Stephan Dabbagh
Stephan Dabbagh
Candidate for Ward 14
Contact Information:
Biography:
Not yet responded.
Survey Results:
Question 1: What work experience do you have that’s relevant to the role of a Councillor and how do you feel the skills and perspective you have gained will help you in your role as a Councillor?
I have served the citizens of Calgary as a firefighter fo 20 years. I have first hand knowledge and expirence of the strengths and weaknesses of the city. I love Calgary, and I'm running to serve not to be served.
Question 2: What do you think are the biggest issues affecting your ward are, and how would you approach being their local representative?
The biggest issues affecting Ward 14 are the economic obstacles put in place by council based on fear, not fact. Business are not fully being allowed to recover. I would decrease bussiness tax over the next few years so they can recover. Particularly resturants, bars, gyms and rec centers.
Question 3: What do you think is the role of a municipal government? Do you think the City does too many things, not enough, or just the right amount?
The role of a municipal government is to provide protective services to give business every opportunity to survive. To assist in community development to assist in uniting citzens. To building healthy, strong communities. City Council has over steped their power in implementing health madates while not providing adequate funding to fire services and creating obstacles for businesses to cover. They have misued police services to implement covid restrictions when theirservices were needed elsewhere.
Question 4: Do you think property taxes are too high, too low, or just about right?
They are adequate. However, I believe too much of it is spent on over management.
Question 5: Over the next four years, should the City spend less in absolute terms, increase spending but by less than the rate of inflation and population growth, increase by the rate of inflation and population growth, or increase faster than the rate of inflation and population growth?
The city should increase to the rate of inflation and population growth.
Question 6: During the introduction of City Charters a few years ago there was a lot of debate about new taxation powers for the big cities. Would you support the City being given any additional taxation powers by the Province? If so, what taxation powers should the City have?
No, I do support the City being given additional taxation powers by the province.
Question 7: The City often claims that they’ve found savings in various budgets, but instead of actually cutting spending, they just put the savings into a reserve account and then spend that money on other things. If there’s money left over at the end of a financial year, do you think that money should be saved up by the City to spend in future years? Or should it be returned automatically to taxpayers the following year through some kind of rebate?
I think there should be some kind of rainy day fund put into place. This money could also be saved for a future development fund.
Question 8: Everyone says they support affordable housing, but what does that term mean for you? Do you think the City should be subsidizing housing for lower-income residents? Or focused on keeping the cost of all housing from getting out of control? Or perhaps some combination of the two? If so, how?
The problem is, when is the average person going to be able to afford a house? The affordable housing project is paid by the average taxpayer. With the rate of household debt, increasing house prices, and inflation, it seems as if we are all headed for subsidized houseing if things don't change. Less subiztzed houseing is what we can afford in our current economic situation. Let's focus on getting our business back to thriving, not surviveing, before we spendmoney we dont have.
Question 9: The Calgary Metropolitan Region Board is currently debating their Growth Plan for the Calgary region. What do you think about the plan? Do you think we should be limiting development in certain parts of the region? If so, are you worried about how that will affect housing affordability?
All development has to happen within the reality that we find ourselves in. If it increases taxes, and cost of living, is it really going to help the average person struggling to make ends meet? That would have to be addressed.
Question 10: There’s been a lot of debate about the City’s new “Guidebook for Great Communities”. What do you think about the Guidebook? What do you think should be the split between greenfield and established community growth for new housing? Should the City have a specific target? Should this be determined by market demand?
Personally, the nicest communities in our city are places like Parkland, Midnapore, Lake Bonavista. Roomy lots, close to large green spaces. I am very concerned about the urban density of the guidebook.
Question 11: When the City voted to approve four projects - the Event Centre, the BMO Centre expansion, the Arts Commons transformation, and the Foothills Fieldhouse - they did so against the advice of the City’s own CFO, who said the City could only afford one of them. Do you think that was the right move? Why? If, as the City continues through the process with each of these projects, it becomes obvious that the City’s CFO was correct, and Calgarians can only afford one of these projects, which would you choose?
I agree with the CFO. The city ahould only do one project at a time. We cannot put the onus on the taxpayers to pay for multiple projects, when money from essential services is being cut. I would chose the Foothills Field house.
Question 12: Do you support the construction of the Green Line LRT as currently envisioned by the City, would you prefer changes be made to the plan (and if so, what changes), or would you prefer to cancel the project entirely? If, as a Councillor, you find out that - despite all the previous assurances - there has in fact been another cost overrun on the Green Line, what would you do?
I only support projects that we can afford and done in a timely mannor. If there is no set timeline or budget, its not attanable.
Question 13: What do you think is the best approach to attract businesses to Calgary? Direct incentives to specific businesses, paid for by slightly higher taxes, or lower tax rates for all businesses?
Lower taxes on all businesses.
Question 14: Should the City be in the business of operating golf courses, or should they privatize or sell them off? How about garbage collection or other services?
I think its fine as long as it fits within the city budget.
Question 15: Should we defund the police? If yes, what exactly does defunding the police mean to you? If not, what should the City do to address both historical and ongoing injustices?
We should not defund the police. The city should review the police commission and why they are alllowing these injustices to happen. If the commission has failed to this point, they should be replaced and restructured by suject matter expert's. They should be chosen by police officers, not city council.
Question 16: Do you support the City’s mandatory vaccination policy for City employees?
No, I don't support the mandatory vaccination policy. It is illegal, unconstitutional, and creates division, segregation, and leads to discrimination.
Question 17: Council recently dropped residential speed limits to 40km/h, do you agree with that decision, and what do you think about the proposal by some to go further and drop it to 30km/h in the future?
No, to much government overreach and control.
Question 18: For years there has been an ongoing debate about the City’s public art spending. Some say that the problem is the selection process for what art is commissioned, while others are opposed to any use of public funds for art. What do you think?
I think the problem is the people who take over the programs use it to fund their own ideologies instead of promoting beautiful and uplifting art that we all can appreciate.
Question 19: Serving as a Councillor you are responsible to both your local constituents and every Calgarian. How would you deal with a situation where you feel that the best interests of your local constituents in your ward conflict with what you feel is the best interests of the City as a whole?
I'm elected to represent my Ward, so their interests would come first. I would strive to meet the interests of the whole city while representing my ward.
Question 20: While the concept of a secret ballot is essential, many of our supporters have told us that they’d like to know the political alignment of their candidates. So, if - and only if - you feel comfortable saying so, who are you voting for for Mayor and why, and if you are affiliated with any provincial or federal political parties, which ones and why?
I'm voting for Grace Yan. She has a proven business track record of success. She's committed to freedom and removing obstacles for businesses.