I have not found any website that has a comparrison of each mayoral candidate's policies and issues listed. I have taken the opportunity of trying to assist voters by listing each of the candidates' issues/policies on this blog.
I have only listed the ones that have their information posted on their website, or in a place that is easily accesible to the public. I am a believer that if you don't make your information easy to access, on the web for instance, then you don't want your issues known.
I used the website listing from http://calgarydemocracy.ca/levels/calgary/elections/2010/ballots
During this process, I did very little in terms of editing format, aside from spacing and numbering (where appropriate). All content relating to the candidate's policies/issues was copied as is from their website.
Enjoy, and I hope this helps you compare and decide.
The main Issues in Calgary
Transportation
Transportation
We will prioritize and manage construction projects in order to minimize the impact on today’s roads. With this in mind, we need to focus on three key transportation projects for this new Council.
Airport Tunnel
I believe that construction of the Airport Tunnel is an absolute necessity. Let me explain. Currently, the airport runways are positioned between Deerfoot and Barlow. This allows north-south access to the airport via Deerfoot and Barlow. The Calgary Airport Authority is a quasi governmental body which is able to implement decisions independently from the City of Calgary Calgary International Airport
LRT to the airport
To be a world class city, we need a LRT to the airport and we will extend the line to the airport by 2015. Why would we choose the LRT to the airport? Consider this: the Airport is the third largest employment sector in the city and third largest international airport in Canada Alberta Ottawa has supported major public transportation in Toronto , Montreal , and recently in Vancouver Ottawa to invest in the city that actually drives Canada
Build the Southwest Ring Road
We need a solution for the Southwest ring road. The people who live in the deep southwest have had enough. As the former member of Council who warned the Province and City Council about approving a casino before the ring road deal was reached, I am as frustrated as the people who live in the area. We need a better north – south corridor in this quadrant. We will begin the process of a collaborative approach with the province to find a solution and deliver a vital transportation corridor for the people who live in this area. And we will do this, right now.
Build a Safe & Vibrant Community
- Creating a test pilot for Friday and Saturday nights to have the LRT run 24 hours with a visible enforcement presence. This will encourage Calgarians to enjoy downtown and leave their cars at home
- Establish taxi stands in specific areas of the downtown so people actually know where they are when they need them. For example, let’s make Stephen Avenue after 10pm was one large taxi stand. This will add greater convenience and access for people who choose not to drive
- The East Village Calgary
- But you can’t be a vibrant city if you’re not a safe city. As a former Police Commissioner, I made public safety my #1 priority. We introduced beat cops, the Bad Behaviour Bylaw, safety audits on the LRT and +15 networks to establish a visible presence to deter crime. As your Mayor, I will continue to make public safety a key priority at City Hall
Building an Affordable & Sustainable City
To be more affordable, to be more sustainable, we need to be realistic. You can talk all you want about a plan but if it can’t be executed, it’s useless.
I have a four point plan that balances affordability and sustainability. We will implement in the first 100 days of office a plan to encourage a better process which will help drive down costs and encourage redevelopment in existing communities:
- Remove Members of Council and administration from the Planning Commission and the Subdivision Development Appeal Board (SDAB). I want a peer review of applications. Political views will be held in Council Chambers.
- We will enshrine entitlement rights to land. The debate regarding multi-family units and high rise development will be done at Council’s Public Hearing, not 3 or 4 years later at the permit process. Entitlement rights are key to affordability and redeveloping the inner city
- Give professional engineers and architects the authority and responsibility for their work and eliminate the red tape that delays development and artificially increases costs
- The key to urban sprawl is to be a leader in the Calgary
Creating an Accountable & Accessible City Hall
Currently, there are too many decisions being made by Council behind closed doors. As Mayor, I will open up City Hall in four major ways:
- Job One will be to create an independent task force of respected volunteer business leaders who will head up the external audit investigation on this Audit fiasco. We will open the books and start at ground zero. I want the report to be unfettered by the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and the City Manager’s Office. We will learn from this and City Hall will take its lumps and we will publicly disclose warts and all
- Job One will be to create an independent task force of respected volunteer business leaders who will head up the external audit investigation on this Audit fiasco. We will open the books and start at ground zero. I want the report to be unfettered by the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and the City Manager’s Office. We will learn from this and City Hall will take its lumps and we will publicly disclose warts and all
- We will conduct value audits on Enmax, Calgary Parking Authority, and the Corporate Properties Department. Enmax alone represents almost 1/3 of the City`s growing debt. Why are taxpayers at risk of subordinating private business debts?
- Corporate Governance – Council sifts through the minutia and lets administration deal with the big picture. It should be the other way around. A perfect example is snow clearing. We had thousands of people at risk of no emergency services while Council took weeks to decide if a Chinook would take care of the problem. This is unacceptable.
- Budget Process – Members of Council need to be vigilant throughout the year not just at budget talks. Members of Council need to start acting like a Board of Directors. We will create a business like atmosphere by holding quarterly budget meetings to review financials. We will then send out with the people’s utility bill a quarterly update on the budget so all Calgarians will see actual and projected numbers. This is how you keep to a 3 year business plan and inform Calgarians of how their money is being spent
- To be more accessible, as Mayor, I will visit each ward twice a year so the ward alderman and I can meet with our constituents. We will meet prior to budget and mid season to get valuable feedback from Calgarians. I never, ever want to lose touch with the people I serve. We will take City Hall to the Community Halls of Calgary
Bring Innovative Ideas to Old Challenges
As Mayor, I plan to introduce to Calgary the Smart Card; a prepaid card that you can buy at retail outlets across Calgary Transit Park
Open and Transparent
We will achieve a more transparent and open City Hall by offering Calgarians the 3Cs of leadership: communicating, consensus, and commitment. We will lead through open communication. We will be respectful of each others’ opinions; not only with other Members of Council but for the people we serve. We will build consensus through understanding the needs of each community. We will build a plan that puts the long term needs for all Calgarians as our top priority. Once we have openly communicated, once we have built a plan through consensus, we will be committed to action.
Joe Connellyhttp://joeformayor.ca/my-take/
Issues
JoeConnelly TakeBackYourCity (PDF)
Bonnie Devine
Platform : Brochure
"People Before Profit"
- Reduction of all public transit fares by 50% for one year. The following year, elimination of all public transit fares. Public transit, as a necessity for people to travel to work, shop, etc. should be a right. - Immediate return to free transit parking at C-Train stations.
- Creation of Low-income housing. Homelessness is not a crime. The lack of affordable housing is. This should be the focus of capital projects in Calgary
- New residential construction must include a percentage set aside for subsidized housing.
- Portion of the City Budget set aside for creation of new low-mortgage housing construction program.
- Greater funding, transparency, and public input into the running of the Calgary Housing Company.
- Greater funding for education in Calgary
- Elimination of all public school fees and fees for lunch programs. Education, as a duty and right, should not penalize those with less.
- More investment and initiatives in order to increase the number of teachers in the CBE. 1 teacher for 35 students should not be considered acceptable.
- More investment and initiatives in order to increase the number of nurses and doctors in Calgary Calgary
- Greater funding for Calgary
- All projects and jobs to be staffed by local labour pool. Any temporary foreign workers hired to be paid same union wages and benefits, with same protections.
- More positive approach to public/civic trade unions.
- End to union busting and undercutting, especially via outsourcing. End to privatization.
- Childcare space. Increase access and spaces.
- Greater leadership from City Hall in the fight against racism, homophobia, prejudice, and bigotry.
- Reduction of property taxes on all homeowners and increase those of corporations that do business in Calgary Calgary Calgary
- Rent control and more rights for renters.
- Work with the provincial government to improve and extend renters' rights within the Residential Tenancies Act.
- Schedule of maximum and minimum rents to be established.
- Pay cut as Mayor. The role of Mayor is no more important than the people who take away the trash, fight fires, pack our groceries, stock our shelves, or pump our gas. All these roles together, and more, make Calgary
Bob Hawkesworth
Great things happen when people come together to decide what they need to live the life they want. Great things happen when people listen to each other with respect for differences, but with a common commitment to the community they share.
Bob Hawkesworth believes inCalgary
He has the right priorities forCalgary
Bob Hawkesworth on the Right Priorities for Calgary
Open Roads
Creative Calgary
Invest in Families
Open Government
Sustainable Development
Green Power Capital
The Wrong Priorities for Calgary
Airport Tunnel
Bob Hawkesworth believes in
He has the right priorities for
Bob Hawkesworth on the Right Priorities for Calgary
Open Roads
Creative Calgary
Invest in Families
Open Government
Sustainable Development
Green Power Capital
The Wrong Priorities for Calgary
Airport Tunnel
Barb Higgins
Framework for a Vibrant City
Barb Higgins' Policy Book is now available for download.
"We must not wait for the future to define Calgary
My commitment, as the Mayor of Calgary, is to inspire a city that focuses on opportunity, lifestyle and performance—for our people, businesses, families and communities.
The Mayor of a vibrant city must create a vision and a framework to set priorities. As your Mayor, I commit to the seven priorities outlined here."
My commitment, as the Mayor of Calgary, is to inspire a city that focuses on opportunity, lifestyle and performance—for our people, businesses, families and communities.
The Mayor of a vibrant city must create a vision and a framework to set priorities. As your Mayor, I commit to the seven priorities outlined here."
Dan Knight
Issues
Jon Lord
Issues & Priorities
To sum it up quickly, here is what I propose to do as Mayor:
1. Greatly improve our Snow removal during Winter.
2. It will be much better if we organize all we can using City employees, private sector contractors, neighbors, people with big trucks and so on to do a huge "blitz" after every major snowstorm.
3. Much more Soccer, Hockey, Lacrosse and other sports for our Children:
4. I propose building at least 20 new single or twin arena/field steel-span structures in communities throughout the City, plus 3 large Regional multi-sports larger facilities, all could be complete within 3 years using my Sport4Calgary plan.
5. Promote "Work from Home" Telework to reduce cars on the road, improve work/life balance
6. Telework, e-work initiatives - people working from home on computers instead of fighting traffic to work downtown. Productivity, actually improves from 10% to 50% with proper implementation using electronic monitoring and Management by Objective instead of Management by Walking around. People really like it, are happier and healthier, get more done, eyes in the community by day cuts down crime, jobs for the disabled, less CO2 emissions from cars - its a win win all they say around. I have said: 20% of City Hall employees at least one day per week, maybe more...set the example for the private sector. Thats a lot of cars off the road.
7. RACE CITY : Keep it, and enhance it as an economic engine for Calgary
8. TUNNEL: YES do the emergency part ( under the runway) NOW ( $30 million?) to avoid the $1B cost later. See my blog (on the spinning carousel of this web page) as to why and how.
9.
10. ARTS and CULTURE: Promote a vibrant underground scene similiar to Austin Texas and other successful places, working with small business, BRZ's artists, musicians, landlords and others.
11. GET a MULTI-MEDIA FILM STUDIO built and operating, by resolving the political squabbles preventing it ( just like we did in resolving the 30 year battle over Stampede Expansion.) Stampede, and all other potential industry players, and anyone else interested, could make this a whole new beginning for Calgary
12. City Finances: Independant Auditor guaranteed autonomy, plus enough power to get the job done!
13. Triple E Government: Efficient, Effective, Ethical Ethics is the key goal for me.
14. Small Business and Poverty alleviation: Double the success rate of Small Businesses start-ups in Calgary
15. Homelessness and Affordable Housing: I asked for and Co-Chaired the committee which got secondary Suites legalized Provincially under the BLDG codes. Few people know this issue better than me. Seniors housing is a MUST and see our Midfield Mobile Home park video on this web page in that regard.
Policy
Ric McIver
Ric’s Vision for Calgary
The McIver CAT Test – Cost Control, Accountability and Transparency
Taxes and the November Budget
Independent Auditor General
Re-defining the Customer Service Culture at City Hall
The McIver Parking Plan
Snow Removal
As the campaign progresses additional detailed policies will be released on a regular basis.
Sign-up for our “Stay Informed” email update list (at the top of the page) to recieve copies of each platform policy as they are released.
Wayne Stewarthttp://www.waynestewart.ca/
Why Should You Vote for Me?
When I first announced that I was going to run, my friends asked me “why am I running for Mayor?"
My answer is simple – I love this city – it has so much going for it – but it desperately needs new leadership – and new thinking.
Our spending is out of control – our public service has too many layers and needs an attitude adjustment – people tell me that they no longer feel safe – they don’t feel they have a voice in transportation and infrastructure decisions that affect them – and city services like garbage & recycling collection – road and park maintenance – snow clearing etc. are not doing the job that they’re paid to do. In addition there are sectors of our city that aren’t getting enough support – like our senior citizens – our communities - our arts community – and those who are marginalized and need a helping hand.
When I looked around at who might be the next Mayor I didn’t see any evidence of that kind of leadership. All I saw were a bunch of people who have been part of creating this mess – and some others who have never balanced anything – let alone manage anything of any consequence.
Today people say to me “why should I vote for you?”
My answer here is simple too – because I have the experience and track record of success to provide that new leadership and new thinking. I understand what it takes to meet a payroll – balance a large budget – to bring people together with different perspectives to collaborate in finding solutions to complex problems. I know how to develop a vision for the future that will be shared by all the stakeholders – how to put together a strategic plan to achieve worthwhile goals. I also realize that one of the biggest challenges is to bring a new form of leadership and governance to city hall, one which will encourage people to work together for the common good, while demanding accountability and higher levels of performance.
“If you care about the future of our city as much as I do – then that’s why you should vote for me.”
The McIver CAT Test – Cost Control, Accountability and Transparency
Taxes and the November Budget
Independent Auditor General
Re-defining the Customer Service Culture at City Hall
The McIver Parking Plan
Snow Removal
As the campaign progresses additional detailed policies will be released on a regular basis.
Sign-up for our “Stay Informed” email update list (at the top of the page) to recieve copies of each platform policy as they are released.
Wayne Stewarthttp://www.waynestewart.ca/
Why Should You Vote for Me?
When I first announced that I was going to run, my friends asked me “why am I running for Mayor?"
My answer is simple – I love this city – it has so much going for it – but it desperately needs new leadership – and new thinking.
Our spending is out of control – our public service has too many layers and needs an attitude adjustment – people tell me that they no longer feel safe – they don’t feel they have a voice in transportation and infrastructure decisions that affect them – and city services like garbage & recycling collection – road and park maintenance – snow clearing etc. are not doing the job that they’re paid to do. In addition there are sectors of our city that aren’t getting enough support – like our senior citizens – our communities - our arts community – and those who are marginalized and need a helping hand.
When I looked around at who might be the next Mayor I didn’t see any evidence of that kind of leadership. All I saw were a bunch of people who have been part of creating this mess – and some others who have never balanced anything – let alone manage anything of any consequence.
Today people say to me “why should I vote for you?”
My answer here is simple too – because I have the experience and track record of success to provide that new leadership and new thinking. I understand what it takes to meet a payroll – balance a large budget – to bring people together with different perspectives to collaborate in finding solutions to complex problems. I know how to develop a vision for the future that will be shared by all the stakeholders – how to put together a strategic plan to achieve worthwhile goals. I also realize that one of the biggest challenges is to bring a new form of leadership and governance to city hall, one which will encourage people to work together for the common good, while demanding accountability and higher levels of performance.
“If you care about the future of our city as much as I do – then that’s why you should vote for me.”
Governance & Leadership
- Transparent tendering
- Community Presidents' Council
- Strengthen servicesfor families, seniors & ethnic communities
- Safer neighbourhoods
- Tax Freeze & Independent Auditor
Public Private Partnerships (P3)
- New downtown library
- Airport tunnel
- P3 plan for
Calgary
Economic Diversification
- Plan for world energy capital
- Partnerwith post-secondary institutions
- Regional tourism strategy
Enriched Environment
- Expanded blue box
- Compost collection
- Bike friendly city
Passenger Focused Transit
- LRT to the Airport
- Bus RT to
Mount Royal University - Plan for
SE LRT & beyond - Rider Focused
"My Calgary
