economic opportunity & local business support I’ve spoken with business owners who are struggling with costs and regulations. I will support local entrepreneurs, push to attract new investment, and promote Calgary as a hub for culture, innovation, and international trade. 4. Climate resilience & sustainability Residents are increasingly concerned about climate impacts—from rising costs to extreme weather. I will support climate actions that improve energy efficiency, expand active mobility, and lower utility costs for families. 5. Community safety & well-being In my conversations, safety and quality of life come up often. I will work with residents to improve community safety, expand recreation and cultural opportunities, and build stronger, more inclusive neighbourhoods. I will continue listening to residents first, bringing their voices to City Hall, and ensuring Calgary grows in a way that is balanced, practical, and community-focused.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: The main issues are the budget process and protocols, crime, public safety / transportation, and blanket rezoning. I'll address each issue accordingly below: The budget should allow for a roll over from year to year. The reason why there is so much wasteful and unnecessary spending is because the budget does not roll over. If the money is not spent it goes to the FSR / Fiscal Stability Reserve. Maybe if we allowed for the funds to be used the following fiscal year instead of losing them, the City could be more fiscally conservative with spending. Open drug trafficking and consumption in public spaces including social disorder, individuals sleeping in alleys and communal areas: I think that we need to reopen the downtown Police Station immediately. We're the only major city in Canada that does not have a downtown police station. What was the City thinking when they did this?!! We desperately need more police presence if we want to reduce crime. We should also definitely have steeper fines and more severe consequences for drug trafficking as it is so obviously and adversely affecting so many people's lives. We should also have more presence of Peace Officers and or security at LRT stations. Further, you should not be able to access an LRT platform unless you've paid to be there. This will at the very least deter criminals from accessing public transit by not making it as easily accessible. Maybe we should have drug sniffing dogs peruse our malls, public transportation and parks? I'm always open to hearing new ideas, working with and including community input. Increased Police Presence and security is what will make our streets safer. · The resulting health and safety hazards from garbage and used drug paraphernalia: I think prevention is the best cure. We need to house the homeless and those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Blanket Rezoning does not create affordability. Low income, government subsidized, inclusive and strategically placed housing does. Strategically placed means with easy access to public transit, with support systems and resources in place and readily available to treat those that are so desperate for care. It needs to create community so that people feel supported, loved and listened to. We all know that addiction and mental health more often than not stem from trauma. We need to provide and facilitate more accessible treatment and emotional support centres to individuals if we want them to improve their lives and get off the streets. The inadequacy of enforcement and outreach resources in Ward 8; to my previous point, put the people first not the drugs. We need to treat the people if we want to treat the drug issue. Addiction and mental health issues stem from trauma, prevention is paramount. Educate youth, implement more curriculum based learning opportunities in schools that focus on this real life and extremely serious issue and downward path that so many innocent people end up on. We have cameras all over the city, we have safe injection sites, yet we have an increase in the spread of these issues. Why is it so difficult to make arrests and address crime? It's because the provincial government defunded the Police by removing photo radar and the downtown Police Department has been shut down!! Reopen the downtown Police Department, refund the Police and we'll see a reduction in crime. If we had better public safety and transportation, people wouldn't be in their cars so much and so many people wouldn't lose their lives to traffic fatalities. Did you know that 3 people (pedestrian / bikers) were also killed in recent months on 26th Avenue SW? It's terrible what happened this morning and possibly preventable. 2 pedestrians died. Our City's planning is totally unorganized and dysfunctional as is our City Council. That's half the reason why I'm running is to shake things and help them land in priority sequence with a strong emphasis on safety. I have called 311 numerous times about the visibility issues at pedestrian cross walks and the dangers of our lack of care and planning around our bike lanes. The directional signage is also not properly maintained; our entire city has gone to mud over the last number of years. We need to stop wasting money and prioritize public safety first. We need to stop putting the cart before the horse and prioritize methodically. We need more critical thinking and more purposeful planning. I don't think that blanket rezoning has anything to do with affordability and that the city should not have said that it does. The City also should not have ignored the democratic process and should have let people have a plebiscite. 77% of Calgarians wanted one. All Blanket Rezoning does is devalue our properties, increase taxes (that are too high as it is) and allows for developers to capitalize while we pay for their gains by tax increases to pay for the upgrades in infrastructure. It will oversaturate the market and stimulate a recession. Our infrastructure can't handle it and we should focus and prioritize densification around the LRT lines if we want people to leave their cars at home. My whole platform is based on Purposeful Planning. Please check it out: www.JosieKirkpatrick.com

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: Our city is growing. We are simultaneously experiencing population growth and a generational renewal across the city. Between new people moving to Calgary, and new parents starting families, our shortcomings are becoming more clear. We're now 25 years into the 21st century and the needs and wants of our population are evolving. I believe that we need to fundamentally review how we do many of the things in this city including: affordable housing, crime, safety and social disorder, transportation, road and pathway safety. I think we need to reflect on how our communities interact with one another, and work to support stronger economic and social bonds between them. I have explored these topics and more at length in my strategic plan for Ward 9. Please visit www.harrisonclarkward9.ca, click policy and view the PDF version for an in depth look at the action steps I am suggesting we take to support our city through this century.

Tony Dinh: Calgary’s biggest issues are runaway spending, crime, and a growing disconnect between City Hall and everyday Calgarians. Families are struggling with higher taxes, while basic services, roads, safety, and infrastructure, fall behind. My approach is rooted in accountability and practicality: fix what’s broken before funding pet projects. I’ll push for zero-based budgeting, prioritize police and mental-health supports, and demand transparency on how every dollar is spent. Development must respect neighbourhood infrastructure, not overwhelm it. Calgary needs less bureaucracy, more results, leadership that listens first, acts with integrity, and restores trust in City Hall. Common sense and fiscal discipline must lead again.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: The biggest issues affecting Calgary right now are affordability, public safety, housing, and core services. Too many families are struggling to keep up with rising costs. I will advocate for responsible spending, fair taxes, and real affordability measures—from attainable housing to affordable recreation like the $2 pool access I successfully fought for in Ward 9. Public safety is another major concern. I bring over 15 years of experience in youth crime prevention and will push for a comprehensive safety strategy that includes hiring more officers, restoring bike patrols, expanding youth-at-risk programs, and tackling issues like drug use and gang recruitment through prevention and support. Housing is critical. I oppose blanket rezoning and will instead champion community-informed growth—building homes people can actually afford, ensuring accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities, and aligning development with infrastructure. Finally, Calgarians need reliable core services—clean streets, strong transit, snow removal, and parks. City Hall must focus on getting the basics right and rebuild trust through accountability and transparency. My approach will always be rooted in listening, collaboration, and results-driven leadership that puts people first.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: Blanket rezoning and safety. We need to immediately repeal the blanket zoning, and look at the systemic issues plaguing our streets. Ensuring an effectual city is key. I would work collaboratively to bring about these necessary changes quickly.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: The big issues I hear at the door are infrastructure, affordability and safety. I will approach these issues with a community-minded and balanced perspective that offers solutions to communities. The process at Planning department needs to change, one that offers genuine engagement with Calgarians. Affordability involves development that adds housing units to the private market, respects communities, and sees the addition of more transition housing. Safety issues involve multiple approaches, including improving the situation for Calgary's unhoused through social and mental supports as well as supporting the police in dealing with property crime and criminal justice.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: Safety and Security, and Municipal infrastructure deficit. Increase the number of Police officers and Transit Safety officers. The transit safety officers need to extend the coverage to the bus lines and not exclusively cover LRT service. The CPS should be given the resources to do more community based monitoring and enforcement to discourage illegal activity, such as with the bike patrol teams. Infrastructure deficit reduce the number of expenditures focused on responsibilities that fall outside of Municipal Responsibilities and reallocate those funds to municipal infrastructure. Also consider incorporating a Municipal Revitalization Levy for inner City Developments to help in paying for infrastructure upgrades triggered by increased intensification. Continue to work with the Province on financial assistance through the LGFF funding.

Mahmoud Mourra: The City of Calgary is unique because each ward is facing different challenges. That’s why leadership at City Hall must be responsive, practical, and focused on the real issues people are living with every day. One of the biggest issues is safety and security. Too many of our streets have turned into racing tracks that endanger families, and many of our parks—especially in the Northeast—have become homeless encampments. We need stronger enforcement, better planning, and real investment in public safety to restore confidence in our neighborhoods. Another pressing issue is affordability and housing. Calgarians from all walks of life are struggling with the rising cost of living and the housing crisis, which has pushed too many people onto the streets. The city must focus on practical, local solutions instead of spending time on issues outside its mandate, like climate control or endless bike lanes. Property taxes are another frustration. They keep increasing while services are declining. Our roads are in poor condition, and construction projects have been disruptive without delivering enough value. We need fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability so that residents can actually see results for the taxes they pay. Finally, the city must do more to support our seniors, elders, and special needs community. The municipal government is the closest level of government to them, yet too few programs are being delivered directly to support their dignity, independence, and well-being. My approach will always be rooted in transparency and accountability, with a focus on solving the issues that matter most to Calgarians—while recognizing that each ward has unique needs that must be respected.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: Calgary’s biggest challenges are affordability, safety, and accountability in city spending. Many families are feeling the pinch of rising costs while not seeing equivalent improvements in roads, infrastructure, or city services. I would focus on: Improving everyday infrastructure—roads, sidewalks, lighting, and snow removal. Restoring community safety by improving coordination between police, social programs, and residents. Defending green spaces from overdevelopment and ensuring public lands are protected for community benefit, not corporate gain. My approach is simple: listen to residents, act on their priorities, and make every tax dollar work harder for Ward 10.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: Managing a rapidly growing city and where people are going to live is the biggest challenge followed closely by the need to update and upgrade infrastructure that includes both assets like libraries and pools, but also roads, bridges, and water infrastructure.

Rob Ward: The biggest issues facing Calgary today are fiscal responsibility, public safety, community planning and the reliability of core city services. Fiscal Responsibility: City Hall must do its part to make life more affordable for Calgary families. I plan to prioritize essential services, cut wasteful spending and deliver better value for tax dollars. We need to focus on core serves, not vanity projects. Public Safety: Rising crime and visible disorder, especially downtown and in our communities, is a major concern. Police, fire, and bylaw services must have the resources they need to deter crime and keep streets safe. Communities need support to implement crime strategies. Housing & Development: I believe in responsible growth, but not at the expense of community input. I oppose blanket rezoning. I support adding housing density where infrastructure and transit already exist, and engaging communities to ensure neighbourhood character and quality of life are respected. Core Services: Residents expect City workers to fix roads, clear snow, collect waste and ensure safe and reliable transit. I will fight to make sure core services are properly funded and delivered before council spends money elsewhere. My approach is simple: get back to basics, focus on needs over wants, and ensure that Calgary remains affordable, safe and well-run.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: 1) Taxes and spending. Families are struggling while City Hall spends recklessly. I’d address this by eliminate wasteful projects, prioritize core services and deliver real tax relief. 2) Blanket Rezoning. I’ve opposed City Hall’s one-size-fits-all blanket rezoning from the beginning. I plan to introduce a motion at the earliest opportunity following the election to repeal the blanket rezoning policy. 3) Public Safety. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, on transit, and in their community. I opposed efforts to de-fund the police and I support funding 500 new police officers and advocate for an increased officer presence at transit stations.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: The top concerns I hear at the doors are: affordability, property taxes, housing, and community safety. Families are squeezed by rising costs and seniors feel forgotten. My approach is straightforward: cut red tape so schools and infrastructure are delivered on time, fix how property taxes are managed, push for affordable and accessible housing, and invest in safety so people feel secure in their homes and on our streets.

Erin Averbukh: Housing affordability, public safety and reliable transit. I’ll support smart housing that respects communities and infrastructure, improve safety through prevention and accountability and push for safe efficient transit including extending the Green Line to Seton. My approach is practical transparent and focused on real results.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: Biggest issue is getting our spending under control by focusing on core essential services, not on wasteful non-essentials. Longer answer: I believe the biggest issues affecting Calgary are getting our spending under control and focusing back on our core, essential services like water, fire, police, transit, roads, potholes, grass-cutting, snow-clearing. I would approach these issues by ensuring these are our first and top priority, because Calgarians rely on these every single day. We do not have extra money to spend on things like giant blue rings, rebranding our city, climate emergencies, or $40 million art budgets. We need to take care of the issues that the city has and work with what the city needs. Let us stop the pet projects and wasteful spending.

Landon Johnston: Calgary’s biggest issues are public safety, accountability, rising taxes without value, blanket rezoning, transit, and affordability. I’ll put safety first by concentrating resources on hotspots and repeat offenders, pairing CPS with bylaw and outreach, and working with the Province and Ottawa to fast-track addictions and mental-health solutions so help is available now, not later. Accountability starts day one with a Ward 14 web portal so residents can see votes, weigh in 24/7, and track how I vote—but tools aren’t enough. City Hall’s culture must change to default to transparency and real public oversight, with checks and balances like open contracting, independent value-for-money audits, and citizen review of major projects. On taxes and affordability, run a base-budget review, freeze non-essential growth, and cut red tape so permits move fast—digital submissions, guaranteed timelines, third-party inspections where appropriate, and clear standards that let builders get shovels in the ground sooner. Repeal blanket rezoning and replace it with ward-level protections, transparent impact statements, and real consultation. On housing supply, prioritize responsible infill by selling or long-leasing City-owned land near transit and shopping hubs, with performance conditions to deliver units quickly. On transit, tighten safety and reliability together: visible staffing, proof-of-payment enforcement, cleaner stations, better winter ops, and frequency boosts on busy routes—while sequencing Green Line work with strict budget oversight so riders and taxpayers see real value.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: Municipal government is the closest level to our residents. It deals with day to day services and decisions that affect our quality of life. We all need safe streets, clean water, green parks, and reliable transit. I think our City workers do an amazing job of keeping Calgary running. We need to support our city services and prioritize any critical needs in the community.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: I feel we have gone beyond the boundaries of what is most important to a functional municipal government. Infrastructure, planning and development, Fiscal responsibility& taxes, essential services while avoiding unnecessary spending, ensuring safety and community wellbeing, ensuring stewardship of greenspaces and environment. Citizens care about safe, affordable, well-run communities where their hard earned tax dollars are respected, their voices are heard, and their families can thrive.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: The role of the municipal government is to create policy specifically regarding land use, zoning, waste management, water, public transit, road and sidewalk maintenance, fire and police services, infrastructure, parks and recreation, and collecting property taxes. The City definitely does too many things, and needs to recognize its limited responsibilities and budget. The City needs to do those core responsibilities well and avoid stretching into areas best left to other levels of government, so taxpayers get real value for their money.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: Municipal government’s core role is to provide safe, reliable, and efficient services, roads, transit, utilities, emergency response, and essential community supports. I believe the City should focus on these essentials first, cutting waste and avoiding overreach into areas better served by other levels of government.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: The role of municipal government is to take care of the basic roads, transit, parks, safety, waste management and to make sure those services actually work for the people who live here. It’s not about doing everything, it’s about doing the right things well. I think the City does a lot, but sometimes it spreads itself too thin. We need to focus on what matters most to residents and deliver those services efficiently, transparently, and with accountability. That’s just common sense.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: The role of the municipal government is to deliver essential local services and create room for the community, such as managing roads, water, waste and parks. By establishing bylaws and policies for public safety, libraries, and local infrastructure, the City of Calgary should aim to ensure Calgarians live in safe, livable communities. For too many years, Calgary city council has drifted out of its lane, delving into areas of provincial responsibility.

Jaspriya Johal: The role of municipal government is to provide the basic services families rely on every day; safe streets, reliable transit, clean water, good planning, and well-kept parks and green spaces. Right now, I believe the City tries to do too many things, but often does not do the basics well enough. My focus would be on accountability and making sure core services are delivered properly before taking on new projects.

Danny Ng: City government should excel at core services: safe streets, water, transit that works, garbage and parks, clear roads and sidewalks, fair permitting, and strong emergency response. We should do fewer side projects and do the basics better. My bias is to simplify, measure, and publish results so residents can see where their money goes.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: I do think the city should look after the core essential services they are supposed to provide and allow other levels of government to take care of their own responsibilities. One of my platforms is to focus on the Core Services for the North; Roads, Transit, Parks, Zoning, Safety, Garbage, Water, Sewage, etc. If last years water restrictions taught us anything, its that we need to invest in our aging infrastructure.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: The role of municipal government is to focus on things that are under municipal jurisdiction, but refraining from funding things that are under provincial and federal jurisdiction. As a councillor, I would advocate to the Provincial and Federal governments for funding, but not seek to take on funding for things that we are not responsible for. We need to invest in the core services that residents expect, including drinking water, roads, snow removal and public safety.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: No response.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: The City of Calgary does a lot of good work, but increasingly it has taken on responsibilities that go well beyond its core purpose. When City Hall spreads itself too thin, it risks doing many things poorly instead of doing the essentials well. It also requires more money, which ultimately comes from the taxpayer. My priority is to make sure the City government stays focused on core activities like dependable infrastructure, affordable and reliable services, and safe communities, while leaving other issues to other levels of government or sectors best equipped to handle them. By focusing on essentials, we deliver better service, reduce waste, manage funds more effectively, and rebuild trust with Calgarians.

John Pantazopoulos: The top issues I hear at the doors are property taxes, blanket rezoning and public safety. Families can’t afford endless tax hikes, so City Hall must live within its means and cut waste. On housing, I oppose blanket rezoning and instead support a community-driven, targeted growth plan that balances new supply with neighbourhood character and infrastructure. And on safety, Calgarians want to feel secure on transit and in their communities — which means more front-line officers and emergency services, along with upstream investments like recreation facilities that give kids better options and keep communities strong.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: Ward 6 residents tell me, and I agree, the City may be involved in many things beyond core services; but they expect their taxes to pay for top notch core services - not the rest. In a season of restraint, where Calgarians still face affordability challenges, a modest municipal government that manages its assets well is the best outcome from the next City Council. The easiest thing to do is hike taxes and spending. Fiscal discipline means saying no, more than saying yes.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: The role of the Municipal Government is to take care of issues that affect the city at the local level. This ranges from infrastructure, water & waste management, parks & rec, transit, building permits, our local police force, social services, etc. Our biggest problem is when the city over steps its boundaries and starts funding projects that are Provincial and Federal issues. Our tax dollars should be spent on handling Municipal issues, not pet projects and Federal agendas.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: The municipal government’s role is to deliver core services residents rely on daily: roads, transit, water, waste, parks, policing, and emergency response. Too often, City Hall drifts into areas outside its lane. I believe the City should refocus on fundamentals and do them exceptionally well, fewer distractions, better results.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: The role of municipal government is to provide reliable core services — water, transit, roads, safety, parks, and waste — while creating livable, inclusive communities. We need to prioritize the essentials, improve efficiency, and ensure taxpayers see real value for their money. My goal is a City that does fewer things, but does them better — serving residents and businesses with excellence, accountability, and common sense.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: I think they do enough they just need to get organized and better at doing what they do.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: At the root, the municipal government is here to provide the best quality of life we can afford, through quality systems and services.

Tony Dinh: Municipal government’s job is simple but serious: to deliver the essentials that make daily life work, safe streets, reliable infrastructure, clean communities, and responsible planning. Right now, the City has drifted beyond its lane, trying to do too much while failing to do the basics well. We’ve got reports and studies stacked higher than potholes, yet residents still dodge both. I believe the City must refocus, cut the bureaucracy, stop the vanity projects, and return to core services that people actually rely on. Government should be lean, accountable, and effective, fixing roads, funding first responders, and making communities safe and livable again.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: The role of municipal government is to get the basics right: keeping our streets safe, maintaining infrastructure, delivering reliable transit, ensuring clean parks and recreation spaces, and creating an environment where families and businesses can thrive. Right now, I believe the City is often doing too many things outside its core mandate while not doing enough to deliver on essentials. Residents feel it every day when roads go unplowed, garbage isn’t picked up on time, or basic safety concerns are ignored, while resources get tied up in red tape or symbolic initiatives. As councillor, my priority will be to refocus City Hall on core services—public safety, roads, transit, and affordability—while working with communities to find smarter, cost-effective ways to address long-term challenges. Municipal government should not try to be everything to everyone. It should excel at the fundamentals, listen to residents, and create partnerships that maximize impact without overburdening taxpayers.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: We need to stay in our lane and work with other orders of government to ensure Calgary has all it needs to be a safe, vibrant and affordable city.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: The role of the municipal government is to run a city that supports residents in their lives, enabling Calgarians to take advantage of the city's great opportunities for work and recreation. We need to get back to basics as a Council, focusing on improving infrastructure for our growing city, offering a transit, road and active transportation system that is efficient, providing the best quality services for residents through recreation, social supports, directing administration towards better engagement and support for community associations, and advocating for safe communities.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: The City has wandered too much into Provincial and Federal responsibilities without the financial support to deliver those services which in effect becomes a double taxation. Examples are income support, affordable housing and mental health and addictions.

Mahmoud Mourra: Right now, City Hall is not working the way it should. Too often, decisions are guided by favoritism, political games, or the personal ambitions of the mayor and certain councillors who treat their positions as stepping stones to provincial or federal politics. Sadly, this means the real interests of Calgary residents are being pushed aside. Many of the steps City Hall has taken in recent years have gone beyond its proper limits. Instead of focusing on the core responsibilities of a municipal government—like safe streets, reliable services, proper infrastructure, housing, and support for vulnerable communities—too much time and money is being invested in matters that don’t concern the majority of Calgarians. For example, endless debates over climate change strategies or bike lane expansions dominate council discussions, while people in our city are struggling with housing affordability, poor roads, rising property taxes, and safety concerns in their own neighborhoods. The role of municipal government is to stay focused on what affects residents every single day: maintaining roads, ensuring public safety, managing growth, providing clean water, keeping parks accessible, supporting families, seniors, and those with special needs. These are the services Calgarians pay for and expect, and they deserve a council that treats those responsibilities with transparency and accountability. As your councillor, I will always prioritize what matters most to the people of Ward 10 and Calgary as a whole. I will push for City Hall to refocus on its proper role: delivering core services, supporting families, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and restoring trust between council and the people. So to answer the question directly: yes, the City is doing too many things outside its mandate, while not doing enough of what matters most to Calgarians.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: The City’s role should be to deliver reliable, essential services—not to overextend into every issue. Municipal government must focus on what directly impacts residents: infrastructure, transit, public safety, waste management, and parks. In recent years, City Hall has taken on too many projects while core services have declined. I believe in refocusing City priorities toward the basics that keep our communities strong, safe, and connected.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: The City's role is to look after the well being of all its residents. We are always going to debate what the right amount is - for some it will be too much, and for others, not enough. Most often what we are doing is a compromise and somewhere in between.

Rob Ward: The primary role of municipal government is to deliver the core services residents rely on every day: safe and reliable roads, snow clearing, water and sewer, waste management, emergency services, and effective public transit. City Hall should focus on getting these basics right first, because that’s what Calgarians are paying for. The City has taken on too many extra projects and “nice-to-haves.” City Hall has lost focus on core responsibilities. That’s why taxes keep going up without residents seeing enough improvement in the services they depend on. Municipal government should do fewer things, better. Make sure the essentials are well-managed, efficient and affordable. When we stick to our core responsibilities, we can build trust with taxpayers and ensure Calgary remains both affordable and well-run.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: The City is getting involved in to many things that are not within municipal jurisdiction. This is partly the cause of the massive spending increases and tax hikes that Calgarians have faced. Despite higher spending, important city services are in decline — roads, water, transit, green spaces, and pathways are all deteriorating. There needs to be a focus on improving what is our core responsibilities, and not getting involved in pet projects like the "Climate Change Emergency".

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: The City should stick to its core responsibilities: keeping taxes fair, ensuring safe streets, maintaining infrastructure, delivering reliable services, and building strong communities. Right now, the City is doing too much in areas that don’t always serve residents directly, while ignoring basic services like fixing water pipes, sidewalks, and streetlights. That needs to change.

Erin Averbukh: To focus on core services that make a city work like roads, transit, water, safety, parks and planning. Lately, the City does too much outside of its mandate which stretches resources thin. We need to get back to basics, manage funds responsibly and deliver essential services efficiently and effectively.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: The municipal government's role is to provide the core essential services that citizens rely on every day. Longer answer: I believe the role of the municipal government is to ensure the city is being run well by taking care of the needs of the citizens that rely on those needs being met every day. I believe, in different areas, the city does too many things, does not enough things, and does just the right amount. The city does too many non-essential things like giant Blue Rings, city rebranding, Bow River phone lines, official city birds, climate emergencies, or involving themselves in personal private businesses like plastic bag bans and private pet sales. This results in ignoring core essential services like roads, potholes, and water mains in favor of some ideology or pet project. I believe the city does not do enough of taking care of our infrastructure (like water main monitoring, but not just monitoring it, but maintaining it and repairing it, not ignoring it) and our roads/potholes, our trees (look at the number of dead trees in our city due to the lack of watering, maintenance and care). Why have the trees if they are not watered or maintained. I believe the city does just the right amount perhaps in the area of the 311 service where people can connect with the city and have their issues recorded, noted, and trackable. I believe the city has done a quality job. I understand that it is not an easy job to run a city, but I'm prepared to make sure that we are taking care of the things that need to be taken care of, and not using taxpayers' money on things that are not essential.

Landon Johnston: The City’s job is to keep Calgary functional and safe roads, transit reliability, water, waste, parks, permitting, and bylaw while planning responsibly for growth. That’s what the City’s own site lays out. My view is we should shrink the footprint to core services, deliver them better and more transparently, and leave broad societal issues to community, the Province, and Ottawa where they belong. The City can coordinate and advocate, but not build new bureaucracies outside its mandate. The last few years have shown what happens to a city when leadership makes the decision to expand there role outside of its core purpose.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: We have had a succession of property tax increases while also running a surplus. I think a well run city should keep taxes as low as possible.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: I think the governments are addicted to spending and increasing and we can do better.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: Calgarians are overtaxed and underserved.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: Property taxes should reflect the cost of essential services. My priority is to protect taxpayers by ensuring every dollar is spent wisely, focusing on core services, and avoiding unnecessary increases.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: Property taxes should reflect the value residents receive—not just the amount they pay. Many Calgarians are feeling stretched, and I hear that concern. Before considering any increases, I believe the City must demonstrate better use of existing funds, eliminate inefficiencies, and prioritize essential services. Importantly, the taxes collected from Calgarians should be spent on Calgary on the infrastructure, housing, safety, and services that directly impact our communities. Every dollar should deliver visible, meaningful results. Fiscal responsibility and transparency must come first. Only then can we have an honest conversation about what’s fair and sustainable for taxpayers.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: I will push to an audit of city programs to eliminate waste, publish transparent spending reports, and oppose tax increases unless paired with real service improvements.

Jaspriya Johal: Property taxes feel too high when families do not see the value in the services they get back. For me, it is less about the rate and more about accountability, every dollar Calgarians pay should show up in safer streets, better transit, and stronger communities. Until people see that, taxes will always feel too high.

Danny Ng: For many families and small businesses, taxes feel too high relative to service quality. Recent budgets increased the residential burden and added to monthly costs. We need discipline—keep the City portion at or below inflation plus population growth, and stop shifting extra load onto homeowners without clear value.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: I’ve been doorknocking since May and what I’ve heard is it comes down to people needing to see a return on investment on our tax dollars. We’ve watched as taxes go up but when you don’t see the investment come to your areas it definitely feels too high. At the doors I’ve told residents that I will not be freezing taxes nor can I say that they will drop. I think the rapid growth of Calgary and inflation makes those promises impossible to make. However, I can guarantee that I will be meticulous during budget deliberations and consult the community on how we should direct our resources. I want Calgarians in Ward 3 to see the value in their tax dollar again.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: Too high. We must cut waste, improve transparency, and prioritize the basics so Calgarians see results from every dollar.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: The role of municipal government should be clear and focused - deliver essential services like safe roads, reliable transit, clean water, effective policing and emergency services, snow removal and the upkeep of parks and green spaces. These are the foundations of a safe and livable city. Right now, I believe the City is doing too many things outside of this core mandate - pursuing costly vanity projects, social experiments and overreaching policies - while the basics are being neglected. When 50% of our roads are rated below “good,” when buses are stranded in winter while bike lanes are plowed first and when water mains are left vulnerable for decades, it’s clear priorities are out of order. I would work to refocus the City back on essentials, ensure tax dollars are spent responsibly and return accountability to where it belongs - serving the people who live and work here.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: I believe property and business taxes in Calgary are too high for the value residents and businesses are getting. Many families feel stretched, and small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open. At the same time, the City isn’t always focusing on its core priorities like safer streets, reliable transit, and well-maintained infrastructure. As a Councillor, I’ll work to rein in spending, cut waste, and ensure taxpayer dollars go to the essentials people rely on every day. Calgarians deserve good value for their money, and right now, we’re not seeing that balance. Let me offer just three examples where we could identify unnecessary spending: 1. The Climate Emergency motion and its associated funding is well outside the core responsibilities of a municipal government. Too often, programs like this come with a big price tag but little measurable impact. Instead of numerous costly initiatives that benefit only some residents, we should build environmental consciousness into our routine choices where they are proven to be cost-effective and impactful. 2. Cities like Toronto have shown they can save as much as $1.5 to $2 million per road upgrade project by simply coordinating upgrades like water, gas, and telecommunications so that same pavement isn’t dug up and repaved multiple times. 3. The City’s HR and IT departments are staffed at a much higher ratio of staff to organization size compared to similar private sector entities. Why? Are staff trying to do too much, or not doing it efficiently? Do we need to modernize systems or outdated practices? I will press to right-size city administration.

John Pantazopoulos: Too high. Families can’t afford endless hikes. City Hall needs to cut waste and manage spending so we’re not pushing more costs onto households.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: Ward 6 residents tell me they want a property tax cut. I agree.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: Way too high. I am in support of a four-year tax freeze. Our goal is to lower taxes, but we have years of mismanagement to fix. It starts by freezing property tax and figuring out where waste is coming from, building up our tax base, and making better investments to increase our revenue. Remember, we are currently in a surplus, this means we have already been overtaxed.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: Property taxes in Calgary are too high relative to the value residents feel they receive. Inner city residents feel they don't receive enough service for the taxes they pay and some have to pay for residential parking permit fees while most Calgary do not. Suburban residents feel they pay too much and don't see enough municipal services (i.e. fire halls, libraries, transit) in their far reaches. Overall, Calgary taxes are out of balance with public expectations and raising taxes is not the answer; prioritizing taxes on core services is and delivering them with a focus on quality, efficiency, and value is the answer. In today's affordability challenges with costs of living rising, The City must show restraint. Calgarians deserve efficiency, not higher bills.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: Based on my conversations with residents in Ward 8 many people feel taxes are high.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: Way too high. They are inflated to the point of being a complete cash grab.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: I pay both commercial and residential property taxes in Ward 9. I also pay an additional tax for operating a business in one of the city's "Business Improvements Areas" called a BIA property tax. I don't begrudge any of this, but I want you to know that I am speaking as an invested interest in the topic. The number one thing I've heard from residents across Ward 9 is that they don't see the value for dollars they pay. This would make any business owner's stomach turn. People want to see the investments they make reflected back to them in the communities they live. And they are not. We must work to correct this quickly and I don't believe that increases will correct this disconnect either.

Tony Dinh: Property taxes in Calgary are too high for what residents are getting in return. People are paying more every year but seeing less value, crumbling roads, rising crime, and delayed city services. That’s not fair or sustainable. We don’t have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem. My approach is to freeze taxes, audit waste, and hold administration accountable for efficiency. Every dollar must serve a purpose, not disappear into bureaucracy. Before asking families and seniors to pay more, City Hall must prove it can manage the money it already has, because fiscal responsibility is the foundation of public trust.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: Property taxes in Calgary are too high for the value residents are getting back. Families and businesses tell me every day that they’re paying more but receiving less in terms of core services like road maintenance, public safety, and transit reliability. Taxes should be fair and predictable, but they must also reflect responsible spending at City Hall. We cannot keep asking Calgarians to pay more while waste and inefficiencies go unchecked. As councillor, I will push for a back-to-basics approach: cutting unnecessary spending, ensuring dollars go to essentials first, and making City Hall more transparent and accountable. Calgarians deserve to see real results for every tax dollar they contribute.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: Property taxes continue to rise and the cost of living is always climbing. We need to reduce property taxes and get back to the basics of running a city.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: Property taxes are too high for the current level and quality of services that Calgarians are receiving. There is little accountability for how our tax dollars are spent. We see this every day with the quality of our roads, parks and infrastructure. Too often there is a focus on vanity or legacy projects as well as on issues that are outside the purview of municipal government.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: Taxes are comparable to other municipalities but the rate of increase is out of step with what is required to meet operational needs.

Mahmoud Mourra: I believe property taxes in Calgary are too high relative to the services residents receive. The City recently reported a surplus of over $220 million, yet roads, safety, housing, and core services continue to fall behind. Instead of raising taxes year after year, City Hall should focus on cutting waste, reviewing the millions spent on grants, and exploring partnerships with large corporations and developers. This way, we can reduce the burden on hard-working Calgarians while ensuring that essential services are properly funded.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: For most residents and small businesses, property taxes are too high compared to the quality of service received. People expect visible results—cleaner streets, better snow clearing, safer neighbourhoods—not growing administrative costs. Before raising taxes, City Hall must first ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability in how money is spent.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: Calgary remains the most tax competitive major City in Canada. While Winnipeg may have lower taxes, our value for dollar far exceeds theirs for the services provided. If people want lower taxes I always ask, what should the rate be? Who are we benchmarking against?

Rob Ward: Property taxes in Calgary are too high for the value residents receive. Every year, families and businesses are asked to pay more, yet many are not seeing improvements in core services like road maintenance, snow clearing or public safety. Taxes should reflect priorities. That means City Hall must live within its means. Cut wasteful spending, focus on essential services and ensure every tax dollar delivers value. Residents expect accountability and efficiency, not constant increases. My goal isn’t just to hold the line on taxes, but to make sure Calgarians actually see a return on what they pay. If we get back to basics, we can make our city more affordable while still delivering the services people count on.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: Too High!

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: Too high. Families and seniors are paying more but seeing less in return. We need accountability for how tax dollars are spent and relief for households already struggling with inflation.

Erin Averbukh: Too high for the value Calgarians receive. Increases haven’t been matched by better service delivery or return on investment and residents deserve to see clear results for every dollar spent. Until spending becomes efficient and outcomes improve, higher taxes can’t be justified.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: Property taxes are definitely too high. Longer answer: Property taxes (both residential and non-residential) are definitely too high for taxpayers. If we cut our non-essential spending back, we could have some achievable tax relief to all taxpayers. How can the city continue to get surpluses year-over-year and our taxes continually going up with these rates something is broken. Some questions need to be asked. But perhaps more importantly, some questions need to be answered.

Landon Johnston: Too High. Property assessments are out of control and no longer reflect what most Calgary homes and businesses are actually worth. Taxes keep rising while the value we receive keeps shrinking. Calgarians deserve real accountability for every dollar, and it’s Council’s job to restore that responsibility; tie spending to measurable results, fix waste, and get back to core services.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: I think the city should make every effort to match the rate of growth with spending. Our residents deserve to have some stability when it coms to municipal taxes.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: There needs to be a balance and accountable spending that can be re-evaluated and focus on immediately direction of things that municipal governance is responsible for. Taxes can be halted to assist in stability of its citizens. With an almost 7% vacancy rate in Calgary, we can slow down and look where success have been made and fiscal responsibility maintained.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: The City of Calgary should spend less.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: Spending should increase in line with inflation and population growth to maintain service levels while avoiding waste. Prioritizing efficiency ensures the City meets community needs without unnecessary tax increases.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: City spending should grow in line with inflation and population growth. As Calgary expands, we must invest in infrastructure, housing, and public safety to meet real needs. But we also need to be fiscally responsible and avoid burdening future generations. Every dollar must be tied to impact. That means smarter budgeting, better oversight, and a clear focus on outcomes not just promises. Residents deserve transparency, efficiency, and services that reflect the taxes they pay.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: As noted in the previous answer, i will push for efficient and effective use of tax dollars. It's not a matter of picking an arbitrary target.

Jaspriya Johal: The City’s budget is already on the higher-end. Over the next four years, it should not grow any further. City hall first needs to justify the money it already collects and prove it can deliver core services properly. Only after that can we even talk about growth, and that is not something that should happen in the next four years.

Danny Ng: Increase by less than inflation + population growth—as a ceiling—while moving money into the basics: safety, snow/roads, water, and front-line transit. Any above-baseline increase must be tied to a clear service metric residents can see.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: I think inflation and population growth are the baseline. Especially with the rapid growth we will see in the next decade. This council will see the population of Calgary hit 2 million people. I do see infrastructure investments needed to support this growth that may push budgets increases over that. But these investments must correlate with the core services needed to provide Calgary with better value for their taxpayer dollar. An example of this is the much needed North Water Main trunk off the Bearspaw Water treatment facility. A project delayed for many years which would have been helpful during last year’s water restrictions.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: The population of Calgary continues to grow at a rapid rate. I am committed to fiscal responsibility, but the demands on infrastructure come at a cost. As population increases and housing increases, our tax base will also increase. I will aim to increase spending either less than or on par with inflation and population growth, but I aim to have third party audits of spending in the City to look for internal savings.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: Over the next four years, I don’t believe the answer is simply to raise spending. In fact, I’d like to see a property tax freeze for the next four years. Under Mayor Nenshi, Calgarians watched property taxes nearly double and in just the last few years the City’s budget has ballooned by another 50%. Yet despite these massive increases, our roads are crumbling, transit is unsafe, small businesses are being squeezed out and families are paying more while receiving less. We need full transparency on where this money is being spent, what commitments we’re locked into and a clear plan to prioritize core services and infrastructure while cutting waste. Council often threatens that cutting taxes will mean losing essential services and watching infrastructure fall apart. But if that were true, why haven’t these been properly maintained after years of tax hikes and record spending? Calgarians deserve real analytics and transparency. Given that taxes have risen far out of proportion to the value we’re receiving, it’s impossible to justify punishing residents further to cover for the mismanagement of past councils.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: As a fiscal conservative, I believe City spending should grow more slowly than inflation and population growth, at least at the outset until we have fully identified greater efficiencies in delivering core services, and eliminated unnecessary spending projects. I support a one-year tax freeze while new Councillors closely examine and reprioritize spending, and then, if necessary, modest tax increases linked to inflation in subsequent years. In 2019, the City undertook the SAVE project (“Solutions for Achieving Value and Excellence”). It found $74 million in savings over two years, but it appears to have been abandoned. These savings came from cost reductions, service delivery improvements, and efficiency gains across several departments. It shows what can be done, and I support reinvigorating this initiative. Calgarians are expected to live within their means, and I believe City Hall should do the same. That doesn’t mean cutting the essentials. It means getting serious about cutting waste, finding efficiencies, and focusing on its core business. If we prioritize better, we can deliver strong services without asking taxpayers to shoulder higher costs.

John Pantazopoulos: We need to cut the waste first. Calgarians can’t afford to see their tax dollars squandered on nice-to-haves while the basics get neglected. Once we’ve taken a hard look at spending and found real savings, then we can responsibly invest in essential services to meet the needs of a growing city. I’m not saying the City should spend nothing — I’m saying every dollar must have a clear purpose and deliver real outcomes for Calgarians.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: Getting our house in-order will require a serious long-term commitment to fiscal discipline. Fortifying core services will require less spending in non-core areas. And holding the line with population increases.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: Our goal is to try and spend less, and I think we can accomplish this by cutting out a lot of the waste. A lot of the pet and vanity projects our current councilors are doing that are wasting tens and hundreds of millions of dollars. When we spend on areas that matter and stop spending on areas that are either frivolous, or irrelevant to our responsibilities as city councilors, we will be on track to actually balancing our budget.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: Over the years, City tax rate increases has been below inflation plus population growth. Despite this, public expenditures is not reaching Calgarians in the areas they need: The City must focus its tax based on critical infrastructure, broader transit services (i.e. routes and frequency), public safety and security, recreation and amenities, and downtown revitalization. I would support the current strategy of keeping spending at the current levels but reallocated to core services requiring service improvement and away from activities which should be covered by the federal and provincial government or fulfil a wish versus a need. Families and businesses are tightening their belts, and City Hall must do the same. Every dollar must demonstrate value to taxpayers.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: We need to work in a strategic plan that clearly defines how resources will be allocated in an efficient manner so spending is used for the priorities of our city. Taxes should grow based on inflation and population growth.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: The City needs to stop wasting money. We need to be fiscally conservative if we want to keep Calgarians in Calgary. The City should spend less in absolute terms, we waste way too much money unnecessarily as it is.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: This is a difficult question to answer because any business of this size in the private sector would likely be reviewing all three options simultaneously. I don't view this as a single knob to turn up and turn down, but rather a number of them. In some areas, we need to invest more to support a growing and diversifying population. In some areas we need to find more efficiencies and cut spending. Some issues, some files have been kicked down the road for years and some council will have to be brave enough to finally meet the challenge.

Tony Dinh: The City should increase spending by less than the rate of inflation and population growth, and only after cutting waste and proving fiscal discipline. Calgarians are tightening their belts while City Hall keeps loosening its own. That has to change. We need to focus spending where it matters most: repairing infrastructure, supporting first responders, and maintaining core services. Every department should justify its budget from zero each year, not assume automatic increases. Smart growth means spending wisely, not endlessly. Calgary doesn’t need bigger government, it needs better results for every tax dollar. Efficiency, accountability, and common sense must come first.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: Over the next four years, the City should increase spending only at or below the rate of inflation and population growth. Calgarians are already stretched by rising costs, and City Hall must respect that reality. This means prioritizing core services first — roads, public safety, transit, parks, and infrastructure — while cutting or delaying non-essential projects. We can deliver smarter, more efficient services without burdening families and small businesses with higher taxes. Fiscal discipline, paired with accountability, is the path to rebuilding trust between residents and City Hall.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: I think we can deliver all services effectively and efficiently without raising taxes if Communities First is the majority on Council.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: There is sufficient capital to get back to basics and provide better quality services to Calgarians without resorting to further tax increases.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: Increase should be limited to inflation and 50% of the growth as the growth. While the growth does increase the service requirement due to population it also generates new revenue for the city. 50% is due to the lag in revenue versus the delivery of services.

Mahmoud Mourra: The City should spend less overall than it does today. Calgarians are already paying too much in taxes while core services like roads, safety, housing, and support for seniors and special needs are falling behind. Over the next four years, City Hall must cut waste, stop overspending on non-essential projects, and refocus tax dollars on the priorities that matter most to residents.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: The City should limit spending increases to inflation and population growth—nothing more. Calgarians are expected to live within their means; City Hall should do the same. Spending must be guided by clear priorities and measurable results that benefit residents directly, not by political agendas or expensive vanity projects.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: We should not dip lower than inflation, otherwise services suffer.

Rob Ward: Over the next four years, the City should limit spending increases to below the rate of inflation and population growth. Families and businesses have to make tough choices in their own budgets, and City Hall should do the same. This doesn’t mean cutting essential services. It means focusing on priorities, cutting waste, and finding efficiencies so Calgarians get better value for every tax dollar. If we keep spending growth under control, we can reduce pressure on property taxes while still funding the core services people rely on.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: Over the last 4 years, operational expenditures increased from $3.98B to $5.38B — a 35% increase. This has resulted in 4 significant tax increases this term — all of which I opposed. Despite growing budgets and staff numbers, there has not been any visible increase in services. In fact, many important core services are in decline. I believe we need a independent review of city finances to ensure responsible spending and value for taxpayer dollars. We also need a Organizational Review to identify redundant positions, inefficient contracts, and unnecessary management layers. I believe significant reductions in City Spending can be found and that future spending should be kept below the rate of inflation and population growth.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: The City should increase spending only by the rate of inflation and population growth — not beyond that. We can’t keep asking Calgarians to pay more without first showing restraint and efficiency.

Erin Averbukh: Spend less in real terms by increasing efficiency and prioritizing core services. Any spending growth should be below the rate of inflation and population growth until measurable improvements in value and service delivery are achieved. focus on smarter spending, not bigger budgets.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: Spend only the needed amount to provide the core essential services Calgarians rely on every day. Taxpayers can respect that. Longer answer: Hypothetically, in an ideal situation, my position is: I believe the City, if being run and administered wisely, should not need to spend beyond inflation and population growth. However, that is the ideal and we do not have the luxury of knowing what the future entails and we need to live in the reality that unanticipated things happen (i.e. 2013 Flood, 2014 Snowtember, 2024 Water Main break). We need to be prepared to address these as they inevitably arrive. I do not know exactly what can be done over the next 4 years, but the city should spend what is "required" to have our core essential services running. Meaning our roads are paved, potholes are filled, water mains are working properly, we have infrastructure that is being maintained, and our fire and our police are being funded so that we can live here in a safe city. If people see their tax dollars are benefiting them, I have heard it over and over, they are not as strongly opposed to paying their taxes. It is when we are paying taxes, getting excessive tax hikes, and not seeing the return value has many Calgarians angered and disillusioned. To predict the next 4 years is not something I am prepared to do. No one truly knows what even tomorrow may bring. I do not know what the 4 years will hold -- perhaps we have 3 more water main breaks. Does that mean oh we can only spend up to inflation? I certainly hope not. We need to do what the city needs to do, to be able to take care of that. I believe if we can find efficiencies, trim the fat, trim the non-essential spending, we are in a better position to make sure that our city continues to thrive, continues to grow, and continues to serve Calgarians in what they rely on the most.

Landon Johnston: My choice: Increase spending, but by less than the combined rate of inflation and population growth. Why: We should hold property tax increases to around inflation and shrink the footprint of City Hall to essentials; public safety, roads, water, transit reliability. That means a base-budget review, freezing/non-essential hiring, cutting consultants and vanity projects, and re-prioritizing dollars to the neglected infrastructure backlog. I’ll tighten belts and pause or cancel major projects that don’t add core value, while speeding permits and selling/long-leasing non-strategic City land to help fund needs, so we fix what matters without asking taxpayers for more than inflation.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: The city reported a surplus in each of the past 4 years. This year the surplus is forecasted to be $175 million. Last year there was a surplus of $276 million, $236 million in 2023, and $258 million in 2022. The city also raised property taxes each year despite the surplus of funds. A rebate would return over a hundred dollars to residents each year. Over time, that money would make a huge difference for families trying to make ends meet and for seniors on a fixed income. I think the city needs better forecasting models to avoid unnecessary tax hikes. Our local economy does much better when people have more money in their pocket.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: The people of Calgary would feel that the city cared about fiscal responsibility with a return on their investment through a rebate and halt on extra spending. Re-evaluating spending and balancing the budgets would go a long way to ensure relief of these challenging times.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: I think that when savings are found, it might be a good idea for the amount to be returned to the taxpayers if it is a substantial amount that would benefit Calgarians. Or better yet, don’t raise taxes in the first place to end up with a surplus.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: I support building prudent reserves for emergencies and future infrastructure needs, but transparency is key. Taxpayers should see clear reporting on how surplus funds are used.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: Fiscal responsibility is essential but so is long-term planning. If there’s a surplus, the first step should be transparency. Calgarians deserve to know where that money came from and why it wasn’t spent. After that, I believe the City should assess how those funds can be strategically reinvested in areas that deliver long-term value like infrastructure, housing, or emergency reserves. Automatic rebates may sound appealing, but they can undermine stability and planning. Responsible budgeting means using surplus funds to reduce future costs, avoid service cuts, and strengthen the city’s resilience. Every dollar should serve the public good. That means balancing short-term relief with long-term impact and always keeping residents informed.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: Calgary maintains very high reserves. I would review the rationale for the reserves. It is reasonable in an economy dependent on a cyclical industry to maintain reserves for difficult years. It is also sensible to have funds available for unexpected events like broken water mains and for contingencies. I would push to ensure reserves are kept for such purposes and not reallocated to pet projects.

Jaspriya Johal: If there’s money left over at the end of the year, that means Calgarians were overcharged for services they didn’t fully receive. In my view, those dollars should not just be tucked away and spent elsewhere, they should be returned to taxpayers through a rebate or a reduction the following year. Families are expected to budget carefully, and the City should be held to the same standard. If savings are real, they belong back in the pockets of Calgarians.

Danny Ng: Default to a Taxpayer Dividend the next year through an automatic mill-rate reduction. Make exceptions only for critical, named infrastructure reserves (e.g., water mains) with strict rules: independent verification, public reporting, and a sunset date. In other words—return surpluses unless Council, in public, proves a safety-critical need. (After the Bearspaw rupture, water reliability is exactly the kind of exception residents can see and understand.)

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: Rebates are inefficient and heavy bureaucratically to administer, would cost thousands to send each Calgarian $1. Better to offset next years increase or put into deficit spending for underfunded infrastructure or community projects. We've got a few up here in Ward 3 that could use the help.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: If there are savings found in budget allocations, those savings should be put into a reserve account for future year needs. This would lower future property tax increases and result in less costs to taxpayers. I will not treat reserves as a slush fund for pet projects, rather, I’ll ensure they are saved for strategic infrastructure investments. My focus is to lower future property tax increases and save taxpayers money.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: While returning surplus funds to taxpayers as rebates might seem appealing, it can be costly and administratively complex, often creating confusion about what is being returned and to whom. It also risks being perceived as “vote buying” in future elections. Instead, surplus funds should be transparently allocated to future projects and addressing the shortfalls that have accumulated under previous councils. Attempting to fix all that is wrong in a single year - especially as population growth has outpaced infrastructure and services have declined - is simply not reasonable. By applying overages strategically, we can support our communities and improve day-to-day life for Calgarians, rather than continuing the pattern of punishment that residents have endured and reduce the need for implementing additional costs with inflationary yearly increases.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: I believe the City should treat taxpayer dollars with the same discipline families and businesses do. If there are surpluses, the first question should always be: Why was that excess money collected in the first place? Taxpayers deserve transparency. Some reserves are important. For example, we must be prepared to cover emergencies or big infrastructure repairs. Unfortunately, too often, surpluses are parked in reserves with little accountability and then spent on pet projects outside the City’s core responsibilities. That’s not good fiscal management. As a Councillor, I’ll push for two things: 1. Automatic review of surpluses to determine what’s truly needed for essentials, emergencies, or debt reduction, and why we collected too much. 2. Return the rest to taxpayers either directly through rebates or indirectly by holding the line on future tax increases. Money left over belongs to the people who paid it, not to City Hall. City Council should take their fiscal responsibility seriously.

John Pantazopoulos: Here’s the easy answer: don’t take it in the first place. If elected, I’ll get to the root of the problem by eliminating slush funds, pet projects, and the bad habit of overtaxing families only to wind up with surpluses. Calgarians are expected to budget responsibly, and it’s time City Hall did the same.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: If the City needs to build reserves for a demonstrable reason, it should be clear that any surpluses will be directed to a specified reserve to the amount necessary. Otherwise, taking in significantly more taxes, year over year, than needed is a strong argument to lower taxes, rather than ad hoc rebates.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: It 100% should be returned to taxpayers. I am in favor of a rebate. We do need to have money in our reserves for emergencies, but we need to figure out an amount of money that we feel confident would handle an emergency situation, and anything beyond that should be returned to our taxpayers.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: The City is not permitted to run a deficit and unspent operating budgets cannot be carried forward into the next year. Of course, well managed City departments are expected to operate with a small surplus and collectively, these funds should be placed into a reserve fund for unexpected expenditures and to fund long-term stability. It should be noted that most of the annual surplus comes from investment income and ENMAX dividend contributions. I believe that the use of reserve funds should generate additional revenue or minimize future tax and cost increases. The City should pay down the debt and thus reduce interest expenses, build reserves for critical infrastructure, and investing in priorities that reduce future costs for residents. This approach ensures taxpayers get value over time rather than one-off rebates.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: Should be saved and use in strategic projects.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: I think we should do a combination of both. Remember when Ralph Klein was able to give money back to the people? With methodical, purposeful, analytical and strategical planning that involves critical thinking there is no reason why both can't and shouldn't be possible.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: I know that we are sometimes talking in the hundreds of millions of dollars. So it sounds good to have that money returned to residents in some way. But I believe that by time that is administrated and divided between residents it wouldn't amount to what we think it should. As a continuation to your last question, perhaps that money should be spent directly on longstanding underfunding or invested in things like our water system. I'm thinking of the breakdown we saw just recently and the expensive implications it reveals.

Tony Dinh: If there’s money left over, it should go back to taxpayers, not quietly rolled into another slush fund. A reserve should be for true emergencies or essential infrastructure, not a loophole to keep spending. When the City finds “savings,” that’s not an invitation to spend more; it’s proof we were overtaxed to begin with. My position is clear: fiscal discipline means returning excess revenue through tax relief or debt reduction. Calgary families manage within their means, City Hall should do the same. Accountability isn’t just about balancing books; it’s about respecting who filled those books in the first place: the taxpayers.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: If there is money left over at the end of the year, the first step should be transparency — Calgarians deserve to know where the surplus came from and why. I believe those dollars should go back to taxpayers whenever possible, especially when families and small businesses are struggling with affordability. A rebate or tax credit the following year would show residents that City Hall respects their money. At the same time, there may be cases where limited reserves are needed for critical infrastructure repairs, emergency preparedness, or unexpected costs. But those decisions must be public, transparent, and accountable — not a blank cheque for City Hall to quietly re-spend. In short: default to returning savings to taxpayers, with exceptions only for clearly defined community priorities.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: Rebate.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: If the city is finding surpluses, then by definition citizens are being overtaxed. As for how to deal with any potential surplus, I would like to speak to my constituents. I will commit to holding budget town halls to hear their concerns and issues. Ward 9 is one of the most economically diverse parts of the city and its needs must be met by administration. A rebate is a possibility but it has to be sustainable and address the needs of our growing city. There is also potential in adding support to programs that provide for families in need and education and training for residents.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: 50% of the City's revenue is generated through property taxes and the balance is generated through other means which are not as predictable as the property tax. If the positive variance is created through improved efficiency then the best method to pass on that savings would be through a reduced tax requisition for the following year. Other variances need to be dealt with in a cautious approach as it could create a deficiency in future years.

Mahmoud Mourra: If there’s money left over at the end of the year, it should not be treated as a blank cheque for new spending. A portion can be set aside for true emergencies or essential infrastructure needs, but the majority should be returned to taxpayers the following year through a rebate or tax reduction. Calgarians are already paying more than enough, and surpluses are proof that City Hall is overcharging residents rather than budgeting responsibly.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: If savings are found, the first question should be how those savings can reduce pressure on taxpayers. I believe in returning savings through rebates or reinvestment in critical infrastructure—not storing them in reserve accounts to be spent later without oversight. Taxpayers deserve full transparency and a fair return for their contribution.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: The money is returned to the taxpayer by way of either a) future investment income to offset future tax increases or b) investment in capital projects to serve Calgarians. In the end, that money is put to use serving Calgarians.

Rob Ward: If there’s money left over at the end of the year, it must first and foremost be treated as taxpayer money. It is never free money for new projects. Too often, City Hall shifts these “savings” into reserves and then spends them on extras rather than easing the tax burden on Calgarians. Surpluses should have two clear priorities: • Pay down debt to reduce financing costs, or • Fortify true emergency reserves to a reasonable limit for infrastructure failures, natural disasters or major economic downturns. When there is a surplus, relieve the tax burden. Either offset future tax increases or provide rebates when the surplus is significant. The key is accountability. Surpluses should not become a backdoor way to grow government spending. They should be used responsibly to make Calgary more affordable and financially secure.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: The City needs to do a better job keeping taxes low so that there isn't massive surpluses at the end of every year. I'm supportive of returning unexpected high surpluses to taxpayers if there isn't too high of an administrative cost to do so.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: It should go back to taxpayers. When families tighten their belts, the City should do the same. Surpluses shouldn’t become slush funds for new spending, they should offer relief to the people who paid the taxes in the first place.

Erin Averbukh: If there’s money left over, it should first reduce debt or offset future tax increases, not be quietly repurposed. True savings should mean lower costs for residents, not new spending. Once essential reserves are responsibly funded, surpluses should be returned to taxpayers through rebates or reduced tax rates the following year or used to improve or increase services.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: Surpluses indicate an (intentional or unintentional) "overcharge" to taxpayers. Surpluses = Tax Relief. Longer answer: If there is a surplus in a given year, that money belongs to the taxpayer, therefore that money goes back into the tax pool the following year to provide warranted tax relief to the taxpayer. Rebates contain administrative complexities and overhead, so my simple proposal is to put the surplus money back into the tax pool where all taxpayers will benefit the following year of the surplus. As far as putting surplus money into Reserve account, I hold the position surpluses do not belong there. Monies allocated for the Reserve accounts should be in the actual budget as line items. Not an "overcharge" with wishful maybe we will have some money, maybe we will not. The reserve fund should be budgeted for. As well I propose there should be an Emergency Fund, to deal with an unanticipated issue arising, to draw from. The Emergency Fund would have a cap on it. I want to ensure that taxpayers' money is being used wisely. The city was deemed to have a $221 million surplus during a 2025 mid-year review. When asked will this be going back to the taxpayers, it was not clear what was going to happen. That in my books is an absolute travesty! That money belongs to the taxpayers, so put it back into the tax pool for the following year to provide the "unwarranted overcharge" to the taxpayer as "warranted tax relief". The taxpayers' money belongs to the taxpayers for taxpayer's purposes, not to a special few for some pet project or a wish fund.

Landon Johnston: The city needs a reserve or heritage fund but most surpluses should be sent back to tax payers.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: We have 2 types of affordable housing offered by the City of Calgary: 1. Near market housing including rentals offered at rates about 10% below markets rates. 2. Subsidized housing which offers a wide range of support including rent supplements for private land lord units. The Calgary Housing Company (CHC) is the property manager for over 10,000 affordable housing units with more than 25,000 tenants living in mixed income housing options. I believe we need to support affordable housing for residents who need a stable place to live. A few years ago, I did some research for the Housing First Initiative. Having a safe space to live makes a remarkable difference for individuals in need.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: The city can assist in affordable being a partner, facilitator and enabler that removes barriers, uses land wisely and ensures housing remains affordable long term.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: Affordable housing means Calgarians can find a safe, stable home within their budget. The City needs to both support lower-income residents through targeted programs, and also keep overall costs down by cutting red tape and encouraging more diverse housing options. It’s about balance: helping those most in need while ensuring housing is affordable for everyone.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: Affordable housing means ensuring all Calgarians have access to safe, livable homes. The City should work with developers, non-profits, and residents to balance targeted support for lower-income households with policies that stabilize housing supply and costs for everyone.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: For me, affordable housing means that every Calgarian—regardless of income, background, or stage of life can find a safe, stable place to live without sacrificing basic needs. It’s not just about shelter; it’s about dignity, opportunity, and community. I believe the City must take a balanced approach: Yes, we should subsidize housing for lower-income residents especially seniors, newcomers, and families facing hardship. That’s part of our social responsibility. But we must also address the broader market by increasing supply, streamlining approvals, and encouraging diverse housing types so that prices don’t spiral out of reach for middle-income earners. Affordable housing isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s about smart planning, inclusive zoning, and partnerships with nonprofits, developers, and all levels of government. We need to build not just units but neighbourhoods people are proud to call home.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: The rapid growth of Calgary's population has pushed housing rents and prices out of the reach of many citizens. I favour policies that would increase the supply of affordable housing. However, this must be done in a way that uses tax dollars wisely, and does not reduce the quality of life or the value of homes in established neighbourhoods.

Jaspriya Johal: When I talk about affordable housing, I don’t mean crammed units with no green space or services, I mean real homes where families can raise kids safely and with dignity. For me, affordability is about keeping costs under control for everyone, while making sure lower-income residents have support when they need it. The City’s role should be to plan smarter: protect detached-home communities, stop bad rezoning, and make sure new areas come with schools, transit, and parks. That way, families aren’t paying more but getting less. True affordability means Calgarians can make a home, not just squeeze under a roof.

Danny Ng: Both. We must protect the most vulnerable and lower costs for everyone. My plan: Speed up approvals and cut red tape to reduce time and carrying costs. Target density to transit corridors and new communities with infrastructure in place, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. Keep parking and utilities practical so existing streets don’t get overwhelmed. Subsidize smartly (e.g., rent supports and seniors housing) with clear outcomes and annual audits. Calgary approved blanket rezoning in May 2024; I will push to fix what isn’t working and focus growth where services can handle it.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: Ward 3 is receiving a bulk of Calgary’s high density housing and affordable housing like the habitat for humanity program and low-income apartments. However, these options were created in an area without great transit. Affordable housing becomes much less affordable when you require a vehicle to get anywhere in the city. I’m in favor of targeting affordable housing for Transit Oriented Developments, where transit is already established. Not in areas where transit is only theorized. My entire life they’ve said Green Line is coming to North Central Calgary and there is still uncertainty about whether or not it will ever come.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: Affordability means pathways to ownership and stable rents for working families and first-time buyers—not just replacing modest homes with expensive infills. I’ll repeal blanket rezoning and replace it with targeted density where it fits: along LRT/BRT corridors and main streets. This will be paired with restored site-specific hearings and capacity checks for utilities, roads, and schools, so growth is community-led and respects neighbourhood character. I will also seek to make city owned land available for affordable housing providers.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: Affordable housing is often used as a catch-all term, but we need to be precise. For me, it means ensuring that families and individuals can live safely and sustainably in their communities without being priced out by speculation, poor planning, or mismanaged growth. The cost of living in Calgary has increased dramatically over the last five years due to a combination of factors, including government spending at all levels and population growth that far exceeds organic rates. While we can all agree that housing should be affordable, defining what that actually means and achieving mass consensus is nearly impossible. Making life more expensive for Calgary homeowners and consequentially renters - without delivering any tangible notion of affordable housing - has benefited no one. From students to families to our aging population, lifelong residents are being taxed out of their homes while watching this happen. This is a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Overcommitting to housing not only drives up costs for everyone, but also, through business taxes, increases the overall cost of living. We need to strike a balance by focusing on policies that maintain diverse and balanced housing options, encourage responsible development and ensure housing remains attainable at levels Calgarians can reasonably manage - all while working with provincial and federal governments to contribute their fair share.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: For me, affordable housing means ensuring Calgarians of all ages and incomes can find a safe place to call home without being forced to live outside of the city, or in unsafe properties. However, the City of Calgary shouldn’t try to do everything independently and should not compete with the private sector. The City’s role in housing is speeding up approvals, zoning decisions and consultations, cutting red tape, and working with nonprofits, faith groups, and private developers to get more homes built faster. The funding, however, typically should come from the provincial and federal governments. I’ll advocate with the provincial and federal governments to step up with stronger housing investments, because this is a shared responsibility. When we build, let’s build smart, more transit-oriented, mixed-use, and mixed-income developments that create vibrant, inclusive communities. Blanket rezoning is not guaranteed to be effective in delivering affordable housing. Council must put in the effort to target strategies that make affordable housing attainable, while keeping neighbourhoods strong.

John Pantazopoulos: The City’s role is to cut red tape and manage zoning responsibly so the private sector can add supply and keep prices in check. For lower-income residents, targeted subsidies are an option, but the focus should be on partnerships with other levels of government. Calgary’s job is to create the right conditions for housing to be built, not to go it alone.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: Blanket RCG has done nothing to make homes more affordable. Housing affordability will come with lower demand for housing. Cities should press the federal government for lower caps on immigration so our housing market can stabilize. There is general agreement among the public for specific housing geared to lower income. Let's get on with that.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: Our non residential property taxes on builders are outrageous, and it makes a lot of them not want to invest in Calgary, or invest at a premium. We need to make things fair for everyone to get our pricing under control. We need to cut red tape to help builders and our communities push their long delayed projects through. And at the Federal level, they need to get immigration under control. We cannot have a sudden massive surplus of immigration and not expect it to cause issues with housing and our economy. We are all trying to do the best we can out of a bad situation. We need to collaborate with our builders and give them incentives and confidence to invest in Calgary while being affordable for Calgarians.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: Affordable housing means ensuring people can find a place to live without being overburdened by housing costs beyond 30% of their income. The City’s role is to enable housing supply through provision of surplus land and buildings, efficient permitting processes, quicker and better development/building inspections, and partnerships. Targeted housing subsidies should support vulnerable residents, but the main focus must be removing barriers so the private and nonprofit sectors can deliver more housing at all price points.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: Affordable housing, to me, means ensuring that every Calgarian — regardless of income, age, or background — can find a safe, decent home within their means. Housing affordability isn’t just about building more units; it’s about maintaining the balance between supply, quality, and community character. I believe the City must pursue a combination approach — supporting non-profit and lower-income housing while also keeping overall housing costs under control through responsible planning, efficient approvals, and partnerships with the private and non-profit sectors. The City’s role is not to become a landlord, but to enable housing solutions — by streamlining regulations, incentivizing mixed-income developments, and investing in infrastructure that supports complete, livable communities.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: I think the province should be subsidizing low-income housing that is strategically placed to create community, provide support systems and resources that are readily available to treat those struggling with addiction, homelessness, mental illness and poverty as to me that should fall under the umbrella of Health Care. I elaborated more on a previous answer.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: $650,000 - $800,000 is not an affordable entry point to the housing market. That is what we are seeing regularly in the redevelopment of the communities in Ward 9. We need to work to bring more truly affordable housing online efficiently. I do believe that the city has an opportunity to meet this challenge and present our "can do" spirit on the national stage. I also need to highlight that Ward 9 is home to a number of Calgary's mobile home parks. This is a 20th century solution to affordable housing that has been a lifeline for low-income seniors, many of them widows or widowers. It is also a lifeline to young families with very little means to get started. I think we should look at how to implement some of these older housing concepts in todays times and work to shore up these important, affordable housing options. In my strategic plan for Ward 9, I have highlighted two additional steps I think we should take: 1. Make land acquisition, zoning and permitting as accessible as we can to our NFP and social agencies who specialize in brining non-market, mixed income and cooperative housing models online. I also discuss at length, the potential we may have in providing land owners in our legacy industrial lands around Ramsay, Ogden, Dover and Inglewood with the opportunity to rezone. This may offer an opportunity to expand the existing footprint of historic neighbourhoods that people are showing they would like to live in.

Tony Dinh: Affordable housing, to me, means homes that working families, seniors, and young people can actually afford without government red tape or endless waitlists. The City’s role isn’t to become a landlord, it’s to create the conditions for housing to be built faster and smarter. That means cutting permitting delays, unlocking serviced land, and partnering with private and nonprofit builders to deliver mixed-income developments. Subsidies should be targeted, temporary, and tied to outcomes, not bureaucracy. The real fix is supply and efficiency, reduce costs at the front end so more people can afford homes on their own. Empower builders, not bureaucrats.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: For me, “affordable housing” must mean that people — whether they are seniors, newcomers, single parents, or working families — can realistically afford to live in Calgary without being forced out of their own communities. Affordability cannot be defined only by developers or market trends. It needs to be tied to real incomes and the day-to-day realities of Calgarians. I believe the City has two key roles: Support for Lower-Income Residents: Yes, there must be programs to help those most at risk — seniors on fixed incomes, families in crisis, or people transitioning out of homelessness. That includes subsidies, transitional housing, and partnerships with non-profits. Keeping Costs Manageable for Everyone: We must also focus on policies that prevent runaway costs for the middle class. That means smarter planning, ensuring supply actually meets community needs, cracking down on slum landlords, and stopping speculative rezonings that drive prices up while ignoring accessibility. I believe in a balanced approach: direct support for the most vulnerable and policies that ensure everyday working families can afford to live, rent, or buy in Calgary. Housing should be about people first — not profit first.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: Affordable housing is an important issue and currently the proposed solutions are not working. I am in favor of affordable housing being incorporated into all new apartment builds etc by 20% and expanding the Attainable housing initiative. I would work with other levels of government on solutions

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: Affordable can mean a private housing market that is reachable for younger and new Calgarians. It can also mean transition housing for Calgary's unhoused and those needing extra support. This means there will be policies that address both issues. My experience working with communities is that blanket rezoning has not offered affordable housing on the private market, rather it has confused the planning process and eliminated affordable rentals for much higher priced homes. I support reversing blanket rezoning and offering a planning process to Calgarians that includes their input and develops communities in balanced ways. Council must also advocate for the provincial and federal government to support housing projects in ways that make sense for Calgarians.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: Combination of the two. The City should be leasing lands to not for profit organizations for the creation of affordable housing which in turns allows them to secure loans and or grants from other orders of Government. The City and by that I mean Calgary Housing Corp. should also be utilizing remnant parcels that can be developed into multifamily housing and getting matching funds from the Province and the Federal Government to create city owned and operated mixed market housing. The City can reduce the cost of development by reducing red tape for approvals thereby reducing the input costs and providing opportunity for lower sale prices.

Mahmoud Mourra: For me, affordable housing means that ordinary Calgarians, families, seniors, newcomers, and young people, can find a safe and decent place to live without being pushed to the edge financially. I believe the City’s role should focus on keeping overall housing costs under control by cutting red tape, speeding up approvals, and ensuring enough land and supply are available. At the same time, I recognize there will always be vulnerable residents who need short-term support, so I support a balanced approach: streamline the market so housing is more affordable for everyone, while also partnering with the Province, Ottawa, and non-profits to ensure lower-income residents have access to safe housing when they need it.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: Affordable housing means ensuring that working families, seniors, and newcomers can find safe, decent homes within their means. The City’s role should focus on: Cutting red tape and streamlining approvals for builders and homeowners. Encouraging a mix of housing options to meet real demand. Partnering with nonprofits to support vulnerable residents. I believe in a balanced approach—supporting those who need help while also ensuring overall housing costs stay manageable for everyone.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: Provincial and federal government look for equal contributions from municipal govenment for affordable housing. Calgary's contribution is primarily land sold below market (with the value of contribution being the difference). We need to continue to identify land for non-market housing providers to sell. Pretty much only way the City can control market housing is to approve supply to match or exceed demand, thus rezoning and approving new communities simultaneously. I'm also pushing for a review our policies around amenity requirements from developers, but we don't want to leave residents footing the bill always for new or upgraded infrastructure through taxes either. It's a fine line we walk for everyone to be partners in the path for housing.

Rob Ward: To me, “affordable housing” means everyday Calgarians – families, seniors, and young people – can find a home that fits their budget without being priced out of the city. City hall must ensure there is sufficient land for new construction by the private sector and regulatory efficiency so that homes can be built in a prompt and efficient manner to meet population growth. For the most vulnerable, the City must work well with federal and provincial governments, which have primary and specific housing and social support obligations. The City’s role should be to: Keep housing supply moving by focusing growth in the right places – near transit, major roads, and underused commercial areas. New housing developments should not overwhelm existing neighbourhood infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer. Reduce red tape and delays that drive up costs for builders and, ultimately, buyers and renters. Work with the province and federal government on targeted subsidies for low-income Calgarians because municipalities simply don’t have the resources to take this on alone. In short, the City should not be in the business of becoming a landlord or heavily subsidizing housing. The City does does need to create the conditions for a healthy housing market and partner with other levels of government to help those in real need. That way, we can address affordability without putting more strain on taxpayers.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: The most effective way to address housing affordability in our city is to eliminate barriers to home construction. We must expedite the approval of subdivisions, streamline our approval processes for development permits, and ensure that we are doing everything possible to eliminate unnecessary costs and bureaucratic hurdles that hinder development. While there is a role for subsidized housing, I believe there is a greater role for the private sector to help us achieve affordable housing.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: Affordable housing means families, seniors, and young people can live with dignity without sacrificing all their income on rent or mortgages. For me, it also means accessible housing for people with disabilities something too often overlooked. The City should focus on keeping overall housing costs from spiraling out of control by reducing red tape, making land site-ready for schools and housing, and working with non-profits and the private sector.

Erin Averbukh: It should mean homes that working Calgarians, seniors and young people can afford without ongoing subsidies. The City should maintain reasonable housing costs by supporting infrastructure, zoning and approvals to target a balanced, market-driven housing supply. Subsidies should be temporary and for those in genuine need that are designed to promote independence and stability.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: I believe in free markets. Private owners and builders should be free to negotiate costs with potential buyers, renters. Perhaps some partnering organizations could assist in these private arrangements. If the city property tax reduction lower costs and affordablity would be more achievable. Longer answer: I believe in free markets. and I do not believe that the city should be interfering with the market pricing on housing. I understand that it may be difficult for some of those with lower incomes to be able to afford, but I believe that the charity of others is being circumvented by forcing people to have a cap on their prices I think that the city should allow the free market to dictate. Perhaps owners or developers are able to partner with organizations to make arrangement, but that would be in a private agreement, not a city mandate. If the city would reduce non-essential spending, then property taxes would be lower and affordability would be more achievable.

Landon Johnston: For me, “affordable housing” means a working Calgarian shouldn’t be house-poor. The City’s job is to keep overall costs down by cutting red tape, setting firm permit timelines, and unlocking supply, especially by selling or long-leasing City land near transit and shopping hubs with build-fast conditions. I support targeted, temporary help for people in crisis and supportive housing for those who truly can’t live independently, but not permanent subsidies. No blanket rezoning, add the right homes in the right places with real community input. And the best long-term fix is jobs: a focused, smaller city government that helps get good-paying work and more homes built faster.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: Public sector unions represent many of the people who deliver essential services in Calgary. Their main role is to negotiate and protect fair wages, benefits, and working conditions for city employees through collective bargaining agreements. We are currently seeing a large amount of strike action from unions due to large inequalities that have arisen in recent years. I would approach union negotiations with accurate forecasting data that establishes the limit of reasonable wage increases.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: No response.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: Public sector unions are essential partners in delivering the services Calgarians count on every day. I respect the important role they play in supporting fair wages and safe workplaces. At the same time, the City must negotiate responsibly to protect taxpayers. That means approaching discussions with respect and collaboration, but also relying on data, clear budgeting, and long-term sustainability. My focus will be on ensuring fair agreements that value our employees while safeguarding fiscal responsibility and maintaining high-quality services for residents.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: Unions play an important role in representing employees, but negotiations must align with fiscal responsibility. I would advocate for transparency, fair agreements, and measures that balance employee needs with taxpayer value.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: Public sector unions play an important role in representing frontline workers—those who keep our city running, safe, and responsive. Their voices matter, and respectful negotiation is key to maintaining a motivated and effective workforce. At the same time, fiscal responsibility must guide every decision. I believe in fair contracts that reflect both the value of public service and the financial realities facing taxpayers. That means: 1. Transparent negotiations 2. Clear performance expectations 3. Long-term planning that avoids sudden cost spikes Strong cities are built on collaboration not conflict. I’ll work to ensure that union agreements are sustainable, service-focused, and aligned with Calgary’s growth and budget priorities.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: Unions are an established and legitimate way that our workers have a say in their salaries and benefits. However, a compromise is necessary between the demands of unions and their members, and the willingness and ability of the taxpayers who must raise the money to pay the employees of the City of Calgary. I think the union leadership understands the constraints that the City faces and i would negotiate new contracts on an interest based negotiation model, rather than confrontational position based negotiations.

Jaspriya Johal: Public sector unions play an important role in representing workers who deliver the services Calgarians depend on. But at the same time, negotiations cannot come at the cost of fiscal responsibility. My approach would be to respect the work of employees while making sure contracts are fair, transparent, and affordable for taxpayers. At the end of the day, every dollar comes from Calgarians, and it must be justified by the value they see in their services.

Danny Ng: Front-line workers deliver the services residents count on. I’ll bargain respectfully and transparently with a public mandate: tie increases to core inflation, productivity, and service outcomes; benchmark total compensation against comparable cities; and publish labour cost trends during budget season. Protect essential services, but be honest about what taxpayers can afford.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: I’m committed to maintaining negotiations in good faith with our union employees. Calgary is one of the largest employers in the city. It's important to continue to foster a great work environment. In 2025 the City of Calgary was on the list of Alberta’s Top Employers as well as Forbes list of Canada’s Top Employers. I want the City of Calgary to continue to be a world class employer. I do expect transparency and accountability when it comes to negotiations. I am a fan of public sunshine lists for salaries in the city but I think if we want the top talent to run our city they will be compensated as so.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: Public sector unions represent the frontline people who keep Calgary running, and I respect the vital work of police, fire, bylaw, transit, and parks staff. Supporting workers must go hand-in-hand with protecting taxpayers, so I’ll approach bargaining with clear budget limits tied to inflation and population growth, and insist agreements are sustainable and focused on core services. I’ll push for transparency on the full cost of any deal and performance expectations so residents see better service for every dollar. We’ll look for efficiencies first—through audits and process improvements—so we can fund fair wages without raising taxes or cutting essentials. I’ll always respect collective bargaining and negotiate in good faith, but I won’t sign deals the City can’t afford. That’s how we support frontline teams and keep Calgary’s finances strong.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: While public sector unions can play an important role in representing City employees, the City also has a responsibility to all taxpayers to maintain fiscal discipline and ensure services are delivered efficiently. I recognize the value unions can provide, but I have little appreciation for union dues being used to influence municipal elections. In the last election, a Third Party Advertiser funded by public sector unions - Calgary’s Future - spent $1.7 million to support candidates, openly bragging about their success and have committed to doing the same again this cycle. I fail to see the value in negotiating for additional funding when unions already have enough surplus to fund advocacy groups, political causes and media campaigns. I will not apologize for saying that some public sector unions have stepped out of their lane. Using taxpayer funds to influence policy, sway public perception and impact elections must stop. We all support a safe and fair working environment and union dues should be used to advocate for workers based on merit, keeping salaries and benefits fair and sustainable, not to push for public sector increases while taxpayers face rising costs and declining services.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: I value City employees' work, as they deliver the essential services Calgarians rely on daily. However, as a fiscal conservative, I believe union negotiations must always balance fair treatment of employees with fairness to taxpayers. Too often, settlements in the public sector outpace what’s actually happening in the private sector, and that drives up costs that families and businesses can’t afford. As a Councillor, I’ll push for three things: 1. Transparency so taxpayers know the true costs of agreements. 2. Alignment with the private sector. Wage and benefit growth should reflect what’s happening in the broader economy, not exceed it. 3. Protecting core services. Ensuring labour costs don’t crowd out funding for roads, safety, and other essentials. Unions have a role, but City Hall’s job is to put taxpayers first and negotiate responsibly.

John Pantazopoulos: Unions play an important role in representing workers — but at the end of the day, taxpayers sign the cheque. In my career, I’ve negotiated contracts and managed large budgets where every dollar had to count. I’ll bring that same discipline to City Hall: respecting employees while keeping costs sustainable, negotiating with transparency, and protecting taxpayers from blank cheques.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: Public sector unions are a reality in City operations. It's the right of workers to organize if they so wish. Contract negotiations should be in good faith but tough, recognizing the need to keep finances on an affordable track for all.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: Unions are there to advocate for fair wages and safe working conditions for their workers. We are always going to be in collaboration with them. How do we ensure negotiations do not compromise fiscal responsibility? A big part of that is transparency. To ensure that collective bargaining negotiations are transparent to the public. Taxpayers should have access to this information and they do have a right to know how their money is being spent. We should also bolster our budgetary guardrails. Union contract approvals need to meet balanced budget requirements so if a proposed contract creates a structural deficit, it would be rejected and sent back for revision.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: Public sector unions have a legitimate role in representing their members, but they must be cultured to balance labour fairness with fiscal responsibility. My priority is ensuring compensation aligns with economic realities and taxpayer capacity. Calgary must avoid unsustainable settlements that create long-term burdens.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: Public sector unions play an important role in ensuring that City employees are treated fairly, work safely, and deliver the high-quality public services Calgarians depend on every day. The City’s workforce is one of its greatest assets — firefighters, transit operators, waste collectors, and many others who keep our city running. That said, we must also protect taxpayers’ interests. As councillor, I would advocate for transparent, data-driven negotiations that align wage growth with economic realities and performance outcomes. Collaboration and respect are essential, but so are sustainability and accountability.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: I would insist on complete transparency and I think if you insist on having intelligent, thorough and meaningful discussion, analyze, research, strategize involve experts, mediators, theorists and plan accordingly, people can't argue with the facts. Results and a meeting of the minds is what teachers are good at and negotiating and mediating are what business owners like me are good at. I am both a teacher and business owner.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: The City of Calgary employs over 15,000 Calgarians. These are our friends, neighbours and family. I respect labour and its right to organize. In return, I expect that public sector unions and the City of Calgary work together in our shared goals of providing an excellent quality of life here. More often than not, it is a lack of communication that leads to negotiation breakdowns. Posturing and an inability to compromise set negative tones and are also sure to lead to failed negotiations. Labour is our partner in the work we are trying to achieve. Respect must be mutual.

Tony Dinh: Public sector unions play a role in representing workers, but their agreements must always serve the public interest first. Too often, negotiations at City Hall lack transparency and accountability, taxpayers end up footing the bill for decisions made behind closed doors. I respect the work our frontline staff do, but I’ll insist on open, data-driven bargaining that ties wage growth to inflation, productivity, and performance, not politics. No sweetheart deals, no hidden clauses. Fiscal responsibility means standing firm, ensuring fair compensation without overburdening residents. The goal is balance: treat employees with respect, but protect taxpayers from runaway labour costs.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: Public sector unions play an important role in representing frontline workers who deliver the core services Calgarians depend on — from transit and waste collection to emergency response. I value the work of these employees and believe they deserve fair treatment, safe workplaces, and respect at the bargaining table. At the same time, City Council has a responsibility to taxpayers to ensure negotiations are transparent, balanced, and fiscally responsible. That means: Basing agreements on evidence and affordability, not politics. Ensuring that wage growth is aligned with Calgary’s economic realities and the ability of families to pay. Looking for efficiencies and innovation in City operations, so we’re not simply adding costs but improving outcomes. Maintaining open, respectful dialogue with unions, while also holding the line when demands exceed what is reasonable or sustainable. In short, I believe in a collaborative approach: protect workers, respect taxpayers, and make sure the City’s focus stays on delivering the essentials Calgarians rely on.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: We need to ensure workers are treated fairly and I would work to do so but also be aware of the ultimate goal to keep costs down.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: Front line city employees help make Calgary a world-class, livable city. We need to attract highly skilled workers in all departments that will enable a marked improvement in the quality of services and infrastructure. Council can work with administration to set a direction that targets key issues (water infrastructure, pot holes, parks and recreation, and social supports) in ways that do not conflict, especially since there are various strategies and policies that residents and community associations do not support.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: The best way to work with Unions is to ensure that everyone is fully informed about the economic realities of the day. By working under the principles of fair and honest negotiations we can negotiate agreements that are aligned with the current economy conditions.

Mahmoud Mourra: I view unions as important tools for protecting the interests of hard-working Calgarians and ensuring fair treatment of employees. When they stay focused on representing their members in good faith, they play a valuable role in maintaining a stable workforce and safe working conditions. However, lately we’ve seen some unions becoming too political, taking positions that risk holding their members’ interests hostage to broader agendas. The priority should always be the well-being of workers, not political maneuvering by union leadership. As councillor, I would approach negotiations with respect for workers while ensuring fiscal responsibility for taxpayers. That means fair wages and conditions, but also accountability, transparency, and contracts that reflect the city’s financial reality. We need unity, not division, so that unions can keep serving their members while City Hall protects the broader public interest.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: City workers are essential to delivering services, and unions play a role in representing their interests. However, negotiations must always be fair, transparent, and sustainable. As Councillor, I would ensure that agreements respect both workers and taxpayers—so we can maintain quality services without compromising financial stability.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: The last council successfully negotiated with eleven unions without any job action. These were accommodated in tax increases that were lower than population and inflation combined so there was no compromise of fiscal responsibility.

Rob Ward: Unions play an important role in achieving fair worker compensation and working conditions. City Council’s responsibility is to the taxpayers who fund City operations. My approach is to ensure negotiations are fair to employees while also firmly grounded in fiscal responsibility. That means: • Basing negotiations on the City’s financial reality and what taxpayers can afford, not political pressure. • Avoiding unsustainable agreements that lock the City into long-term costs Calgary families cannot carry. • Ensuring accountability and transparency in the negotiation process so residents know their money is being managed wisely. I value the contributions of City workers who keep our communities safe, clean, and running. We must also recognize that every dollar spent comes from Calgarians. My commitment is to strike agreements that respect workers, while protecting taxpayers from escalating costs that compromise affordability.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: I believe in any negotiations we need to find common ground that respects employees while maintaining long-term financial sustainability for the City.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: Unions have a place, but negotiations must not compromise fiscal responsibility. Taxpayers expect accountability. I will respect workers while making sure contracts are fair and sustainable for the city’s budget.

Erin Averbukh: They play an important role in representing employees, but negotiations must stay balanced, transparent and financially responsible. I’d ensure all agreements are based on data, performance and long-term affordability - not politics. The City can respect workers and protect taxpayers by keeping compensation fair, sustainable and tied to measurable service outcomes.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: The unions are in place and have the legal right to fair bargaining. To be fiscally responsible is something I believe in; however, I understand a negotiation is some give and some take on both sides. Both sides want a respectful negotiation resulting in a good and fair deal. Longer answer: Public sector unions are part of the City staff structure. The steps that I would take to ensure Union negotiations do not compromise fiscal responsibility is you need to have those discussions with the unions and it just becomes part of the negotiation they are part of a union for a reason and there are laws and processes in place that are used during negotiations. Continue to have open and honest communication so the parties understand what the needs are from both sides. The reality is the City provides essential services and it takes people to accomplish those services. Respectful dialogue means listening on both sides of the table. We need to help everyone understand we cannot continue to view the taxpayer as a rescue lifeline and we need to understand that their pockets are only so deep.

Landon Johnston: Public-sector unions have a legitimate role in representing workers, but City Hall can’t be a make-work program or let bargaining hold taxpayers hostage. My standard is simple: fair pay and safe working conditions in exchange for measurable service results—and contracts that the City can afford. If a function is no longer needed, we should wind it down respectfully (redeployment, attrition, or severance) instead of keeping payroll for its own sake. The first duty is to residents who fund the system.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: We learned a hard lesson with the water main break. Our city needs to ensure strong essential services especially when we are experiencing rapid growth. Our aging infrastructure requires constant monitoring and this is best achieved through technology. By identifying critical needs in each community, we can prioritize which areas to focus on before we have another catastrophic failure.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: No response.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: The Bearspaw south feeder main rupture was one of the worst infrastructure failures in the city’s history. One and a half million Calgarians were placed under water restrictions for months. We still haven’t seen a full, costed plan to restore the integrity of our water system, or public confidence in how it’s managed. This was a failure in how the system has been managed over decades, by successive Councils. In addition, Calgary loses over 20 per cent of its treated water due to leaky infrastructure; one of the highest rates in Canada. We are wasting precious water and taxpayer dollars. There have been repeated delays and vague responses from City Administration, and a Council majority unwilling to push for firm timelines or accountability. When Communities First is elected to City Council, we will direct Administration to deliver a full water infrastructure plan, including budgets and timelines, so it can be built into the next four-year budget. Fixing Calgary’s water loss problem could also delay the need for a new water treatment plant, potentially saving the city billions over the next decade.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: The incident highlighted gaps in proactive maintenance. I would work collaboratively with engineers, city staff, and community experts to strengthen long-term infrastructure planning, conduct regular risk assessments, and prioritize critical systems before failures occur.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: The rupture was a wake-up call. While emergency crews responded quickly and professionally, the incident revealed deeper issues in how we manage and maintain critical infrastructure. Calgary is currently losing over 25% of its treated water through leaks and aging systems compared to just 4% in Edmonton. That gap is alarming. It’s not just about one pipe it’s about long-term planning, accountability, and smart investment. As an independent candidate, I believe the City must: Shift toward predictive maintenance using modern monitoring tools Publish transparent infrastructure reports so residents understand risks and timelines Prioritize capital upgrades where the cost of inaction is highest Engage communities early especially in high-impact zones We can’t afford to keep reacting to emergencies. Every dollar spent on prevention today saves us from a crisis tomorrow. Calgarians deserve infrastructure that’s reliable, resilient, and built for the future.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: I think the City has received a wake up call. Council should focus less on grand projects and more on ensuring that the out of sight assets are maintained and replaced before a crisis emerges.

Jaspriya Johal: The Bearspaw feeder main break showed us just how fragile Calgary’s aging infrastructure really is. Families were left worried about whether there would be enough water, and that should never happen in a city like ours. I don’t believe the City has acted responsibly enough; too often it waits for a crisis before acting. My approach would be to build redundancy into critical systems and invest in maintenance before failures happen, not after. We can’t fight nature by ignoring it, our infrastructure has to work with natural patterns, not against them. Calgarians deserve a city that plans ahead so families aren’t left scrambling when things break down.

Danny Ng: Emergency crews worked around the clock, and the City repaired the break and multiple “hot spots,” but we should never be that close to running out of water again. I’ll back an independent asset-risk audit, public condition ratings, and a 10-year renewal schedule with funding that residents can track online—plus “dig once” coordination to stretch dollars further.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: Full assessment of the 22% loss of potable water leaks to our water system. It’s much higher than most cities our age. This can be done after the 3rd party review wraps early next year. Leaks should be the next area of focus. We also have the North Trunk feeder main project off of the Bearspaw plant that needs to be built. I will champion this project.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: Last summer’s water main break showed why basics come first. I support proactive maintenance and clear public updates so residents trust what comes out of the tap and the city can grow confidently. I also support a deeper audit and inspection of the water system, fixing the leakage issue, and building back up systems so that access to drinking water will be reliable for Calgarians.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: The Bearspaw South feeder main rupture highlighted serious risks in Calgary’s aging infrastructure and exposed a lack of proactive management. While emergency response measures were taken once the rupture occurred, the failure itself was preventable. The City needs a robust, data-driven infrastructure maintenance strategy that prioritizes preventative inspections and upgrades. Critical systems like water mains, transit infrastructure and roads, should be assessed regularly and investments should be allocated based on risk, age and potential impact on residents. I would also work towards implementing stronger accountability measures ensuring that maintenance schedules are adhered to, that long-term planning is transparent to the public and that City staff are empowered and resourced to address infrastructure issues before they escalate into emergencies. Calgarians deserve infrastructure that works reliably, not reactive fixes after the fact.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: Calgary absolutely needs a back-up (redundant) water pipeline system. The massive Bearspaw South water main break earlier this year showed how vulnerable our city is when we rely so heavily on one major transmission line. Here are the key reasons why a back-up pipeline is critical: 1. Resilience and Reliability A single break shut down water access for hundreds of thousands of Calgarians, forced businesses and hospitals to adapt, and highlighted just how fragile the system is. A redundant line ensures that if one pipe fails, another can carry the load. 2. Public Safety Reliable water isn’t just about drinking — it’s needed for firefighting, hospitals, and sanitation. Without redundancy, every emergency becomes more dangerous. 3. Economic Security The water main break caused major disruptions to restaurants, construction, and other industries. The cost to businesses and households likely outweighed the cost of building redundancy. 4. Planning for Growth Calgary is growing quickly. A single pipeline system isn’t enough to handle the increased demand and risk that comes with a larger population. 5. Best Practice Other major cities in North America build redundancy into critical infrastructure to protect against catastrophic failure and Calgary should look at ways to proactively meet that standard. Water delivery is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of City Hall, and it should always come before ‘nice-to-haves.’ This failure clearly illustrates what happens when past councils and administrations lose focus on providing core municipal services. Council should direct administration to keep a proper inventory of our water pipes, monitor them with modern tools, prioritize replacements based on risk, and coordinate upgrades so we don’t tear up the same road multiple times. My priority is simple. Focus on core services, maintain critical infrastructure before it fails, and make sure every dollar is spent wisely to keep Calgarians safe.

John Pantazopoulos: The rupture was a wake-up call — and sadly, not a surprising one. City Hall knew this pipe was critical, yet failed to act until it was too late. The result was a $35-million failure that left families without safe drinking water, damaged public confidence and eroded trust with City Hall. We need to fix this culture of inaction before the next crisis hits. That means stronger inspections, clear priorities, and transparent reporting — plus building redundancy into systems too important to fail. City Hall must stop reacting after the fact and start planning responsibly.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: When I was first elected to the House of Commons, the cities agenda was just taking shape - seeking for the first time, federal funding for municipal infrastructure. Despite delivering billions to cities in federal funding, the "infrastructure deficit" that cities talk about is no better. Adding new assets without managing older assets has led to problems like the Bearspaw south feeder main fiasco. I don't accept city administration's assertion that a line decades old was just about to be inspected. It's clear it hadn't been, leaving questions about how little we know about the condition of the remaining water system. Densification needs to slow down, a thorough infrastructure review is needed, and that is just to tell us where we are today. Council must take seriously, going forward, its role as a review body for what administration is - or isn't - doing. I'd consider hauling senior officials in front of Council every quarter to report on progress on its oversight workplans to ensure timelines are met. Council, in the end, has the responsibility to ensure proper inspection, maintenance, repair, and planning for replacement of every municipal asset - whether a firetruck, police station, ageing water pipe or transit rolling stock.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: The city didn't do enough to prioritize maintenance and as a result the (known) issues we've had with our aging infrastructure finally caught up to us. We let this build for too long before acting. We didn't get a head of it, we let it build to the point of disaster. Years of deferred maintenance led to a high-cost break down in our infrastructure. This goes back to what I've been saying earlier, we need to focus on Municipal responsibilities. This includes infrastructure. We cannot build things and not pay to have them properly maintained. We need to be responsible for what we build.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: The rupture exposed gaps in proactive maintenance. While the City acted quickly in response, prevention should be the focus. We need prioritized spending on strong asset management practices, more transparent reporting on infrastructure risks, and a culture that prioritizes long-term upkeep over short-term savings.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: The Bearspaw rupture showed the cost of waiting too long to repair aging systems. I would push for proactive, technology-driven maintenance — using sensors, data analytics, and AI to detect risks early. Alongside regular infrastructure audits and transparent reporting, these tools can save money and prevent crises. Calgary must move from reactive repairs to smart, data-based planning that keeps essential services safe, reliable, and future-ready.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: The City did the complete opposite of acting responsibly and managing this risk. The City passed the Blanket Rezoning Land Designation that would lead to even more disruption and increased the risk of of this happening again. The changes that I would make would be to revisit the implementation of Blanket Rezoning. Put the horse before the cart and not vice versa. We need to strategically plan, place and prioritize densification around our LRT lines first and finish the projects that you start before starting new ones and over complicate issues have not been properly addressed. Plan and do your research to see what works. Do pilot projects and pertinent studies before the implementation of anything, especially when blanketing anything on such an immense scale.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: In crisis, it is important to be clear, concise and transparent with the public. Feedback I received in real time during the rupture was that the city fell short in each of these. We must learn from this, and work to ensure that we do much better in meeting the publics needs when addressing emergencies like this. Major infrastructure maintenance has been deferred again and again for decades. This is not a burden we can continue to pass on to the next generation. It appears we're out of runway. I think it's important that we engage our city departments to see how best to better maintain this infrastructure. And perhaps look to an annual spend, or the help of the private sector to ensure regular maintenance.

Tony Dinh: The Bearspaw rupture was a wake-up call, proof that the City’s “reactive instead of proactive” mindset is costing us dearly. Critical infrastructure shouldn’t fail before it’s fixed. While emergency crews did their best, leadership failed in long-term planning and transparency. I’d push for regular third-party audits of aging assets, clear maintenance schedules, and public reporting on infrastructure readiness. Too often, money is poured into flashy projects while pipes, roads, and water mains quietly decay. Preventative maintenance isn’t optional, it’s fiscal responsibility in action. Calgarians deserve leadership that fixes what’s hidden underground before it becomes another public disaster above ground.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: The Bearspaw feeder main rupture was a wake-up call for all of us. While City crews worked hard to repair the damage and restore service, the fact that a failure of this scale happened at all shows that we’ve been far too reactive with critical infrastructure. Waiting for pipes to burst before acting is not good enough. As councillor, I will push for: A proactive inspection and replacement program for aging water, sewer, and transportation infrastructure, based on risk and lifecycle assessments. Greater transparency for residents, so people know the condition of the infrastructure in their communities. Smarter, long-term capital planning that prioritizes essentials like water, roads, and utilities before spending on new projects. Calgarians expect reliable core services. We can’t afford to manage billion-dollar assets with a “wait until it breaks” approach. Proactive investment saves money, prevents disruption, and keeps our communities safe.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: No the City did not handle this well. We need to regularly maintain critical infrastructure and risk assessments need to be carried out immediately to ensure we do not have this happen again. Plans for regular replacements is critical.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: Getting back to basics means that Calgarians know their water infrastructure is safe and reliable. Council must be laser focused on ensuring proper investment in basic infrastructure. The watermain break was an obvious failure of the city's responsibility and it cannot be repeated. I'm proud of how Calgarians reacted to the crisis, taking on changes to their routine to save water and helping their neighbours. The next Council cannot take this for granted. Tax dollars must be spent efficiently and on projects that deliver results for Calgarians.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: Better monitoring and more locations measuring water volumes. The recent water main break demonstrated the need to used recently available enhanced monitoring systems for large feeder main systems while in operation. The city needs to accelerate the implementation of advanced metering and monitoring equipment to better manage any impending failures and to isolate current leaks to reduce the amount of potable water leaking into the ground.

Mahmoud Mourra: The Bearspaw south feeder main rupture showed that Calgary’s aging infrastructure is at serious risk, and I don’t believe the City has acted responsibly enough in anticipating and preventing these failures. Critical infrastructure like water lines, roads, and bridges must be inspected, monitored, and maintained proactively, not only after a crisis. As councillor, I would push for regular independent audits, transparent reporting on infrastructure condition, and a clear priority plan to ensure essential systems are funded and repaired before failures happen, not after.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: The Bearspaw rupture showed that our infrastructure strategy is too reactive. Calgary must invest in preventative maintenance, proactive inspections, and better long-term planning. We can’t wait for systems to fail—basic infrastructure is the foundation of our city. I would push for earlier detection programs and ensure accountability in every maintenance budget.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: It really stinks when you plan to do a full check on your car and right before you take it to the shop, something breaks. That was the feeder main in a nutshell. There was recent approval of more water infrastructure upgrades. We make sure that happens by staying true to the plan and path set forward and not deferring spending because of budget reductions.

Rob Ward: The Bearspaw feeder main rupture was a wake-up call. While City crews worked hard to repair the break, the incident highlighted that critical infrastructure maintenance has not been prioritized the way it should be. Too often, City Hall puts money into new projects and pet initiatives while aging infrastructure quietly falls behind. I don’t believe Calgarians should have to wait for a crisis to see investment in essential systems like water, sewer, and roads. Going forward, the City must: • Make infrastructure a top priority in the budget before funding new initiatives. • Improve asset management planning, maintenance operations and schedules to identify risks and proactively fix worn facilities, not reactively. • Increase transparency by clearly reporting to taxpayers what infrastructure needs exist, what’s being funded, and what risks remain. As councillor, I would push for a back-to-basics approach by directing tax dollars first to the services and infrastructure Calgarians rely on every day. That’s the best way to prevent another failure like Bearspaw and restore confidence in City Hall’s priorities.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: Despite massive spending increases, our infrastructure continues to deteriorate. There needs to be a shift in focus away from pet projects and towards more investment in our critical infrastructure.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: The City has been reactive, not proactive. Ward 14 alone has 62 km of asbestos cement water pipes, something I’ve been raising awareness about because it impacts health and safety. We need regular testing, clear timelines for replacement, and transparency so residents know where their tax dollars are going.

Erin Averbukh: This exposed clear failures in proactive maintenance and risk management. The City should have acted sooner with stronger inspection schedules and accountability. I’d push for regular audits, transparent reporting and prioritized funding for aging infrastructure. Preventative maintenance must come before crisis response, it’s safer and costs less long term.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: This risk was not managed responsibly. We pay a great deal of fees each month in our water bills for what should be monitoring and maintenance. I would like to see our fees accomplishing reliable, sound infrastructure. Perhaps major infrastructure have an annual monitoring report (and ACTIONS to avoid a 2024 repeat). Longer answer: I admit knowing everything regarding the water main rupture. It is my understanding there was prior knowledge to the rupture that the city was leaking substantial amounts of water for years. Fixing a water main may not be glorious or glamourous, or get the high visibility of a Peace Bridge, or a City Rebranding, or an Airport Tunnel, but water is VITAL everyday for Calgarians and I do not think the city acted responsibly in managing the risk if this prior knowledge was known. What I would like to see is frequent scheduled monitoring being performed. And if there are issues, they are being addressed (as in fixed/repaired) appropriately. Calgary is not a 3rd-world city, and what we experienced in the summer of 2024 in not acceptable if there was prior knowledge clearly demonstrating the issue being ignored rather than addressed. I would be putting forth or advocating for regular critical infrastructure monitoring, reporting, and repair to avoid having this happen again to any of our critical infrastructure: water, electrical, sewer. It is simply not acceptable.

Landon Johnston: The Bearspaw south feeder main rupture shows the City wasn’t proactive enough. For a world-class city, summer water restrictions from avoidable failures are unacceptable. I’d shift to a risk-based asset plan that fixes what’s likeliest to fail first, expand leak detection and pressure/strain monitoring, and build redundancy.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: All of our residents should feel safe when taking city transit. I think there are ways we can improve transit safety by increasing the visible presence of our peace officers. We can also reduce incidents of social disorder by supporting mental health and social programs. I don't believe a costly overhaul to a closed system will eliminate the dangers experienced on transit.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: There is a huge need for re-visiting of public safety issues and strong action to ensure citizens feel that this is a priority. I believe a balance of the budget could offer a relief of fares but this needs a closer look to see spending and looking further on infrastructure strategy

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: No, the current approach to transit safety is not working. During COVID, the homeless were encouraged to use the trains for shelter. Fast forward to today, I have heard from many people that they don’t feel safe on transit. Transit users have witnessed violence and open drug use. The City should reconsider the idea of a fully closed system with fare gates, or any other ideas to increase safety.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: Transit safety is a growing concern. I support collaborating with transit staff, riders, and safety experts to implement practical solutions that enhance safety, such as improved visibility, monitoring, and emergency response while keeping costs reasonable for taxpayers.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: Calgary’s current approach to transit safety needs improvement. While many frontline staff work hard to keep the system safe, residents continue to raise valid concerns especially around LRT stations and late-night service. The City Council’s decision to reject a fully closed system with fare gates was based on cost, but I believe the idea should be reconsidered as part of a broader safety strategy. Fare gates alone aren’t a silver bullet, but when combined with Increased staffing and visible presence, Better lighting and station design, Community outreach and mental health supports, Real-time reporting tools for riders, We can build a system that feels safe, accessible, and welcoming for everyone. Safety must be a top priority. If people don’t feel safe, they won’t use transit and that undermines our goals for affordability, climate, and equity. I’ll advocate for a balanced, proactive approach that puts rider experience first.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: We need to maintain a safe transit system As Calgary grows, the threats to public safety are increasing. The design of the C-train platforms would make it extremely difficult to have a fully closed system.

Jaspriya Johal: Calgary’s current approach to transit safety is not working. Families do not feel safe, and that means the system is failing. The City needs a stronger strategy with more officers, better lighting, and working cameras. Fare gates were rejected for cost, but if they truly improve safety, the idea should be reconsidered.

Danny Ng: Safety has improved in pockets, but many riders still don’t feel safe. I support a layered approach: more peace officers and CPS partnerships, better lighting and cameras, faster cleaning, shields for bus operators, and consistent fare checks. On fare gates: costs are high, but I’m open to pilots at the busiest downtown stations with clear targets for assaults and fare evasion. If gates don’t beat cheaper enforcement per dollar, we don’t scale them up.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: The city and the province need to work together on the state of mental health and addictions in our city. Without adequate spaces for treatment and housing we are bound to see homelessness and drug use in the public realm. I support the city’s efforts to increase officers along our transit system. In regards to the closed system, evidence has not proven that a closed system would prevent these problems. I think money is better spent on the tools and resources for front line officers and service providers.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: The current approach is not meeting the needs of Calgarians. Ward 4 residents should feel safe on transit, and that’s why I am advocating for more peace officers at stations, better lighting, security and firm enforcement of prohibitions on drug use in stations. Our community has some of the busiest transit stations in the City, so we need to focus on reliability and increasing frequency. I am open to the possibility of piloting fare gates or other methods to have better cost recovery.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: Expensive band-aids aren’t fixing the problems with transit safety. Almost weekly, we’re seeing reports of incidents involving passengers, drivers and transit staff. The City has budgeted $5 million to protect workers, which is important—no one should work in an unsafe environment but this hasn’t improved safety for passengers. We need a more holistic approach. Measures like fare gates, which have proven effective in other cities, should be reconsidered. In addition, targeted enforcement in high-crime areas, combined with better training and support for transit staff, could help address these issues before they escalate. Ultimately, transit should be safe for everyone, passengers and staff alike and the City must prioritize solutions that actually work, not just reactive spending.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: Transit safety and fairness go hand in hand. Right now, too many people are riding without paying. I hear stories all the time of riders who buy tickets online but only activate them if an officer boards. That’s lost revenue the City should be reinvesting into making the system safer and more reliable. I support turnstiles at transit stations, because they improve safety, reduce fare evasion, and help restore confidence in the system. Calgarians who pay their fare deserve to know others are doing the same. However, there are also a number of other strategies the City could be exploring to address transit safety. For example, more visible peace officers on trains and platforms, and better station design with lighting and cameras. As a Councillor, I’ll push for a balanced approach: strong enforcement, smart design, and compassion where it’s needed. Our goal must be to get Calgarians back on board who are now avoiding it, by making transit safe and reliable.

John Pantazopoulos: Transit safety is not working. We need a stronger presence of peace officers and police on the system. The City should explore targeted security upgrades at high-traffic stations and continue to look at fare-gate models for future expansions as the revenue gained from increased fare compliance and increased ridership should offset the costs of creating a closed system.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: Generally speaking, transit crime is down. Having enforcement on public transit helps. But it isn't entirely effective. Council must return to the idea of a closed system - especially as it embarks on the new Green Line. It will help with the full capture of fares, and lessen the migration of some crime. In conversations with Ward 6 residents bordering the LRT, there is emerging consensus on the need to re-examine a closed system.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: Our city has ignored transit issues for years. From safety to efficiency. Our riders don't feel safe and they don't feel like we're doing enough to support our transit system in high volume times. The fare gate won't help solve the issues. It won't stop criminals, homeless or drug addicts from loitering in the stations, and it won't help add more buses to support high volume hours. We need more buses and shuttle buses during those hours and we need more officers patrolling our stations to ensure faster response times.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: Transit safety is not working as it should. Riders must feel secure. More uniformed presence, better coordination with police, and technology like cameras and real-time alerts are needed. On fare gates: while cost was the reason for rejection, the debate should be reopened with a clear cost-benefit analysis. Rider safety and fare integrity are not optional.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: I need to research more in this topic.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: We need a completely different strategy and we should revisit fare gates that have a person present that can call monitor and be aware of criminal and unsafe activity. Yes we should have barriers and not a free for all on our LRT lines. Barriers like having to pay before accessing an LRT platform will deter criminals and crime. We also need a much more obvious Peace Officer and security presence. I elaborated more on this in a previous answer

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: With the Green Line on its way, we should look to implement some of the safety mechanisms we've been told would be too costly to retro-fit in our existing platforms. Pay gates and more secured access should be a priority. To not start this work at all is not the way towards our goal of safer transit. Incremental investment can see us get there over the years ahead and I think this is a smart move as more and more people look to transit in our growing city.

Tony Dinh: Calgary’s current approach to transit safety is not working. Riders don’t feel safe, and that’s reason enough to rethink the strategy. Safety isn’t just about optics, it’s about trust in a system people rely on daily. I believe fare gates should be reconsidered, paired with more visible enforcement and mental-health supports at key stations. A half-measure approach costs more in the long run when ridership drops and crime rises. The system must be safe, clean, and respected. We can’t rebuild transit confidence without accountability and deterrence. Safety comes before convenience, because if people don’t feel safe, they simply won’t ride.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: Calgarians deserve to feel safe on our transit system, and right now too many people do not. The current approach is not working. Families, seniors, and workers tell me every week that they avoid the C-Train or buses because of safety concerns, and that undermines both ridership and affordability. While I understand City Council rejected fare gates because of the cost, I believe this decision should be reconsidered as part of a broader safety strategy. Fare gates alone won’t solve everything, but paired with increased peace officers, CPS transit teams, better lighting, and stronger partnerships with social agencies, they can play an important role in restoring confidence. We need a balanced strategy: prevention programs for vulnerable people, visible enforcement to deter crime, and practical measures like gates or controlled access where they make sense. If elected, I will push for a pilot program at key stations to test fare gates alongside other safety improvements, and expand only if proven effective. Safety isn’t optional. If people don’t feel safe, they won’t use transit — and that hurts everyone.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: Safety is paramount. Many strategies can be deployed but a closed system is key. Also eyes on the street and full time businesses operating within the transit stations is an easy strategy that is commonplace in most successful international transit systems .

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: Calgarians must be able to trust their transit system so they can go about their lives efficiently and safely. Council must get back to basics and operate a world-class transit system. This includes more officer patrols to ensure safety, better coordination with social supports, and transit operators who are respected and safe in the workplace. A fully closed system remains an option yet it must be considered in terms of its cost and effectiveness, and the time it will take to implement. There are options available to Council and administration right now that can deliver improved results much quicker. Once transit quality is better, longer term options remain available.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: The current level of security on the LRT can use more presence but more importantly the bus safety unit needs to be reintroduced and maintained as a permanent solution to safety on the busses. While some stations would be very costly to incorporate a closed system many locations in Calgary could be enhanced with a fare gate system and potentially reduce fare evasion. The new Authenticator devices should reduce the amount of fare evasion which would help to offset the cost of adding more security. Elimination of the free fare zone downtown would also save money and reduce unwanted users into the system.

Mahmoud Mourra: Right now, there is no safe transit system in Calgary. We hear about attacks on bus drivers and riders almost daily, and a “closed” system with fare gates would not solve this problem. Violence can still happen whether gates exist or not, and there is no evidence that a fare-gate system actually reduces crime or improves safety. Instead, what we need are real changes: ending “catch-and-release” policies that put repeat offenders right back on the system, adding more patrol units and peace officers, improving lighting, and having stronger supervision in high-risk stations like Marlborough. On top of that, a fare-gate system would not only cost hundreds of millions to build, but it would also come with ongoing monthly costs for maintenance and operation. Transit riders deserve real safety solutions, not expensive systems that don’t work.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: Transit safety has not improved enough to make riders feel secure. While fare gates may be expensive, safety should never be treated as optional. We need a comprehensive strategy that includes: Increased visible presence of peace officers. Better lighting and security cameras. Partnerships with social agencies for outreach where needed. The focus must be on making transit safe and welcoming so more Calgarians can use it confidently.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: The strategy could use more funding to continue to create both a sense of safety for destination riders but also the services needed by those with substance use challenges and mental health disorders. Fare gates were rejected because the cost was nearly $1B. We can build a lot of housing and send people to recovery much cheaper than that.

Rob Ward: Calgary’s current approach to transit safety is not working. Riders deserve to feel safe on buses and C-Trains. Too often we hear about open drug use, harassment, and crime on the system. Until people feel secure, they won’t ride transit in the numbers we need. I believe the City needs a stronger, more visible safety strategy: • Expanding transit peace officers and police presence on platforms and vehicles. • Enforcing existing bylaws to address disorder, drug use, and repeat offenders. • Working with social agencies to connect vulnerable individuals with services to ensure transit remains safe for the public. On fare gates: while a fully closed system may not be cost-effective today, the decision should not be written off forever. If the City can demonstrate that fare gates would significantly reduce crime and increase revenues by cutting fare evasion, then the idea deserves to be revisited with a clear cost-benefit analysis. For now, the priority should be putting safety officers where they’re most needed and restoring order to the system. In short: safety first, then spending accountability. Keep exploring stronger long-term solutions if they prove to deliver real value.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: I am very supportive of fare gates and a closed transit system like we see in almost every other major City. I believe the next council should revisit this option as a way to increase revenue and keep our transit system safe. We also need to continue increasing officer presences in and around our transit system to keep Calgarians safe on transit.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: No. Too many Calgarians don’t feel safe using transit. We need a stronger police and peace officer presence, and better lighting and security at stations. Fare gates should be reconsidered, safety and order should outweigh bureaucratic excuses.

Erin Averbukh: The current approach to transit safety isn’t working. My platform calls for mcontrol gates, it should and must be reconsidered. It would improve security, fare compliance and revenue. Safety must be a top priority, even if it requires upfront investment.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: Riders need to feel safe on transit or they will not ride it if other options are readily available. I am open to ideas of improving transit safety and ridership. My questions are what is the cost of the closed system, and what is the cost of NOT using a closed system? Longer answer: I do not know the costs of implementing a closed system, but I also do not know the cost of not implementing a closed system. If ridership drops due to not feeling safe, that also incurs costs that must be considered. I have been to many doors where parents will not permit their children to ride the transit system because it is too sketchy and unsafe. I believe we need to come up with a plan or strategy that will promote ridership on transit for those that rely on it and that it should be safe. Perhaps that is security or police presence, or perhaps that is turnstiles. I do not have a solution, but I know people want to feel safe on their travels using transit.

Landon Johnston: Calgary’s current approach is not working. Riders do not feel safe and many have stopped using transit. I support a reset: install ticket barriers (fare gates) and add more uniformed Transit Peace Officers and CPS on platforms and trains. Council should reconsider its decision on fare gates with a phased pilot at the busiest stations and measure impacts on assaults, disorder, and fare evasion. If results improve, expand to the rest of the system. Pair gates with sustained proof of payment checks, fixed posts at hot spots, better lighting and cleaning, and fast response. The goal is simple: clear rules, visible enforcement, and a system people trust to use at all hours.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: The impact of opioids on our communities is incredibly alarming. While the decision to keep the Sheldon Chumir consumption site falls under provincial jurisdiction, we have to deal with the burden it places on the surrounding community. This issue extends to every corner of Calgary. I think preventative education and treatment/recovery programs are much better at addressing the problem.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: A good alternative would be include a model with input from residents, businesses, and people with lived experiences, ensuring a balanced approach that is compassionate, effective, and respective of the surrounding areas. Using recovery programs, that would give people a pathway beyond crisis care.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: Communities First candidates call on the provincial government to shut down the Sheldon Chumir supervised consumption site. Businesses are reporting an increase in property damage, vandalism and spending more money on security measures to protect their customers and staff. We also ask for “de-concentration” of services being delivered by the Drop-in Centre downtown in the interests of community safety. These changes will be possible by starting the important conversations with the Premier, the Police Chief and the CEO of the Drop-in Centre to work together to address these issues. Communities First policy of hiring 500 new police officers will also help address public drug use downtown. The Calgary Police Association has endorsed myself and the other Communities First candidates, so we know we are on the right track in addressing public safety concerns in Calgary.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: I believe Calgary should transition away from the supervised consumption site and focus on long-term solutions that help people overcome addiction. Investments should be directed toward treatment, rehabilitation, and supports that reduce overdoses and improve public safety, developed collaboratively with health experts, community organizations, and residents.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: I support harm reduction as a public health approach but I also recognize the need for community balance, safety, and trust. The Sheldon Chumir site has saved lives, but it has also raised concerns from nearby residents and businesses. If the site is to be relocated, that decision must be guided by evidence, community consultation, and a clear plan to maintain access to life-saving services. What matters most is not just the location but the continuity and quality of care. If the site were to close, it would be irresponsible to do so without first expanding: Mental health and addiction treatment services Supportive housing options Mobile outreach and culturally appropriate care We can’t afford to lose ground in the fight against overdoses. A balanced approach means protecting lives while also listening to communities and planning smarter. This is not about either/or it’s about doing both responsibly.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: The provincial government should take the lead on this issue.

Jaspriya Johal: The Sheldon Chumir site has caused serious concerns for nearby residents and businesses, and I do not believe its current location is appropriate. If the site is to remain, it should be relocated to a place where it can provide help without undermining community safety. At the same time, we cannot ignore the crisis; shutting down without alternatives would only make overdoses and public drug use worse. I would support expanding treatment beds, mobile outreach units, and community-based mental health and addiction supports. The goal should be saving lives while also protecting the dignity and safety of families, seniors, and businesses in our communities.

Danny Ng: Public safety and public health must both win. I support relocating to a health-campus model with wraparound treatment, detox on demand, and strict neighborhood enforcement—rather than concentrating services in one Beltline site. If the province closes the site, I would press for immediate alternatives (mobile/clinical OPS, outreach, treatment capacity) so we don’t push overdoses into parks, alleys, and transit stations. Municipal policing and bylaw must back this up on the street. (Final authority is provincial; the City should insist on a full transition plan.)

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: First and foremost this is a provincial matter. If the province would like to close the site, I would like to see alternative measures in place. If the site were to close before the alternative measures are in place, it will be inevitable that we will see more open drug use in our public spaces.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: Once elected, I will call for the Province to close the Sheldon Chumir site and spread services to better-suited locations. Health care, mental health and addictions are the Province’s job; the City’s job is keeping streets safe and clean. If it closes, I’ll push the Province to deliver support in other spots, but this needs to be strategic and done with real community engagement, and alongside a full spectrum of care and recovery from the Province. I also support a 24/7 police station downtown. This is a complex issue that needs the province, police, drop-in centre leadership and community to work collaboratively on.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: The Sheldon Chumir supervised consumption site is a lesson Calgary didn’t need to learn and should be shut down. The failures of similar programs were evident in cities like Seattle, San Francisco and even Edmonton long before they were launched here, so it should come as no surprise that we are seeing similar challenges in Calgary. While we must show compassion for those struggling with addiction and mental health issues, we also have a responsibility to the 1.6 million Calgarians who deserve to feel safe in our downtown core, using our publicly funded transit, to have a city centre that reflects our world-class city and to prevent neighbourhood streets from becoming public toilets and dumping grounds for drug paraphernalia. Restoring the rule of law on public intoxication will be a critical part of addressing this, but it must be coupled with working with the provincial government to ensure addiction recovery programs are fully funded and scaled to meet current demand. This is about balancing public safety with compassion, supporting individuals in crisis while ensuring our communities are livable and safe for everyone.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: While the Sheldon Chumir supervised consumption site provides an important health service, I believe it was placed in the wrong location. It sits in the middle of a busy commercial and residential neighbourhood with families, pets, and pedestrians. Residents have raised real concerns about safety and needles in public spaces. I believe we need to do a better job of consulting with communities before deciding where facilities like this should go. While this is a provincial facility, the City still has a role in advocating for public health and community safety. I support making life-saving services available, but they must be placed in locations that balance accessibility for those who need them with the surrounding residents' safety and quality of life.

John Pantazopoulos: Addiction is a complex issue that requires compassion and expertise. The City needs to work closely with the province and health professionals to ensure supports are in the right place and achieving the right outcomes. My focus is on making sure families feel safe in their communities while people struggling with addiction can access treatment, recovery, and the supports they need.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: Ward 6 residents are generally agreed that the next mayor and Council should spend more time working with, not against, the province. That includes ensuring that the supervised hard drug consumption site at Sheldon Chumir be closed, and provincially-funded addiction recovery spaces replace it. I support that position.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: Relocated to an area away from a public park to start, and then ultimately shut down and replaced with robust and accessible rehabilitation facilities. We need to make an effort to promote rehabilitation. Municipal government is responsible for community and social services, Provincial government is responsible for housing and health care. We can collaborate with our Provincial government to bolster our rehabilitation facilities and have them expanded to accommodate housing. This is actually a cheaper and more cost effective strategy than having our emergency services handle crisis situations every day. This will also help reduce the amount of homeless we will have on our streets.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: The Sheldon Chumir site should be downsized and also offer respite space for drug users to remain supervised while under the influence rather than put back out on the streets. Additional safe consumption sites should be considered in communities where drug users arise and can return safely to their homes. The downtown location created unintended impacts on safety and livability in the surrounding area. Simply closing it without alternatives would risk more overdoses. Supports must include decentralized, health-care based treatment, mobile outreach, and pathways into recovery services, not just crisis response.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: It needs to be open until we find a place or places where people in need can be properly treated. This is a major issue related to safety and wellbeing in our city. We need to work with provincial and federal partners to create the right space where people can be provided with housing first, treatment second, and training opportunities to comeback to a productive life.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: We need to treat the people with dignity and respect while supporting them with structural systems that will enable them to improve their lives. We need to treat the issues but prevention is paramount in preventing the problem from increasing at the rate that it currently is. I elaborated more on this in my first answer.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: Something interesting I learned in my campaigning is that safe consumption does not include the use of inhalants. This is why we often see people smoking their drugs around the Chumir and more and more in public spaces. I am glad that we as a society are empathetic and supportive to the members of our community struggling with mental health crisis and drug addiction. I believe this is a step forward. But more efforts should be made to clear the path for these people to rejoin us in more functional ways in society. Holding people in their addictions is not a dignified approach. I am not an expert here, but as I understand it, there are not currently enough voluntary beds for those who would like to enter recovery. If we are to fund the implementation for safe drug use, then we must simultaneously support the wrap around services to get these people out of this situation. If we are to revisit safe consumption, I would like to to explore a way to get the use of inhalant drugs off of our streets and into this service.

Tony Dinh: The Sheldon Chumir site should be relocated to a medically appropriate, controlled facility, not embedded in a residential and business district. The current setup has caused real harm to surrounding communities, from open drug use to rising crime. Compassion and accountability must coexist. I support a health-based model, treatment first, not perpetual consumption. That means redirecting resources into detox, recovery housing, and mobile outreach teams that meet people where they are while maintaining public safety. Addiction is a medical issue, but enabling chaos helps no one. We need recovery-focused solutions that protect both the vulnerable and the communities around them.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: Addiction is a health crisis, not just a policing issue. The Sheldon Chumir supervised consumption site was created with the intent to save lives, but its downtown location has also raised serious safety and livability concerns for nearby residents and businesses. I believe the City and Province must work together to relocate the site to a more appropriate location, while expanding services that address the root causes of addiction. Simply shutting it down without alternatives would push the crisis further into our streets and parks — and that is not a solution. If elected, I will advocate for a comprehensive approach that includes: Smaller, community-based health hubs spread across the city instead of one large, centralized site. Expanded detox and recovery programs, with treatment beds and long-term recovery supports. Stronger wraparound services for housing, mental health, and employment, so people can move from crisis to stability. A coordinated response with Calgary Police Service to ensure neighbourhood safety while connecting vulnerable people to care. This issue requires both compassion and accountability. We must save lives, protect communities, and build pathways out of addiction — not just manage it.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: This is an extremely complex issue. The Chumir is a hotbed of social disorder. Outreach teams are effective and a recovery model with wraparound supports are necessary. Open drug use most stop along with discarded drug paraphernalia and the burgeoning crime that happens as a result. There are some strategies that can be deployed which ensure the safety of the community while helping those with addiction disorder. I would work with all concerned to find short and mid term solutions.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: At its core, the Sheldon Chumir site is a provincial responsibility. As councillor, I will work with all parties to ensure that Calgarians live in a safe and secure city, and that residents who need assistance have access to programs and facilities that will help them rather than divert them to the streets or to inadequate services.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: While I don't personally believe that safe consumption of drugs is something that the city should be promoting I would like the Province to invest in more preventative and rehabilitation facilities. Ultimately this falls exclusively under Provincial Authority

Mahmoud Mourra: I believe the Sheldon Chumir centre became a hub for crime and insecurity in Calgary, especially in the downtown area. I would support its complete shutdown. While some people may have benefited, the harm far outweighed the good, and I cannot support a model that compromises public safety. Instead, we need better venues and programs for our youth, our seniors, and our special needs community. Those who struggle with substance use deserve help, but that help must come through treatment, recovery, and supports that do not interfere with the safety and security of others.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: No response.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: This is a provincial matter. The question remains, if not here then where? If if nothing, what are the consequences of that action.

Rob Ward: As part of the Communities First Party, I support the position laid out in our media release: We will expeditiously call for the closure of the Sheldon Chumir supervised consumption site in its current location, because the negative impacts on the surrounding Beltline and downtown neighbourhoods have become intolerable. However, closing that site does not relieve us of our obligation to protect vulnerable Calgarians or to prevent further harm. The City must play a constructive role in what comes next, and ensure that the provincial government provides effective and safe health care. My position is close or relocate the Chumir site, but only if, and only when, responsible, safer alternatives and supports are in place. This health care is the responsibility of the province. The City must work with the province on viable and safe solutions.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: I introduced a Notice of Motion to ask the provincial government to shut down the Sheldon Chumir drug injection site. Unfortunately, this Motion was defeated. I will re-introduce this Motion at the earliest opportunity if re-elected. We have strayed too far as a city into the area of social services, as much of this work falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial government. We need to maintain focus on providing the required land for these services and advocate for the needed provincial supports, which includes supporting their recovery care model.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: It has not worked as intended. It should be relocated to a more appropriate setting with wrap-around services. Addiction is a health issue, but communities must also feel safe. Supports should include recovery programs, mental health services, and safe housing to reduce overdoses and public drug use.

Erin Averbukh: The Sheldon Chumir site should be closed. It has failed to create safety or connect people to recovery. I support a treatment-first approach that expands access to detox recovery and supportive housing. Compassion means helping people heal not giving them a safe place to stay sick or harming neighbourhood safety.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: A compassionate society does not leave people trapped in addiction. Healthcare is a provincial matter, so it rests with the province. This site does not lovingly get them out of their addiction, but continues to keep them trapped. Longer answer: A compassionate society does not leave people trapped in addiction. We cannot continue to allow these people to harm themselves in this. This is the complex matter, but it falls under the purview of the provincial government, because that is their jurisdiction of Health Care. We want to lovingly get these people the needed help so they do not remain in that state of addiction. The city can help them in whatever capacity we have of the services that we provide, but again ultimately this is a provincial matter. I do not think that we should have the site open, because compassionately these people need help out of their addiction.

Landon Johnston: I support closing the Sheldon Chumir supervised consumption site and shifting services into clinical settings in partnership with the Province. If the site closes, I would work with Alberta Health Services to base overdose response in hospitals and urgent care, add mobile health teams downtown, expand detox and recovery capacity, and offer same day access to medication assisted treatment. I also support the Province’s direction on involuntary stabilization for people at repeated, extreme risk, with clear clinical criteria, short and reviewable holds, a physician assessment, access to counsel, and independent oversight. The City’s job is to keep streets safe and clean with a consistent CPS and bylaw presence, clear no-use zones, quick needle pickup and disposal kiosks, and outreach workers who can hand people directly to provincial care. The goal is fewer overdoses, less open drug use, and a downtown that feels safe for everyone.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: The green line is necessary and needed. Using public transit is better for the environment, infrastructure, and growth. We need to expand our train system without the costly overruns evident in the green line. I don't think we should commit to giant megaprojects when the cost of living is already so high. We should break these projects up into incremental achievable results that can be expandover the long term.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: I honestly need to do more research on this topic to give you an honest answer. I have not done a deep enough dive into this challenge.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: The Green Line project has been nothing short of a failure for Calgarians. The project was poorly thought out with extreme cost overruns and poor management. The city’s proposal of the green line which saw it run from Eau Clare to Lynwood would only run for 10 kilometres and would cost 6.2 billion dollars. It is important that our growing city increases its transit capacity to help Calgarians get around our city and reduce pollution. However, this price tag and ridership potential does not reflect this goal.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: The Green Line remains important for long-term transit growth. Future megaprojects must be planned collaboratively, with clear cost controls, realistic timelines, and stakeholder input to prevent overruns and ensure projects truly meet community needs.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: The Green Line remains a vital investment in Calgary’s future connecting communities, reducing congestion, and supporting climate goals. But its execution has raised serious concerns. Delays, cost overruns, and shifting plans have eroded public trust. We don’t need to abandon the project, we need to do it better. That means : Clear timelines and milestones, Stronger cost controls and oversight, Meaningful community consultation at every stage. Future megaprojects must learn from this experience. Transparency and accountability aren’t optional they’re essential. Calgarians deserve infrastructure that’s not just visionary, but responsibly delivered.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: I am very concerned that the need for transit in the Panorama Hills neighbourhoods and the transit and infrastructure needs of the very dense new neighbourhoods north of Stoney Trail, and in Ward 3 need to be taken more seriously.

Jaspriya Johal: The Green Line has been delayed, downsized, and over budget, and families in Ward 3 have paid the price by being left without reliable transit for years. I believe Calgary still needs the Green Line, but the bigger lesson is that megaprojects cannot be managed this way again. The City must plan smarter, set clear budgets, and deliver projects on time, because while the Green Line drags on, Ward 3 residents are still waiting for the basic bus and train connections other communities already enjoy.

Danny Ng: Green Line construction began in 2025 for the SE segment. I’ll support staged delivery with strict cost controls and a transparent dashboard. For Ward 3, we need faster relief on the North Central corridor—starting with true BRT upgrades and dedicated lanes, then rail when value-for-money is proven. Lessons: break megaprojects into accountable phases, publish scope/cost/risk updates, and lock governance so politics can’t keep moving the goalposts.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: I had been a Green Line proponent for close to a decade. However the decisions made by the current council, due to the shifting priorities of the Province, was not a data driven decision. I will be a data driven decision maker at Council. The North ridership should have justified going North first. However, in light of the Southeast project underway it will not reach my Ward in my lifetime so I need to focus on bettering the MAX Green BRT and the 144 Ave BRT. North Central Calgary needs better transit and Green Line isn’t it.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: The Green Line is still the right project—now we need to finish it and push North so Ward 4’s transit-reliant communities get frequent, reliable, safe service where riders actually are. While funding may not be available for the North, I’ll fight for immediate upgrades—better bus frequency, on-time performance, and visible station safety—so people feel the benefit now. The lesson from the Green Line saga is clear: engage clearly and transparently with citizens, phase project stages so each stage delivers standalone value, lock in scope and funding early with the Province and Ottawa, maintain independent oversight and transparent reporting, and keep politics out of delivery. I’ll push for Green Line North and tie every new transit dollar to measurable gains so that riders can have shorter waits, safer stations, and on-time trips.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: The Green Line LRT cannot continue to move forward without first addressing serious safety concerns on Calgary’s transit system. I've spoken to students, families and our aging population who don't feel safe riding the LRT, especially in the late evenings. Additionally, in Ward 4, particularly near LRT stations, residents no longer feel safe. Garages and vehicles are being targeted daily, packages are disappearing from doorsteps and roughly one in three households have had to install perimeter cameras or full security systems to protect themselves. And then there is the park and ride requirements. Party-driven densification models around Transit-Oriented Communities are not supporting the current transit system. Eliminating the much-needed parking around these stations undermines their success and creates additional challenges for residents in these targeted communities. Expanding the Green Line is something Calgarians want, but communities also expect that safety, livability and consideration for existing neighborhoods are built into the plan. Before investing further in major transit projects, the City must ensure that infrastructure is safe, reliable and accountable. Responsible planning, transparency and community engagement must be at the center of every future megaproject.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: I support the Green Line because Calgary needs to have a modern, reliable transit system to compete as a world-class city. Growing cities that want to attract investment, businesses, and talented workers can’t fall behind on transit. However, the Green Line process was a costly debacle, and Calgarians deserve better. The lesson is clear. Big projects need stronger management, clear timelines, budget accountability, real consultation, and disciplined oversight. That’s the experience I have. Planning, teamwork, and accountability ensure future megaprojects deliver value without the delays and cost overruns we’ve seen here.

John Pantazopoulos: At this point, the question is who Calgarians can trust to get it done right. The lesson is clear: big projects need leaders with business experience and a proven ability to manage large organizations and complex challenges. That’s the kind of discipline and accountability I would bring to City Hall.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: Speaking with Ward 6 residents, there is a general consensus that Council needs to take a short-term break from approving more megaprojects - especially since there is no clear plan how to pay for the existing megaprojects like the Green Line phase 1. Any future such projects should require a full, clear, public plan on how such projects will be funded. If there is a lesson in the Green Line process: there are no strings attached to a fully municipal financed megaproject; but if you want the involvement of senior levels of government to fund, you take terms not give them. Needless public fighting with the province led to delays that only cost Calgary ratepayers.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: I am no longer confident that the Green Line is the best strategy to connect people to more central areas in Calgary. It's already over budget, It went from 4.9 billion to now I believe 5.5 billion, and counting (projected to grow again), it's multiple years behind schedule and we already cut down the expected size of the project. So the original plans for what it was, is no longer representative of what it is. We need to find a way to get people near the edge of our city, better access to the rest of our city. We need this, but we need to be responsible in our planning and find a better, more cost effective plan to do this. The Green line has been mishandled from the beginning, there were concerns that were ignored and we're covered in red tape and it's a nightmare to navigate through.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: The Green Line remains an important project, but its rollout has been plagued by scope creep and political interference. The LRT team must lock in the project scope early, set and bring forward evolving budgets at each milestone, and maintain transparency for board governance and public consumption. For future megaprojects, we need phased, accountable delivery rather than “all-or-nothing” promises. However, given the size, cost, and timeframe for the Green Line SE and Downtown segments, The City must seek and build high-capacity, mass transit options for Calgary's Centre North rider in the near term.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: We need to build the green line, and we need to improve our transportation system. More routes, less waiting times, more BRT routes. Railway from airport to downtown.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: My whole platform is focused around purposeful planning. Finish what you start. If you planned properly from the get go you wouldn't run into these kinds of problems. Finish the green line, implement a central hub from where you can get to all ends of the city and have a speed train right to the airport. Do research , what works in other cities. I pride myself on knowing that I don't have all the answers and I love learning from other people. There's an entire world out there, how is it that we're getting so many things wrong?!! We need people like me at City Hall, that have good intentions, are authentic, experts in people and planning and that are not selfish. Calgary should not be the disaster that it is.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: The Green Line LRT project was the right project for the City of Calgary 40 years ago. Our past and present leaders should be ashamed of their inability to have met the moment. We have dropped this ball and can't seem to find the courage to pick it back up. The unfortunate outcome here is that we must follow through now, with all the pain and expense that could have been avoided if we would have found the courage to do so sooner. This should be a warning to us all about ignoring the reality that Calgary is well on its way to becoming an important, metropolitan center in Canada. Our city will continue to grow, and densify. We couldn't possibly build enough roads to meet future demand. We are likely to become a city of 3, 4 and maybe even 5 millions people. Transit must be a better funded and acknowledged asset in a diversified transportation model.

Tony Dinh: The Green Line, as originally planned, has drifted off track, bloated costs, endless delays, and shrinking scope. Transit investment is important, and I think we need to revisit the intention which was to connect the north and the south of Calgary. I would not be opposed to a BRT that connects the whole north and south east Calgary. The lesson is clear, Calgary must plan smarter, not bigger. Transparent budgets, independent cost reviews, and phased builds must be standard practice. Let’s finish what’s started, fix what’s broken, and invest in projects that deliver real mobility for real Calgarians, without bankrupting future generations.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: The Green Line LRT is still an important project for Calgary — especially for Ward 9 communities like Ramsay, Inglewood, and Ogden. It has the potential to connect people to jobs, reduce traffic, and support sustainable growth. But the way it has been managed so far has raised serious concerns. Costs have escalated, timelines have stretched, and public trust has eroded. I believe we need to learn from these mistakes and make megaprojects more accountable, transparent, and community-driven. That means: Phasing projects responsibly, so we deliver value sooner rather than waiting years for completion. Clear, honest communication with residents and businesses that are directly impacted. Stronger financial oversight to prevent overruns and protect taxpayers. Ensuring local communities benefit first — not just downtown or developers. The lesson of the Green Line is that good ideas can fail without good execution. If elected, I’ll push for a smarter approach to major infrastructure: one that prioritizes transparency, respects communities, and delivers results Calgarians can actually see and use.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: I would look to the community I serve for guidance on the way forward.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: Improving transit options for Ward 9 is fundamental. I am pleased that the city and province have found a pathway for the construction of the Green Line to connect communities such as Inglewood and Ogden to the C-train system. We also need better transit options for communities not on the C-Train line, whose residents rely on and deserve regular and safe transit.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: With almost 50% of the cost of the project currently underway being funded by other orders of Government it would be irresponsible to walk away from 3 billion dollars in funding for a city owned asset. This funding can not be transitioned to other projects. The city needs to be more transparent when initially proposing a project of this magnitude to ensure that the true cost of the entire project is properly reported. This project was originally proposed as an at grade project using existing right of ways and bridge structures. This information was not provided to the public or to Council and is completely unreasonable considering the objective is to remove vehicles from existing roadways and grade separated infrastructure.

Mahmoud Mourra: The Green Line LRT has become one of Calgary’s most expensive and mismanaged projects. Costs have ballooned, timelines have dragged on, and trust has been eroded. At this point, the City should seriously reconsider whether this project is still the right priority, or if those dollars would be better spent on fixing roads, improving transit safety, and addressing housing and affordability challenges that Calgarians face every day. The key lesson from the Green Line saga is that City Hall must be transparent, accountable, and realistic when planning large projects. Future megaprojects must have clear budgets, independent oversight, honest timelines, and a direct link to the needs of taxpayers—not political ambition. Calgarians deserve infrastructure that actually works for them, not endless cost overruns and broken promises.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: The Green Line has become too expensive and poorly managed. We need to re-evaluate its scope, timeline, and priorities before continuing. Future infrastructure projects should be guided by accountability, transparency, and local needs, not politics. Calgarians deserve transit solutions that are affordable, efficient, and actually get built.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: The Green Line remains critical and a priority for Calgarians. And the priorities of Calgarians should be the priority of the province, and that includes the preferred alignment.

Rob Ward: Yes, but only if we learn wise lessons and change how we plan and pay for megaprojects. The Green Line matters. A responsibly built Green Line will deliver the long-term benefits Calgary needs – reliable high-capacity transit to underserved communities in the due north and southeast. The Green Line will support new housing, commercial development near stations and economic growth. Phase 1 is now under construction. It will provide real, city-building outcomes that buses alone won’t achieve. City Hall must ensure all Green Line development does not repeat past failures in cost control, contracting strategy, stakeholder alignment and public confidence. Those failures made a useful project politically toxic and expensive. Closing the project would have cost billions already spent; stopping and starting also raises costs and delays benefits.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: The Green Line LRT was a boondoggle from the start with over-promising and underfunding by previous councils. I am supportive of the current framework to deliver the Green Line LRT from Shepard in the southeast to the Downtown. Any future mega projects should undergo a much more extensive cost benefit analysis, so that actual costs and actual benefits are realized and communicated with the public.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: Not in its current form. The project has been mishandled for years. Calgary needs better transit, but we must scale projects to what we can afford and deliver them in phases. The lesson here: be realistic, accountable, and don’t oversell what can’t be delivered.

Erin Averbukh: The Green Line is still the right project but it needs to be built quicker for a faster return on investment. Focus on efficiency, transparency and results. Get the first phase moving, extend it to Seton and keep politics out of it so Calgarians see real value sooner.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: Yes, we need transit to get to the Seton hospital. That may be an LRT or perhaps even a BRT, but the SE citizens need some high capacity transit. Longer answer: I believe we need a transit system that gets down to the hospital in Seton. If that means a full LRT or some sort of BRT I do not know, but people have been waiting for a very long time in the southeast to get some transit that will work for them. A lesson I would take from the Green Line would be get all your information as much as you can, ask lots of questions for such a major project, you need to have quality questions and quality answers to make an informed decision.

Landon Johnston: Finish the Green Line and plan an airport link next. Calgary has already invested over a billion dollars in planning, land, early works, and vehicles, so we should deliver the southeast leg and connect the airport and new arena so people can move across the city without a car. The lesson is to lock the scope, use stage-gate reviews with one accountable project lead, standardize designs, and open in phases with clear monthly progress updates. To keep costs down, cut layers of approval and work closely with the Province and Ottawa so permits, funding, and third-party agreements line up early. Every year we delay makes the project more expensive.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: Long term goals are helpful in directing policy decisions but we don't need a standing climate emergency declaration. The declaration informs every aspect of city development. Our residents deserve a safe, affordable, and vibrant city. I've met a lot of remarkable people who commit their own time and resources to supporting environmental conservation. I think we all recognize the impact that extreme weather has on our health and infrastructure. Efforts to mitigate our carbon footprint need to be affordable, scalable, and sustainable over time. I think our city can make a bigger impact through compartmentalized audits and targeted changes to reach net zero.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: I believe a decommit of Climate change must happen immediately . Local concerns and issues must be first priority. Good stewardship of our local city must be prioritized as we move forward.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: No, Calgary should not be making long-term climate commitments like “net zero by 2050”. Affordability, public safety and infrastructure should be priorities of City Council. In fact, as a candidate with Communities First, I pledge to defund the ‘climate emergency. Our team will eliminate expenditures associated with the Gondek climate emergency plan in the next civic budget, redirecting tens of millions of dollars into infrastructure, public safety, and other essential City services.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: Climate commitments are important but should be balanced with other priorities. Investments in infrastructure, public safety, and affordability must come first, with sustainability integrated into practical, cost-effective planning.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: I support long-term climate goals like net zero by 2050—but they must be pursued in a way that’s practical, inclusive, and fiscally responsible. Climate action isn’t separate from other priorities it’s deeply connected to affordability, infrastructure, and public safety. For example: 1.Energy-efficient buildings reduce utility costs for residents 2. Greener transit options improve air quality and reduce congestion 3. Climate-resilient infrastructure protects communities from extreme weather City Hall must integrate climate thinking into every decision from zoning to budgeting while ensuring that no one is left behind. We need solutions that work for families, businesses, and future generations. A balanced approach means planning for tomorrow without compromising today.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: I support rescinding the symbolic "Climate Emergency" declaration that has been used to justify costly, top down policies. I support replacing it with practical approaches to clean air, water, and land management I favour encouraging innovation through Calgary's private sector, not through new taxes or bureaucracy. I will try to protect green spaces and the quality of life by preserving parks and natural areas from overdevelopment, requiring green space in every new project, and funding recreation programs for families and seniors. At the municipal level, the environmental issues are much broader than just reducing carbon emissions. Those policies are better handled by senior governments.

Jaspriya Johal: Long-term climate goals like net zero by 2050 are important, but families also need to see action that makes life better right now. For me, climate change and affordability go hand in hand; cutting energy waste, boosting tree cover, and protecting watersheds lower costs for families and make communities healthier. City Hall should not just make promises for 2050, it should focus on practical steps today that protect families, improve safety, and make Calgary more resilient while still being affordable.

Danny Ng: We should be practical and cost-effective. Focus on resilience (flood, fire, water) and cost-saving emissions cuts in City fleets and buildings first. Any climate spend must clear a value-for-money test and protect affordability. Calgarians have heard $87B figures—my commitment is to separate corporate City actions from citywide aspirations, report the true municipal costs, and prioritize projects that save money and improve reliability.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: Climate should be a factor in decision making in affordability, public safety, or infrastructure but it should not necessarily be a stand alone category. I think the city should incorporate it’s Climate goals into major decisions like extreme weather events, city wide growth and green space preservation.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: We need to keep Calgarians safe and ensure families can afford to live here. I will demand accountability for climate‑related spending and I support rescinding the climate emergency by calling for a value‑for‑money audit of climate expenditures. With Communities First, I back defunding the “climate emergency” line‑items so we can refocus on core services while still pursuing practical, proven measures that support environmental conservation that are within municipal jurisdiction. For example, reliable transit and water pipes that do not leak are part of environmental conservation.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: Even if Calgary could significantly impact the climate, which it cannot, this is not the responsibility of the Municipality. While the city can take steps to maintain its environment, trying to “fix the weather” is beyond municipal jurisdiction. Current council has focused on initiatives like adding EV vehicles to their fleets, including the EV bus program, which has already shown costly failures in other cities such as Edmonton. These programs ignore the practical needs and priorities of Calgarians. People don’t care that the police have EV vehicles, they care about their safety. The added costs of these impractical initiatives could be better spent on core priorities. Statements from the city claimed that despite the extra weight and wear from EV buses, we'd be able to keep up with this, yet only 38% of Calgary’s roads are in good condition now. These “net zero” and climate alarmist goals are expensive, impractical and ineffective. We need to refocus on what Calgarians actually care about - public safety, reliable infrastructure and livable communities. Let’s address invasive weeds plaguing our roadways, maintain streets properly and prioritize essential services and quit chasing symbolic climate targets that come at the expense of our city’s real needs.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: Climate change strategy is primarily a federal responsibility, although we must all do our part as appropriate. Municipalities are supporters and should make choices that are within our jurisdiction. City Hall should not prioritize climate change spending ahead of core priorities like affordability, public safety, and critical infrastructure. Those must always come first. Calgarians are already stretched by rising costs, and the City’s first responsibility is to deliver the basics. That means safe streets, reliable water, strong transit, and fair taxes. Long-term climate goals such as net-zero by 2050 may help guide planning, but they must be pursued in a practical, affordable way that doesn’t put ideology ahead of essentials. Here are some examples: 1. If a city building is being upgraded as part of its scheduled maintenance, then environmentally sound choices can be incorporated. 2. The City should ensure the health of our environmentally sustainable tree canopy as part of our regular parks maintenance. 3. We should also look at the experiences of other municipalities in deciding what choices offer a good return on investment, and which ones may have been costly failures. Edmonton’s challenges with battery electric buses is a good example of a lesson to learn. 4. Here’s one idea from Kirkland, QC – they use new AI technology to control the lights at busy intersections. The AI senses the presence of vehicles and pedestrians, and switches the lights to maximize traffic flow. Apart from the time-saving benefits, it considerably reduces vehicle idling time and is therefore environmentally sound. My priority is to ensure Council tackles environmental, economic and social challenges responsibly, while staying within budget on the core services Calgarians count on every day.

John Pantazopoulos: The top three issues I hear about in Ward 6 are smart spending, blanket rezoning, and public safety. That’s what people would be electing me to deliver on — along with the core work of a city: roads, sewers, water, waste and recycling, transit. I want to keep focus on the priorities Calgarians are most concerned about.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: When the current Council voted 13-2 in favour of a Climate Emergency Declaration, I wasn't fooled. From government experience, I knew that emergency declarations cause a full alignment in the government (and its agencies) priorities, planning, personnel and budgets toward the goals of the declaration. Rescinding it will allow Council to consider the released funding against a range of competing priorities the public have told us they have. It will also allow Council to eliminate new bureaucracy created by the declaration - a further cost savings to taxpayers. It will also free up Council to reconsider the folly of EV bus purchases, which have a performance penalty in colder weather and whose heaviness contribute to the deterioration of roads. Great strides toward affordability can be made with municipal pressure on the federal government to eliminate Clean Energy Regulations which are driving up the cost of electricity.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: This is not a Municipal issue. We should have incentives for companies and builders to have green strategies, but we shouldn't mandate them. And we definitely shouldn't have our tax payers spending hundreds of millions, let alone potentially billions of dollars to do it.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: Climate change matters, but priorities must be balanced. Net zero by 2050 is an ambitious goal, but City Hall’s immediate focus should be affordability, infrastructure, and safety. Climate initiatives should be practical, fiscally responsible, and tied to benefits like lower utility bills or improved resilience, not symbolic targets.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: Climate change strategies should be part of city strategic plan. Not as an emergency, but yes as an important responsibility with the environment.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: Well... we certainly did not have a $200 million dollar Climate Emergency that could not have been dealt with and or addressed at a way lesser price, if no for almost nothing. What did we get out of that $200 million? When we have an emergency we'll know, like the flood that affected thousands. We have a plan in place that I have indicated that I will support in certain areas, for example: I think it's very important to value and support protecting our parks and green spaces. I also agree that the sprawl subsidy is completely ridiculous and counterintuitive to addressing the core issue of homelessness and affordable housing. We need purposeful planning not careless and reckless band aids for real problems that effect everyday people's lives. We also should not be wastefully allocating money unnecessarily. The importance of the climate strategy is attainable with upgrades to solar power and other home improvements as well as planting more trees and creating more spaces for parks.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: I think its frustrating to young Calgarians when people who are currently in power make decisions and declarations for when they will not be in power. The question to me is "What is the action step?" and "what steps can I take now to relieve this problem?". Replenishment and good stewardship of our natural lands is an important step to take for any organization of any size. Ask an Alberta farmer. I believe that we can better integrate climate resiliency actions into many of the decisions we make. As an example, as we discuss what an inner-city recreation hub might look like, we can ensure it can operate as a cooling center in the hot months, if we are to see a heatwave. We can work the strengthen and renew our urban canopy, ensuring shade in hot months, and an enjoyable atmosphere for the generations to come. Good water stewardship should also be a priority. I would like to note that Calgary has one of the best composting systems in the country and maybe the world.

Tony Dinh: Long-term climate goals matter, but net zero by 2050 means nothing without affordability, accountability, and realism. City Hall’s job isn’t to make grand declarations, it’s to deliver results that balance environmental responsibility with economic common sense. We can reduce emissions through efficiency, better transit design, and modern infrastructure without burdening families or businesses. Right now, affordability, safety, and basic infrastructure must take priority, because struggling residents can’t fund abstract targets. Let’s focus on practical sustainability: fixing energy-wasting infrastructure, supporting innovation, and keeping Calgary livable for both today’s taxpayers and tomorrow’s generations, without turning policy into performative politics.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: Climate change is real, and it impacts Calgary — from floods to storms to air quality. But I don’t believe in symbolic declarations like “net zero by 2050” unless they are tied to practical, affordable, and achievable steps that improve people’s lives today. For most residents I speak with in Ward 9, their biggest concerns are affordability, public safety, and basic infrastructure. If families cannot afford rent, if seniors don’t feel safe, or if our roads and sewers are crumbling, then long-term targets mean little. That said, I believe local action matters. City Hall should focus on practical climate responses that also improve daily life: Expand Calgary’s tree canopy and greenspaces to cool neighbourhoods and improve air quality. Upgrade stormwater and drainage systems to reduce flood risk in vulnerable areas like Dover and Ogden. Support energy-efficient retrofits for homes and community facilities to lower utility costs. Improve transit reliability and safety, so more people feel comfortable using it instead of driving. In short: I will make climate a priority through practical solutions that also tackle affordability and livability. We don’t need grand promises. We need real, local action that residents can see, feel, and trust.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: Climate mitigation strategies are necessary but an approved plan needs to be approved or not, as 240 million is being deployed without an approved plan by Council. An audit of this is necessary immediately to determine where the money is being spent and if taxpayers support it or not.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: We need solutions now for residents when it comes to affordability and the environment. I hear at the doorstep that Calgarians love their parks and green spaces, and yet too often city administration ends up reducing these spaces. The urban canopy is also being eroded when we know that trees help make communities livable and support ecosystems. Grand visions and long term commitments mean nothing if residents today are not seeing any benefits rather they are seeing the reverse. As well, I will support programs and organizations that will work with the city and communities to improve livability and the environment.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: prosperity over popularity. While the original proposal for the declaration of a climate emergency and the net zero by 2050 was predicated on receiving significant Federal funds to mitigate the effects of climate change the funding has not materialized in any significant amounts. However we are a large city living on a small river and we should minimize the potential impacts related to the environment such as flood mitigation and drought mitigation while also minimizing the effects of air quality by encouraging better efficiency in our buildings and structures downtown. The largest and most impactful source of air born pollutants in our city continues to be the private automobile. Greater advocacy at the Provincial level to introduce emission reduction legislation for automobiles that are visual polluters could significantly enhance our air quality.

Mahmoud Mourra: No, Calgary should not be making long-term climate commitments like “net zero by 2050.” Climate change is a global issue, and it cannot be solved by a single city. Our priority must be the real, immediate concerns of Calgarians, affordability, public safety, housing, and infrastructure. We are a beautiful city in Western Canada, and City Hall’s job is to protect the interests of its residents. Climate policy should be led at the federal and provincial levels, while Calgary focuses on delivering core services and value for taxpayers.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: Protecting our environment is important, but we must balance it with economic realities and affordability. We can make progress through practical steps—like improving energy efficiency in city facilities, supporting green jobs, and preserving parks and green spaces. I have been a strong advocate for protecting community green areas from overdevelopment. Public spaces should serve residents, not private profit.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: You don't meet goals you don't set. Climate spending by the city has not impacted affordability, and climate change most severely affects the poorest so we should be addressing it. Safety is reducing the harmful affects of climate like smoke and heat and drought. Infrastructure to create safety is what the money is being spent on. It's not an either/or - they go together.

Rob Ward: Calgary should not make open-ended, long-term climate commitments such as “net zero by 2050” unless it has a technically and economically plan to achieve measurable results that benefit Calgary. No credible plan of that nature exists. Climate change is important, but it can’t take priority over more immediate issues like affordability, public safety, and maintaining infrastructure, especially when budgets and resources are limited. Communities First has called for rescinding Calgary’s “Climate Emergency” declaration, and for a full value-for-money audit of all climate-related spending tied to that declaration. Since November 2021, climate spending has increasingly been embedded across many City departments, with hundreds of millions of dollars in budgets and capital plans (e.g. over $200M in planned climate-capital for 2026), yet there has been insufficient transparency, and questionable benefit in some cases. The City needs to realign climate efforts so that they only proceed where there are measurable, evidence-based environmental benefits, such as emissions reductions or resiliency, and alignment with core municipal responsibilities. Climate improvement efforts should be inherent in all operations and an expected objective for all City managers as a normal component of efficient development and operations. Reducing environmental impacts is a core objective in all operations. Every city service should be delivered by balancing the cost, value and net benefit for Calgarians, which includes minimizing environmental impacts. The climate does not need special status.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: NO!

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: Climate is important, but it cannot come at the expense of affordability and safety. The City should focus on practical steps, like energy efficiency in City buildings, better transit options, and greener infrastructure, without chasing expensive symbolic targets.

Erin Averbukh: Climate goals matter but they must be realistic and affordable. The City’s focus should stay on core needs like housing, safety and infrastructure while supporting climate progress through smart growth and better transit. Expanding reliable transit and efficient city planning will reduce emissions and help meet targets without new taxes.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: I do not support the long-term climate commitments. I would repeal the $87 billion climate emergency. We have city issues to deal with. Longer answer: I do not support making long-term climate commitments like " net zero by 2050". It has essentially no priority for me compared to things like affordability, public safety, and infrastructure. These are core essential services that we need, not climate commitments. I believe we do need to be good stewards of what we have been given and entrusted with. I also believe that we can put efforts forward to be good stewards, however I do not believe we have very much impact on the climate.

Landon Johnston: I don’t support declaring a climate emergency or locking the City into “net zero by 2050.” Our job at City Hall is to keep Calgary affordable, safe, and functional while supporting the provincial economy that pays the bills. Alberta’s strength is energy, and there is no credible path to future clean technologies without the revenue that oil and gas provide. My priority is to focus City dollars on core services and the infrastructure backlog. I’m open to practical efficiency projects when they clearly save money and improve service, and to partnerships that bring provincial or federal funds, but I won’t back policies that raise costs for families or undermine our economy.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: I believe there is still a lot of work to be done on zoning. The majority of over seven hundred residents who spoke in council chambers were against blanket rezoning. Our elected officials must be responsive to the concerns of the people who elected them. I've spoken with residents and I've spoken with developers. I think we need to preserve the character of our established communities and incorporate all types of housing when we plan new communities. We are building at an unprecedented rate. I think our policy decisions need to encourage growth while preserving the things that make Calgary a great place to live.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: Blanket-re-zoning has taken the peoples voice out of the decision of THEIR communities and changed the uniqueness of spaces folks chose to call home. This was an insensitive approach that caused a serious disconnect between city hall and the people. A more thoughtful approach must be put in place for further growth of our communities.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: I have been clear since I joined this race that one of my biggest priorities will be repealing blanket rezoning in our city. Mayor Gondek and her loyal councillors oversaw this policy and actively ignored the thousands of Calgarians who went to city hall and voiced their opposition to it. As cities expand, new development is necessary; however, it must be guided by feedback from individual communities. The one-size-fits-all zoning method does not address all needs effectively. We must restore opportunities for community members to communicate directly with elected representatives about developments in their neighbourhoods. Blanket rezoning does not deliver the results that its proponents promised. The city has provided few assurances that any new development would actually meet any threshold of “affordable”. In some ways, Calgary’s housing situation could be made worse by certain redevelopments. For example, a $700,000 home could be rented out each month for $2000. If the land it was on was redeveloped into a six-plex, the price of an individual unit within the new development would likely exceed the value of the original home, assuming the builder or developer sought to generate a profit. The City has overlooked multiple important issues in the conversation regarding rezoning and development. Things such as basic infrastructure, parking, and other important services aren’t even discussed. The city should have never made such a drastic and short-sighted decision in the context of building more houses in Calgary.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: I believe Calgary needs more housing options, but blanket rezoning is not the right approach for Ward 2. Our communities already face traffic congestion, parking shortages, and pressure on schools and infrastructure. Any changes to zoning should respect neighbourhood character and include real consultation with residents. I will support policies that address housing affordability while ensuring growth in Ward 2 is thoughtful, balanced, and guided by the input of the people who live here.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: I support the intent behind the blanket rezoning bylaw to increase housing supply and improve affordability. Calgary needs more diverse housing options, and zoning reform is one tool to help meet that demand. However, I believe the process lacked sufficient community engagement and clarity. Residents deserved more opportunities to understand the changes, voice concerns, and help shape the outcome. Planning must be inclusive, transparent, and responsive—not rushed. Moving forward, I’ll advocate for: 1. Stronger public consultation before major policy shifts 2. Clear communication about how zoning impacts neighbourhoods 3. Balanced growth that respects local character while addressing urgent housing needs We can build a more affordable Calgary but we must do it together, with trust and collaboration.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: Rezoning is very disruptive to existing communities and is unfair to established procedures that gave homeowners certainty and stability in the ownership of what for many is their largest asset. The City abandoned decades of wise policy under pressure from the federal government. I opposed blanket rezoning at the hearings.

Jaspriya Johal: I believe blanket rezoning was the wrong approach. It is undemocratic, it ignores the character of our neighbourhoods, and it puts developers ahead of families. Affordable housing should not mean cramming fourplexes into suburban areas without enough schools, transit, or green space. Council should have pursued smart growth, protecting single-family communities while directing real density to the downtown core and areas designed for it. Families deserve homes, not just a roof over their heads.

Danny Ng: Council passed citywide rezoning in May 2024. I’ll fix and focus: prioritize growth on transit corridors and in areas with parking, parks, schools, and pipes to support it; protect neighborhood function; and use planning tools to address spillover parking and privacy. If parts of the bylaw aren’t delivering affordable homes or are straining services, I’ll bring forward amendments to get better results for residents.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: As a community advocate I've never been a fan of using a Blanket Rezoning mechanism for land-uses; it has negatively affected my efforts with the Nose Creek Preservation Society. In 2022 I came to council regarding 3 parcels (Which were too close to Nose Creek) in a 9 parcel blanket rezoning. It ultimately was approved but should have been split into more contextually appropriate areas. As for the Blanket Rezoning everyone is talking about, I would have supported the two dozen amendments that minimized its impacts on areas without core services. If you look at the communities this rezoning affects, it’s more of the older communities in the inner city, compared to our communities up here in Ward 3. I think the bigger concern we have up here is Ward 3 is getting the bulk of the city’s density whether we repeal this blanket rezoning or not. So, regardless of the repeal efforts, it’ll be my job as Councillor to make sure that Ward 3 has the required infrastructure to support the continued development that is coming to North Central Calgary. As someone who grew up in Ward 3 I’ve watched a generation of infrastructure deficits continue to grow larger each year. This is why I am prioritizing fairness in development; Ward 3 deserves its fair share of the infrastructure dollars as we continue to take the lion's share of the density.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: I commit to repealing blanket rezoning, as blanket rezoning is not the way to meet the needs of a rapidly growing city. Recent experience shows that simply upzoning citywide often replaces moderately priced bungalows with $800k–$1.1M infills—more units, but not affordable ones. Evidence from other cities, like Minneapolis and Vancouver, makes me skeptical that blanket rezoning is the right way to deliver affordability. The smarter path is targeted zoning and real engagement, adding homes where infrastructure can handle it: near LRT/BRT, along major transit corridors and main streets, and in areas with the pipes, power, parking, schools, and services to support families.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: Calgary’s blanket rezoning bylaw is not the right approach to housing supply or affordability. It treats every community as if one-size-fits-all solutions work, but each neighbourhood has unique character, infrastructure and challenges that must be respected. Rezoning that pushes 6–24 suites onto single or double lots does little to create genuinely affordable housing. In fact, it often harms the existing community by creating parking shortages, reducing privacy, increasing safety risks and placing pressure on schools and local services. Meanwhile, robbing communities of single family dwellings that are affordable. There is no land shortage. By the city’s own metrics, Calgary has enough land for the next 40 years of development at current build rates. Communities should have a meaningful say in what gets built in their neighbourhoods. Repealing blanket rezoning doesn’t mean halting development; it means pursuing responsible, community-supported growth that preserves neighbourhood character, is supported by existing infrastructure and genuinely contributes to affordable housing solutions.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: I do not support the blanket rezoning policy implemented in 2024 and I will be pressing for a repeal of the RC-G zoning that was passed against most Calgarians' wishes in 2024. . While there is a place for higher-density options like 8-plexes with or without garages, I do not believe they are appropriate in the middle of established neighbourhoods. If these types of structures are to be built - particularly those with little to no parking - they must be located along major traffic corridors and transit routes where residents have access to frequent and reliable service. I am deeply concerned that high-density projects are currently receiving blanket approval without the proper infrastructure capacity studies being completed. Adding density without aligning schools, roads, parking, water, sewer, and transit upgrades risks overwhelming existing infrastructure. Before moving ahead on any development of this scale, the City must ensure there is adequate: • Parking availability • School capacity • Utilities and water/sewage infrastructure • Road infrastructure Calgary needs more housing to accommodate growth; but it must reflect community input and long-term sustainability. Blanket rezoning also does not guarantee affordable housing. Land values often rise after rezoning, which can make homes more expensive. I believe there are other ways to build more homes and improve affordability while respecting residents’ voices and planning responsibly for the future. Balanced growth means adding housing options, but doing it in a way that strengthens, not undermines, our communities. For example, we should target higher density rezoning around transit corridors, main streets, or underutilized areas.

John Pantazopoulos: No. Blanket rezoning was the wrong approach. It stripped communities of their say without delivering real affordability. I spoke out against it during a public hearing at City Hall, warning that this plan would ignore parking pressures, strain infrastructure, and undermine the character of established neighbourhoods. Calgary should be pursuing a community-driven, targeted growth plan that adds housing supply responsibly while making sure infrastructure keeps pace and neighbourhoods remain livable. You can read more at StopBlanketRezoning.ca.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: Blanket rezoning exposed the dysfunction of City Council and City Hall. It was a terrible policy. And voters will have their accountability in this election. I was one of the many who spoke to Council during public hearings. On Panel 139, I reminded Council that red tape reduction is the government removing costly regulations that drive up the cost and delay construction of homes; it's not using a regulation like a bylaw to eliminate the government from one of its largest legislated responsibilities. Under questioning from Cllr McLean, I also exposed - from my experience as an MP - how the federal government interfered in the freedom of Council to reject blanket rezoning, including how the City's contribution agreement made the delivery of upzoning a contractual obligation backed by the contractual threat of pulling federal funding. Everything the proponents of blanket rezoning told us was a lie: housing isn't more affordable, the cost of land has gone up, affordable and relatively new housing has been cannibalized for rowhouses; and the public has been shut out of what redevelopment happens in their community. My position on blanket rezoning is described in 5 words: 1. Repeal the bylaw; 2. Restore previous zoning, applications for RCG, the public's right to a hearing on the application, and Council's veto power; 3. Kill the new draft land use bylaw; 4. Strengthen LAPs by ensuring they are community by community - not bundled; and by adding zoning specificity to express built form; 5. Leverage my vote at Council to ensure developers work meaningfully with the community on proposed projects - or they make the case why an application should be rejected. Finally, it is critical for Councillors to look at development projects in the context of existing and approved new development - not in isolation. This should help resolve some of the insane developments that are currently butting up against each other, and some of the acute community egress problems.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: I am 100% AGAINST blanket rezoning. I think it was a horrible idea that was communicated even worse and executed poorly. We need to listen to our communities, not ignore them. If we can't build responsibly in a way that communities can support, than we shouldn't be building. We need to win back trust from our communities, and we won't do that if we don't listen to their concerns. Calgary is going to grow, we need to have housing that can accommodate that growth. But we need to be responsible in the type of housing that we're building, and where we are building them. This issue can be fixed with better planning, better communication and more affordable building.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: Blanket rezoning was the wrong approach. Housing supply must increase, however, a one-size fits-all bylaw imposed without true community engagement and buy-in damages trust. Council should have pursued more targeted, flexible solutions that increase density where it makes sense while respecting established neighborhoods. I will repeal blanket rezoning but we must also revise the proposed Calgary Plan (i.e. Municipal Development Plan), the Updated Land Use Bylaw, and approved Local Area Plans to ensure housing densification aligns through all statutory plans. Residential land use approval must be efficient and allow for public engagement including Council approval.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: We need to repeal blanket zoning and find a new policy where developers, city planners, and residents have a say in how neighbourhoods are built.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: No, definitely not. Council should have pursued another path. I addressed this previously.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: The issue is to complex to boil down to a yes or no. Those in favour are generally advocates for more affordable housing. Those apposed, are generally concerned about the historic nature and unique features of their neighbourhoods. This issue is too important for either side to lose. We should work to re-write the policy to better protect the historic nature of some of these neighbourhoods and address the legitimate concerns of existing residents. If it cannot be re-written then we must start again with what we have learned at the forefront of our next steps. Either way, as Councillor for Ward 9, I will work to ensure we have robust heritage policy in place that can stand up to the pressures of growth and renewal we are seeing in these establishing communities. I have already spoken at length about how I intend to better support the activation of more affordable housing in Ward 9 and beyond.

Tony Dinh: Calgary’s blanket rezoning was the wrong approach, a one-size-fits-all solution to a complex problem. It ignored community input, infrastructure limits, and the need for thoughtful planning. Instead of partnership, City Hall pushed policy from the top down, eroding public trust. I support increasing housing supply, but through targeted, infrastructure-ready, community-supported development, not blanket up-zoning that dumps density where services can’t keep up. Real affordability comes from cutting red tape, expediting permits, and collaborating with builders and residents. City Hall should build with communities, not over them. Local voices matter in shaping local neighbourhoods. City Hall needs to be a partner in affordability, less bureaucracy

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: Blanket rezoning was the wrong approach. Yes, Calgary needs more housing. But the way Council went about it — a one-size-fits-all bylaw — ignored the realities of affordability, accessibility, and community voice. If a family cannot afford to buy or rent in Greater Forest Lawn, historically one of Calgary’s most affordable areas, then the policy has failed. If seniors in wheelchairs cannot live in the new builds, then it has failed. And if long-time residents are being pushed out of the communities they helped build, then it has failed. What we needed instead was a community-informed, context-based plan. That means: Real affordability benchmarks tied to income, not speculative market prices. Accessibility standards so seniors and people with disabilities are not excluded. Infrastructure planning first — ensuring sewers, roads, schools, and parks can handle growth. Transparent consultation where residents are heard, not treated as a checkbox. As councillor, I will bring forward a motion to repeal blanket rezoning and replace it with a smarter, Ward 9–first growth strategy. Development should respect neighbourhood character, protect heritage and greenspaces, and deliver homes Calgarians can actually afford. Blanket rezoning was not affordability. It was speculation. I believe in growth — but it must be growth that builds community, not replaces it.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: Needs to be repealed immediately.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: Blanket rezoning has not had the results that were communicated to Calgarians by administration. Rezoning has confused the affordable housing issue, and it has caused a spike in development appeals. At the doorstep, I continually hear from residents who support development that is community-minded and balanced. I also too often hear stories of renters of single family homes and basement suites being evicted in favour of new luxury homes that are not affordable, particularly for new entrants to the housing market. Another drawback is that heritage homes and buildings are being bulldozed, which erodes what makes Ward 9's communities great places to live. We need a planning process that offers genuine engagement, adds density where it makes sense and takes into account infrastructure issues, and overall earns back the trust of Calgarians.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: I voted against blanket rezoning and have pledged to repealing it pending another public hearing. The existing process of working with the community to draft a Local Area Plan to identify preferred type and location for higher density development is a better process but still requires a better process for citizen engagement to ensure the right density is facilitated at the right locations

Mahmoud Mourra: I am absolutely opposed to Calgary’s blanket rezoning bylaw and believe it should be halted, stopped, or reversed. When I bought my R-1 single-family home in a residential area, there was never any understanding that multi-unit complexes could be built right next door. This approach undermines property rights, strains underground infrastructure, worsens parking chaos, and increases safety and crime concerns in established neighborhoods. The City has room to expand and should focus on smart, planned growth instead of forcing density into areas that were never designed for it.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: While increasing housing supply is important, the blanket rezoning approach ignored community input and local realities. I support community-specific planning that respects existing neighbourhoods while encouraging growth in areas with proper infrastructure. Residents must have a real voice in shaping how their communities evolve.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: The value proposition remains solid, housing choice in all neighborhoods. There are specific amendments that can be made to make certain scenarios work better to mitigate primarily parking challenges both real and potential. I have already discussed these with both builders/developers and city planners and there is consensus on both fronts that they are the right moves.

Rob Ward: Calgary’s blanket rezoning approach was not the right path. While we all want more housing and affordability, rezoning entire communities without meaningful local input removes the ability of residents and Councillors to ensure growth happens in a way that works for each neighbourhood. A more effective approach would focus growth strategically near transit corridors, major roads, and underutilized commercial areas, while ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place. This respects community voices, ensures taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, and delivers housing growth in a sustainable, practical way.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: Blanket rezoning should be repealed at the first council meeting of the next council.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: I oppose blanket rezoning. It ignored community voices and gave too much control to developers. I support density, but it must be structured: focus on corridors, scale down from 8-plexes to 4-6 where appropriate, and ensure infrastructure like schools, parks, and water lines are ready first. Growth should respect communities, not steamroll them.

Erin Averbukh: The blanket rezoning bylaw was lazy and rude. It ignored real community input and did nothing to add true affordable housing. Council should have taken another path, one that respected residents and infrastructure limits with clearly defined architectural design controls.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: The Blanket Rezoning was not what the citizens wanted. I would repeal the Blanket Rezoning. A better path I have heard is remove red tape to expedite homes being built. Longer answer: My position on the blanket rezoning is it should have never happened, and I will seek to repeal the Blanket Rezoning. I am not opposed to rezoning, but I, like many other citizens of Calgary an opposed to the "Blanket" Rezoning. Residents purchased their homes in areas for reasons that they chose. Yet in this decision their voice was silenced. Council states they want citizens to engage. Well they certainly did engage, VERY engaged, in the largest public hearing in Calgary's history. They were opposed to the Blanket Rezoning. Yet that engagement was of little use because Council chose to throw a deaf ear to them. That is wrong. I believe what council should do is speed up processing on permits, get needed things built, get needed homes built. Remove or reduce some of the red tape and that can make homes more quickly.

Landon Johnston: Blanket rezoning was the wrong approach. It was a top-down bylaw that sidelined neighbourhood input, treated every street the same, and moved faster than services, parking, and infrastructure could handle. If the goal is real affordability and supply, Council should repeal it and pursue targeted, responsible growth: faster permits, predictable rules, and adding the right homes in the right places through local area plans, with clear ward-level impact statements and genuine consultation. Prioritize city land near transit and shopping hubs with build-fast conditions, align upgrades for water, roads, and schools, and use carrots like pre-approved designs and fee certainty to cut carrying costs. That path adds supply people can afford without imposing a one-size-fits-all plan on every community.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.

Ward 1

1 To Be Elected

Matthew Fritz: I was a member of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party for over 15 years. The members and officials worked tirelessly to make Alberta debt free. We have since saved billions in interest payments that would have been detrimental to our economy. During that time, I learned the importance of a balanced budget and the impact it can have on quality of life. I also learned that we need to support our social programs and essential services. I am no longer a member of any political party. I am running as an independent candidate because I believe our municipal government should be 100% accountable to our residents. I believe a well run city provides strong services and encourages local businesses to succeed.

Cathy (Angel) Jacobs: Yes I am a party member and without the aligned core values and support of a great community party I would not be a potential candidate for this election. I am a grassroot citizen concerned with the feeling of a detached city hall bring my lifetime experience of running a business for 27 years, with many challenges, raising a family and emotionally supporting my family and community as well as they support me during challenging times. In my opinion the journey was not meant to be a lone journey but a collaborative one. Alone we do little changes, but together miracles are created.

Joey Nowak: No response.

Dan Olesen: No response.

Ali Oonwala: No response.

Kim Tyers: I have more than 10 years of experience and volunteer advocacy with provincial and federal conservative parties. I have worked in senior positions for UCP Ministers and CPC Shadow Ministers. I consider myself to be a common sense fiscal conservative, but I am willing to work with anyone who supports my priorities of lowering the cost of living and taxes, making our communities safe, repealing blanket zoning, delivering strong services for all Calgarians and returning common sense to City Council.

Ward 2

1 To Be Elected

Trevor Cavanaugh: I am running as an independent. My focus is on collaborating directly with Ward 2 residents to address their priorities and concerns, without influence from provincial or federal politics.

Shaukat Chaudhry: No response.

John Garden: No response.

Candy Lam: No response.

Jennifer Wyness: No response.

Ward 3

1 To Be Elected

Rajesh Angral: I’m running as an independent candidate because I believe local leadership should be rooted in people not party lines. Over the years, I’ve been involved with both the Conservative and NDP parties serving on a local Conservative board and later running as an NDP candidate provincially and federally. I’ve always been guided by a desire to serve and to stand up for what’s right. Those experiences taught me a lot, but today, I’m not affiliated with any political party or union. I’ve chosen to run independently because I believe City Hall should be about listening to residents, solving real problems, and building a better Calgary together. This campaign isn’t about left or right it’s about moving forward with integrity, compassion, and practical solutions that reflect the voices of all Calgarians. City Hall decisions affect everyone, and I’m committed to working across perspectives to build a Calgary that reflects our shared priorities affordability, safety, infrastructure, and inclusive growth. I bring over 18 years of experience building bridges across cultures in Calgary North and Ward 3, and through my media work, I’ve conducted hundreds of interviews with political, social, and business leaders, amplifying stories that matter to residents. My commitment to community began long before this campaign and it continues to guide everything I do.

Atul Chauhan: No response.

Taran Dhillon: No response.

Christy Edwards: My decisions as Ward 3 councillor would be determined by my personal conservative values, and would not be influenced or dictated by any federal or provincial political party. I will act independently of any political party or affiliation in serving the citizens of Ward 3.

Jaspriya Johal: I am running as an independent candidate because city council should focus on local issues, not partisan politics. I am not affiliated with any provincial or federal political party. My commitment is to the families of Ward 3, making sure their voices are heard and their needs for safe streets, reliable transit, green spaces, and accountability from city hall are met. Calgarians deserve a councillor who puts the community first, not party politics.

Danny Ng: No. I’m running to serve Ward 3, not a party. I’ll work with anyone—province, feds, community groups—to get results on core services, safety, housing, and infrastructure. My decisions will be posted with plain-language explanations and measurable outcomes for residents to judge.

Siraaj Shah: No response.

Andrew Yule: I’m not affiliated with any provincial or federal parties. My advocacy has focused on the needs of our community. This is why I am running as an independent. I need to be able to raise the voice of our community, not the backroom party voice.

Ward 4

1 To Be Elected

Daniel James (DJ) Kelly: No response.

Jeremy Wong: Municipal work is about communities, not partisanship. I joined Communities First because we’re transparent about our priorities, such as fiscal responsibility, public safety, and repealing blanket rezoning. Communities First is also unique in the sense that we do not have a party whip or party voting, and each Councillor will have independent and free voting. I will advocate and vote for what’s best for Ward 4 and collaborate with anyone who helps Ward 4; including working with other orders of government on the needs of Calgarians. My background is fiscally conservative, but there is no conservative or liberal way to fill a pothole.

Sheldon Yakiwchuk: As an independent candidate and like roughly 70% of Albertans, I am personally opposed to the Municipal Party System. While I can appreciate that parties may help align candidates with certain values, this system undermines the very idea of an independent representative on City Council. While my personal beliefs align broadly with fiscally conservative and socially pragmatic principles, my priority remains working collaboratively with both the provincial and federal governments, regardless of which party is in power, to deliver tangible benefits for our city and its communities.

Ward 5

1 To Be Elected

Raj Dhaliwal: No response.

Gurpreet Dhillon: No response.

Tariq Khan: No response.

Harneet (Reet) Mushiana: No response.

Jigar Patel: No response.

Harry Singh Purba: No response.

Aryan Sadat: No response.

Ward 6

1 To Be Elected

Joanne Birce: I am running as an Independent, not affiliated with any of the municipal parties, because I commit that my allegiance, my advocacy, and my loyalty will be to the residents of Ward 6, not to any party, leader, or policy that is not in Ward 6’s best interests. That said, I’m happy to be clear about my values: I am a conservative. I’ve been active with both the federal and provincial conservative movements for the past ten years. I align most closely with conservative parties because I believe in: • Prudent, transparent budgeting and respect for taxpayers’ dollars • Smaller, more efficient government that focuses on core services (water, roads, police, fire, EMS) • Policies that support small businesses, job creation, and economic opportunity • Individual responsibility, community-driven solutions, and accountability from our public institutions • Practical infrastructure planning before grandiose projects, and a strong emphasis on public safety As a fiscal conservative, my focus is on value for taxpayers. City Hall must get back to basics by ensuring safe streets, reliable infrastructure, and fair taxes, instead of chasing every new idea. Calgarians are already paying enough. We need disciplined budgeting, real accountability, and partnerships with the private and nonprofit sectors to stretch our dollars further. I will fight waste, protect core services, and make sure City Hall respects the people who pay the bills, you, the taxpayers.

John Pantazopoulos: I’m running as an independent because City Hall doesn’t need insiders bringing their party politics into our local government. I don’t answer to a party. I answer to Ward 6.

Inam Teja: No response.

Jeff Watson: While I am not affiliated with any political party, I am a former-Conservative Member of Parliament. I proudly stylize my pamphlets and communications as a conservative.

Ward 7

1 To Be Elected

Greg Amoruso: No response.

Anthony Ascue: Yes, I am affiliated with A Better Calgary Party. I joined them because we all share the same Conservative values and want strong Conservative leadership.

Myke Atkinson: No response.

David Barrett: No response.

Heather Mcrae: No response.

Terry Wong: I am running with the Communities First team because it reflects my commitment to putting residents and neighbourhoods at the centre of every decision. CF candidates are a group of like-minded individuals who will remain independent at City Hall and focus on practical solutions while keeping community interests first.

Ward 8

1 To Be Elected

Gary Bobrovitz: No response.

Miguel Cortines: I am running as an independent.

Kent Hehr: No response.

Josie Kirkpatrick: I am not affiliated with any party and think it's highly inappropriate for the province to be interfering in Municipal elections.

Nathaniel Schmidt: No response.

Cornelia Wiebe: No response.

Ward 9

1 To Be Elected

Harrison M. Clark: As a business owner, when I flip my sign to open, it is not to any one single group of people. It is to everyone who would like to come in and do business with me. I think this is one of the most valuable skills I can bring forward as I seek to do this work. I want to see the best possible outcome for the most amount of people we can affect with the decisions made at council.

Tony Dinh: I’m running as a Conservative-minded independent, no provincial or federal party controls my campaign or my vote. My values are rooted in fiscal responsibility, accountability, and common sense, principles often associated with conservative governance, but my loyalty is to the people of Ward 9, not any party line. City Hall decisions should be made on merit, not ideology. Calgary needs councilors who listen first, think critically, and act locally. I’ll work with anyone, left, right, or centre, if it means better roads, safer communities, and a more efficient City. My alignment is simple: I stand with taxpayers, not with partisans.

Shirley Brun Parungao Do: No response.

Gar Gar: I am running as an Independent candidate in this municipal election. My commitment is to the residents of Ward 9, not to any provincial or federal party. Municipal government is about fixing our roads, keeping our communities safe, supporting small businesses, making housing affordable, and ensuring residents feel heard. These are local issues that demand practical, people-first solutions, not partisan agendas. While I respect that voters are curious about political alignments, I believe the strength of City Council lies in its independence. My focus will always be on serving Ward 9 families, seniors, youth, and businesses — listening, acting, and delivering results, no matter who is in power at the provincial or federal level. For me, it’s not about left or right. It’s about putting community first, service first, and results first. Together for a strong Ward 9.

Alison Karim-McSwiney: No and the problem with the past City Council was it was polarized based in ideology. It doesn’t matter what ideology I lean to as my ultimate job is to represent community and advocate on what they need. I am with the Communities First team as we have all agreed on key principles so people know what we stand for… communities first and foremost.

Ariana Kippers: No response.

Marina Ortman: I agree it is good for voters to know who they are voting for. When it comes to municipal issues, resident concerns will be my main focus and I will work with all levels of government and parties to find solutions. I am running as an independent to represent Ward 9's constituents, not any single ideology or party line. At the end of the day, the only party I answer to is the residents of Ward 9.

Ward 10

1 To Be Elected

Nickie Brockhoff: No response.

Andre Chabot: Federal Conservative party because it aligns more closely with my own values of smaller government, living within my means and less big brother controlling legislation.

Mahmoud Mourra: My main interest is serving the residents of Calgary. Where I stand on provincial or federal politics has no direct bearing on this election, because I am running as an independent candidate. My loyalty is to the people of Ward 10, not to any political party. I want to make decisions based on what is best for our community, not what fits a party agenda. For the curiosity of residents, I do align myself with conservative values and principles, but my commitment in this race is to represent Ward 10 independently and put our community first, for a better Calgary.

Tarlochan Singh Sidhu: I am independent and non-partisan. My goal is to represent the residents of Ward 10—not any political party or outside interest. I decided to leave my comfort zone and run for City Council because I believe it’s time for honest, hardworking representation that stands up for everyday Calgarians.

Ward 11

1 To Be Elected

Kourtney Penner: Not affiliated with any party at any level of government.

Rob Ward: I am not affiliated with any provincial or federal political party. Under provincial law, no provincial or federal parties can participate in municipal elections. While municipal parties are now allowed in Calgary, they operate independently and focus solely on local issues. I joined Communities First because it aligns with my values of putting communities first, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and delivering practical, common-sense solutions for Ward 11 residents. Being part of Communities First allows me to benefit from a supportive team while remaining fully independent in representing my ward. My decisions are guided by the needs of Ward 11, not by party politics. Our Communities First team has been fully transparent with what we intend to do by publishing our seven policy priorities as well as our "to-do list" through media/news releases. There will be no surprises like declaring a climate emergency on day 1, which nobody campaigned on.

Alex Williams: No response.

Ward 12

1 To Be Elected

Shane Byciuk: No response.

Brent Curtis: No response.

Sarah Ferguson: No response.

Mike Jamieson: No response.

Raj-Kumar Khuttan: No response.

Ward 13

1 To Be Elected

Dan McLean: I'm a member of the Conservative Party of Canada and the United Conservative Party of Alberta because I believe in common sense and respecting taxpayers dollars. As a City Councillor, I've always put my residents first despite any known political or ideological leanings.

Elliot Weinstein: No response.

Ward 14

1 To Be Elected

Chima Akuchie: No. I’m running as an independent because I'm for the people and municipal politics should be about communities, not party agendas. I want to represent Ward 14 directly, with transparency, integrity, and accountability.

Erin Averbukh: I don't even know a politician. I’m running as a truly independent candidate because City Councillors should be "toeing the community line - not the party line". Let's fix roads, improve transit and manage budgets. My campaign package is: Less politics. More community. Better management.

Devin Elkin: No response.

Keener Hachey: Shorter answer: I am a conservative. I believe in (alphabetically) accountability, faith, family, fiscal responsibility, free markets, freedom, individual responsibility, justice, less government, private property, respectfully using taxpayers dollars wisely, respecting others and treating them as you would like to be treated, truth Longer answer: I am a UCP member. I have served since 2023 on the UCP Calgary-Fish Creek Constituency Association Board as a Member at Large for MLA Myles McDougall. I helped campaign for Myles McDougall during 2023 provincial election. I also helped campaign for Eric Bouchard UCP MLA for Calgary-Lougheed during the 2023 provincial election. I helped campaign during the 2025 federal election for the campaigning for Conservative Party of Canada MP Stephanie Kusie. I am conservative. (alphabetically) I believe in accountability. I believe in faith. I believe in family. I believe in fiscal responsibility. I believe in free markets. I believe in freedom. I believe in individual responsibility. I believe in justice. I believe in less government. I believe in private property. I believe in respectfully using taxpayers dollars wisely. I believe in respecting others and treating them as you would like to be treated. I believe in truth.

Landon Johnston: I’m an independent conservative, which for me means fiscal responsibility, safe communities, and a back-to-basics city that delivers core services well. I’ve seen how party labels can pull loyalty away from residents, and that doesn’t fit a diverse ward. My votes will be guided by Ward 14 first and by conservative principles on spending and accountability. If a notice of motion comes forward, I’ll judge it on whether it improves functionality, safety, and value for taxpayers. I have a personal affiliation with the provincial and federal conservatives but municipally I plan on staying an independent conservative that serves the needs of Ward 14 as a whole.

Sunjiv Raval: No response.

Ryan Stutt: No response.