Priorities

Where we are: In the last 7 years, unemployment in Calgary has almost doubled. In the last 18 months, 77,000 more people have fallen under the poverty line. Now more than ever, our dependence on a single industry must shift toward a more diverse economy that embraces the innovation that will carry Calgary forward.

Where we can go, together: When you get down to the fundamentals of Council, its job is to create the conditions for the success of Calgarians, socially, environmentally, and economically. A strong economy allows us to succeed in everything we do. A strong economy allows people to thrive.

Economical: We must support the heart of our communities: local businesses. The small business sector provides the majority of employment in our city. For us to thrive as a whole, we must make sure our small businesses are thriving. Through streamlining administrative barriers, such as our licensing and permitting system, we can make it easier for entrepreneurship to take root. Through a comparative investigation of more efficient municipalities, we can establish processes and procedures that are more friendly to entrepreneurs and businesses.

In addition to local businesses, our economic opportunities lay in our growing industries such as film, interactive media, aerospace and logistics, as well as investing in our hardworking people by providing and incentivizing job retraining programs and transitional training programs. It is when we invest in ourselves that we will thrive.

Social: Our collective success will be based on the kind of life we can offer people already here, and what will attract others to visit or move here. If we offer people an inclusive culture and environment, a place to embrace our humanity through our collective identities, Calgary will become a place where everyone feels at home. Through support for local arts and culture, entertainment, and pursuing post-secondary educational partnerships in the downtown core, Calgary has the opportunity to reimagine the culture of our city for the benefit of all.

Environmental: We have an economic opportunity to invest in new technological industries that would harness local talent, innovation and intellectual capital. Through strategic investments in renewable energy, agribusiness, carbon capture technology, and expanded and electrified transit infrastructure, Calgary has an opportunity to be on the cutting edge of environmentally responsible industries. In doing so, we can avoid the damaging effects of boom and bust cycles while also committing to our ethical responsibilities addressing the climate crisis.

There is a cascading effect to investing in ourselves. When we seek out creative opportunities to invest in Ward 8, we will enrich our communities with more amenities, better services, and improve the quality of life for all who call Ward 8 home. In doing so, Ward 8 will further develop as a destination for Calgarians to live, work, and play. And when we draw more people into our communities, we create the conditions for businesses to succeed with more patrons, more employees, and an atmosphere that’s bustling with life. 

 Actions:

1. Champion Calgary’s Greater Downtown Strategy to lead the way for the reinvention of Calgary’s Downtown and the revival of the lost tax revenue that is now being shouldered by small businesses across the city.
2. Work with the City of Calgary, local businesses, and residents to pilot two-way streets on 11th and 12th Avenues in the Beltline and Sunalta as part of the Green Line construction detours.
3. Establish, expand, and partner with vocational transitioning and retraining programs to support Calgarians learning new skills and finding jobs in other industries.
4. Enable the expansion of the renewable energy industry and tech industry, creating jobs and attracting more talent, while creating a resilient, future-fit city that can respond meaningfully to the climate crisis and weather its projected impacts.
5. Partner with Post-Secondary Institutions to offer a slate of university classes and/or programs in the downtown core.
6. Invest in Calgary’s Arts and Culture industries.
7. Investigate ways to expand our Film and Media Industry.
8. Support local businesses with permanent extended patios that maintain open sidewalks.
9. Investigate opportunities to improve efficiency and customer service in City administrative processes related to business licensing, permitting, or operations by conducting a best practices scan of other municipalities in Canada.

Where we are: I’ve stood in the cold for an hour waiting for a bus because I was 5 minutes late. If I missed a bus, I wouldn’t get to work on time. I bike, but I’ve also been run off the road by a truck. I’d walk, but then I’d have to deal with walking home at night on streets that are poorly lit. So, I bought a car—not out of choice but out of necessity, because that is how our city has been built. We can change this so that we all have more choice in how we get around our communities.

When we have a system that makes it impossible to travel across the city in a reasonable amount of time, people will not use it. We need bus and LRT service every 15 minutes that gets you where you need to go, when you need to get there. This will make taking transit a viable option for more people, create more jobs in transportation and further our goals of creating an economically sustainable transit system.

Where we can go, together: The foundation for a universally accessible and sustainable city is a robust public transportation system. Calgarians deserve a transportation system that guarantees frequent, safe, decongested, sustainable, accessible, and affordable service to and from all parts of the city. How do we do this?

Economical: The Green Line is just the start of this important vision. Not only is it a large investment for our City today, it will open up a whole new degree of connectivity and accessibility that will allow people to more easily live and work anywhere in Calgary.

We have an opportunity to make strategic investments in our transit and active transportation infrastructure that would make Calgary a city where people can save money by having the choice to walk, bike, or drive on their daily commute. Through universal design that makes our city accessible to all, we can open up our city to ensure everyone can participate in our economy equally.

Social: We can and must change our relationship with how we move throughout the city. To see the vibrancy of Calgary grow, we need to make sure that we are connecting all communities with a cohesive network of transit and transportation corridors that will encourage Calgarians to explore, embrace, and engage in our city.

By creating a transit-rich city, we are able to make more space for people to live, work, and play. With a renewed commitment to proven sustainable systems of transportation, we can refocus our efforts on connecting our communities with each other, rather than separating them.

Environmental: We are at a crossroads with how Calgary has been built. There is no way around it–we are a city that has been built for cars. As part of our commitment to creating a climate resilient city, we need to do our part to make every aspect of our city more energy efficient, reduce our carbon emissions, and become better stewards of the land.

How we travel is key to this work. If we commit to revolutionizing how Calgarians move, we will further our climate resilience goals, live healthier lives, and guarantee that Calgary is seen as a city that takes the climate crisis seriously and is acting to address it.

An enhanced transportation network will reduce emissions, enhance the quality of physical health for Calgarians, improve mental health through physical activity and community connection, and support the longevity of a sustainable Calgary.

Actions: 

1. Defend the Green Line and champion the full build out of Stage 1 of the Green Line LRT through Ward 8, Downtown and north of the Bow River, and prioritize expansion north to the airport for Stage 2.
2. Fight to triple the budget for street safety and mobility improvements that will make a noticeable improvement in every Ward 8 neighbourhood.
3. Advocate for and ensure continued investment to create sustainable public transit and active transportation infrastructure through Provincial and Federal partnerships and grants. 
4. Restore and enhance bus and LRT service to and through Ward 8, targeted at creating 15-minute service intervals.
5. Continue to invest in Ward 8 neighbourhoods with protected mobility tracks for bikes, scooters, and people travelling by active modes.
6. Champion the re-establishment of regional passenger rail service between Banff, Downtown Calgary and the Calgary Airport with the Federal and Provincial Governments.
7. Investigate Calgary Transit funding models that can incentivize increased ridership, cost-effective service provision, and fair and equitable fare levels.

Where we are: My grandmother lived on the corner of 16th Avenue and Deerfoot. A corner lot in the Midfield mobile home park. She was forced to move when the City began the process of redeveloping the area she called home. She knew the community, she knew the neighbourhood, but when it came time to move, there was nowhere in her neighbourhood she could afford. So she had to leave after quietly retiring there for over a decade.

This story is not unique to my grandmother. It is an experience felt by many Calgarians, young and old. It is our moral and ethical responsibility to ensure our communities are built so everyone can find a place to call home.

Where we can go, together: Our communities must be built for people of all ages, wages, and stages of life. The landscape of Calgary’s communities continues to evolve in amazing ways. People love the communities they choose to live in, and it is vital that we allow our communities to grow alongside the people who call them home. We must build complete neighbourhoods we can be proud to be part of and be able to say: This neighbourhood is for me, for my kids, and for my parents.

 We must empower people to be a part of the change they want to see with predictability, affordability, and fairness.

Economical: The reality is that if someone can only live in certain neighbourhoods because that is what they can afford, then that’s not actually a choice. If we build neighbourhoods to be affordable, amenity-rich, and where anyone can find their place in the neighbourhood they choose, we can truly build communities for everyone.

By creating a diversity of housing so young people and families can move into our communities, we increase the tax base in every neighbourhood and help reduce the cost of services that rests on the shoulders of current residents. Through sensible diversification of our communities, we can increase the number of taxpayers while ensuring that our amenities and services stay well-funded without increased individual costs.

The evidence is clear–a successful housing strategy is not only fiscally responsible, but it improves the quality of life we offer Calgarians.

Social: A cornerstone of my vision for this city is acknowledging that housing is a human right. Housing is critical to harm reduction efforts and affordable living is necessary to make sure we can support every Calgarian, no matter the context. Imagining all the ways we can build ‘home’ is key to creating equitable and inclusive neighbourhoods. Owning and renting, cooperative and multigenerational living are all part of Calgary’s landscape. No one can feel safe, find work, study, and grow without a place to call home. This is how we build communities for everyone.

Together, we can reduce and eliminate barriers keeping people from accessing housing and make it easier for citizens to meet their daily and lifelong needs. A guarantee of housing security means that in times of need, support will be available for all Calgarians. Housing security also decreases reliance on social services such as health care, food banks, and shelters.

Environmental: Unrestrained suburban sprawl is one of the greatest risks to our environment. Calgary is 848 km² in size. In comparison, Toronto is only 630.2 km². Calgary has been built in a way that we have over 200 km² more space than Toronto with approximately a third of the people. This is not efficient city building. Our continual expansion has seen unnecessary expansion into the greenfields surrounding our city, costly infrastructure that increases our need for cars, and we have poorly used our natural resources in order to build expansive neighbourhoods.

Building better communities is about efficiency in all aspects of how we live. We can reduce our environmental footprint by using the service infrastructure in place right now rather than building more. Understanding that our environment is an asset we cannot take for granted, we can make sure our communities are more resilient than ever by turning to environmentally responsible building strategies, sensible densification, and creating more close-knit communities.

Actions:

1. Fight for a generational public investment in Richmond Green that creates more green space and more state-of-the-art public ammenities that uplifts all the surrounding communities.
2. Advocate and support increased funding for affordable housing on a mixed-income model. 
3. Support increased development along major transit, transportation, and active transportation corridors. 
4. Enhance city planning practices to equally include the voices of affected community members, local businesses, and marginalized voices and demand a more collaborative process between the public and private sector. 
5. Champion a more equitable engagement process that knocks down barriers for citizens to be a part of city building discussions, combats misinformation and disinformation, and equips residents with better tools to critically navigate and participate in the planning system.
6. Advocate for Renter Protections from the Province to support more affordable housing options so that those who are renting can have affordable and dignified options for housing, while still being able to save for their future.
7. In partnership with the Provincial and Federal Governments, advocate for more funding to build housing that is responsive to the needs of diverse communities.
8. In partnership with the Provincial and Federal Governments, commit to ending homelessness in Calgary by providing wraparound services that address the challenges faced by those experiencing short term and long term homelessness.
9. Investigate opportunities for rehabilitation and redevelopment of brownfield and greyfield sites to increase land availability for housing.

Where we are: As Calgary keeps building out, our resources are being stretched thin. We all shoulder the cost of sprawl. For Ward 8, that cost is felt close to home. Ward 8 has seen schools close, pools go underfunded, and recreation centres age beyond usability. We must end sprawling development patterns bankrupting our city. However, ending suburban sprawl isn’t about punishing those communities on the outskirts. It is about recognizing that continued outward growth will continue to raise our costs, which must be covered by higher and higher taxes, fewer and lower quality services, and less infrastructure meant for the common good. 

Where we can go, together: When we invest in our communities with clear vision and goals, we become active participants in building a city where everyone can find a place to call home. For Ward 8, we have so much to offer and so much more potential—I want it to be a place where everyone can take part in the vibrancy. I want that for every community.

Not only do we need to densify, but we need to do so sensibly. Ward 8, now more than ever, must have an advocate on Council who will fight for the amenities needed to support each other and the new neighbours we are inviting into our communities.

Social: Ward 8 neighbourhoods have some of the best connectivity in all of Calgary, and we must continue to build people-focused infrastructure with universal design in mind. This means protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, more seating, more intentional accessibility infrastructure, and expanded urban canopies to ensure more comfort and access for everyone out and about.

Calgary is home to very diverse neighbourhoods and communities and Ward 8 is no exception. However, each neighbourhood has felt the impacts of the shutting down of the amenities that make our communities liveable. Ward 8 needs someone to fight to ensure that we have all of the amenities necessary to make our communities vibrant and thriving.

Economical: A benefit of building upon our vibrancy and developing better infrastructure for those living in Ward 8 means it will attract more people to come support our local businesses. Where people are, our communities and businesses thrive. 

I’ll fight to keep more of your tax dollars in Ward 8 to support these amenities and what you love about living here, rather than seeing it spent out on the edges of the city. Ward 8 deserves to see our tax dollars fairly used to revitalize the aging infrastructure here and to create more opportunities for work, fun, and building community. 

Environmental: Sprawl is the greatest threat to the environment and to the fiscal responsibility and financial sustainability of our city. Every existing community should not have to fight for resources, we must build up all existing communities rather than build new ones. By building up people-focused, resilient, and thoughtful infrastructure, we are better able to support climate mitigation actions that reduce our carbon footprint. Land is a resource that we must continue to use efficiently and share with each other.

Actions:

1. Reject the plans to subsidize 11 more new communities in 2022 and fight against the continued public subsidization of new communities in Calgary.
2. Work with City of Calgary Recreation to conduct an updated recreation amenities gap analysis that engages with Ward 8 residents and ensure appropriate investment in modern recreation facilities is fast-tracked for our neighbourhoods.
3. Introduce community enhancement funds that reinvest a portion of additional property taxes raised from new developments directly back into new amenities for each community. 
4. Link community density targets with direct investment in community amenities; communities that take on the challenge of density, inviting new faces and families onto their block, should see additional amenities as a result.
5. Invest in revitalizing main streets in Ward 8 and neighbourhoods to better support local businesses by sustaining our vibrant neighbourhoods with well developed public spaces.
6. Make neighbourhood streets safer and reduce cut through traffic.
7. Ensure the proper oversight of the redevelopment of East Victoria Park into a thriving urban neighbourhood and that public funds committed to the new Event Centre are used responsibly in the best interest of Calgarians to achieve a positive return on investment for our city.
8. Investigate the creation of open streets for people walking and wheeling in partnership with local businesses to replicate the vibrancy of Stephen Avenue. 
9. Prioritize innovative ways to expand our publicly accessible green spaces and parks.
10. Invest in public art and create more opportunities for the local artists to beautify their community.

Where we are: Not everyone in Calgary experiences the same degree of access and safety. How many of our streets are unsafe for children? How many times does a sidewalk detour make it impossible for people with disabilities or mobility challenges to navigate? How often have women been threatened and assaulted in public spaces? It feels like everyday I see a headline that reads “Reported attacks on women in Calgary spark social media awareness movement” or “Calgary pub increases security following reports of attacks against women.” It is important for Calgary to recognize that our city does not serve everyone equally.

Where we can go, together: Creating a city of universally accessible and safe communities means that we make the necessary changes to our infrastructure and culture to reduce and eliminate the barriers that prevent many people from truly enjoying the city they call home. 

Calgary should be a city where we understand our shortcomings and actively address them. We should be building more accessible parks for children of diverse abilities to enjoy. Street corners should be built not for the movement of cars, but for the safety of pedestrians. Our streets should be well lit and designed to make people feel safe at night. Our transit system must offer everyone the ability to ride knowing that they are completely safe at every stop, at every train station, and everywhere in between.

Social: A city built with universal design in mind recognizes that if we (re)build aspects of Calgary informed by the way people experience it, we will create more spaces where everyone can feel safe and independent and secure. Calgary was not built with everyone in mind. If we ensure that Ward 8, and Calgary, is designed and redesigned with those who have been underserved by our present infrastructure, we will further increase the inclusivity necessary for people to truly feel like their city was built for them. 

Economical: There is an economic cost to not creating communities where every Calgarian can take part in every aspect of where they live. Designing a universal city increases the economic engagement of every citizen. There is a direct correlation between creating accessible and safe environments with increased economic participation. 

Our public services and amenities must reflect the diverse needs of those who use them. In order to build services and amenities throughout the city, it is imperative that our systems accommodate the needs of every person, keep them safe, and ensure that your tax dollars are working for you. 

Environmental: Our communities should be accessible to all, no matter the season and weather conditions. As part of our commitment to support the vibrancy of our communities, we need to ensure our city is prepared to handle drastic climate events. This means snow removal on our streets, sidewalks and bike lanes; heating and cooling systems on all our trains and buses; publicly accessible water fountains and bathrooms; extreme heat and cold weather strategies. 

We have an opportunity to make Ward 8 and Calgary a place where everyone can move freely, safely, and easily at all times of day and in any season.

 Actions: 

1. Champion a more holistic approach to community safety that contributes to greater vibrancy and livability in the Downtown and all of Ward 8.
2. Permanently fund the Community Safety Investment Framework to provides supports for Calgarians in crisis due to mental health concerns, addictions or other similar challenges.
3. Develop and adopt a Universal Design and Accessible Planning strategy for public spaces and infrastructure, working directly with people with disabilities and The City’s Advisory Committee on Accessibility.
4. Enhance standards for accessible sidewalk, bike, and street detours during public infrastructure construction or modification, including temporary structures like patio extensions and sidewalk repairs.
5. Establish an intersectional review of Calgary infrastructure identifying gaps in accessibility and safety.
6. Partner with social agencies who are working to end gender-based violence on an educational campaign to raise awareness.
7. Update the 311 app to make it easier to report and track accessibility issues throughout Calgary.
8. Increase or improve lighting at every transit station across the city.
9. Establish a forum for ongoing collection and discussion of suggestions from the public on how to improve accessibility and safety of their neighborhood streets.
10. Work with disability advocates and other municipalities in Alberta to ask the Provincial Government to pass legislation to set accessibility standards for public, private, and non-profit organizations (e.g., The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005; The Accessibility for Manitobans Act, Nova Scotia Accessibility Act).
11. Create an extreme heat and extreme cold emergency response strategy for Calgary, including provision of publicly accessible cooling centres and water stations, and working with social agencies to ensure the most vulnerable have access to protection and medical care for extreme temperature situations.

Where we are: I’ve spent too many years watching the students in my classes consider making other cities their home because they don’t see a future for themselves here. It is time to reverse that trend.

CBC released a report in February 2020 describing the phenomenon I am seeing every year. “This may come as a revelation to some Calgarians, but young people who have left Calgary say they're not surprised by the trend. They see little opportunity in the city they grew up in. Jobs are hard to come by, careers even harder.”

Where we can go: Cities are inherited. What was built was left for us. What we build is what we leave behind for the next generation. That is why I am committed to building a city that we can be proud to leave our children. Our youth know exactly what type of world they would like to inherit and I commit to engage them, listen to their stories, and empower them to be city builders. I’ve spent years investing in our next generation, I want to see that investment take root here in Calgary. 

The most important aspect of being a teacher, especially a high school teacher, is building relationships with your students. They are capable, intelligent, critical thinkers who are entering a changing world. If you really want to prepare our youth for the world waiting for them–hear what they have to say, ask them what they want, and help them build it. When the relationships you’ve developed are authentic, caring, and respectful, they’ll tell you what matters to them. The city that young Calgarians want will change and grow, so we need to listen, here’s what my students have told me:

Social: They want to live in a city; where diverse cultures are embraced across our city; where we are done giving excuses for not addressing the legacies left behind from the oppressive systems that linger still; that has a vibrant arts and culture scene, an exciting nightlife, festivals and events, and somewhere to thrive. They want to live in a city where they are included as city builders. 

Economical: They want to be able to enter into a diverse workforce that offers many opportunities for success across multiple industries. They want to live in a city that has world class post-secondary institutions that are supported, connected, and a part of the fabric of their city as a means of embracing innovation. They want to live in a city that is accessible, affordable, and full of opportunities. 

Environmental: They want a city that understands the true cost of the climate crisis and is willing to fight against it. To be the truly resilient and sustainable city they imagine, we must protect their future by protecting the place they will call home.

 Actions: 

1. Immediately implement a Ward Youth Council that will incorporate a capstone project for young people to pitch their ideas about what type of city they want to live in.
2. Support Post-Secondary Institutions in a “Vote Anywhere” policy that reduces barriers to young people and marginalized communities in their pursuit of civic participation.
3. Partner with the CBE (Calgary Board of Education), CSSD (Calgary Catholic School District), and private institutions to create a more open feedback and dialogue loop to inform youth and support enriched civic engagement.
4. Support the creation of a locally developed secondary high school course that will address TRC Call to Action 62.i: to develop curriculum for school-aged children
5. Work with the Calgary Youth Employment Centre and local organizations to create  a culturally-responsive education and employment support program aimed at uplifting young people facing barriers to education and employment.
6. Invest in the expansion of Calgary’s entertainment districts to create more spaces and opportunities for young people to engage with Calgary.
7. Ensure Calgary’s investment in Arts & Culture is competitive with other major Canadian cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Where we are: In the spring of 2020, a student of mine asked me what was going to happen when people stop protesting, when people go back to their lives, when BLM chants quiet down and George Floyd turns from a chant, to a whisper, to a thought, to a memory. I said, “Don’t worry, there will be another protest.” And there was. For Dalia Kafi. For Joyce Echaquan. For thousands of unmarked graves. And thousands more to be found. It was harsh, inappropriate, and raw. But we looked at each other and knew this fight wasn’t over.

I can’t protect my students anymore from the realities of the world they will face outside of the classroom, but I can fight to change them. I can bring them truth. And maybe from there we will meaningfully work towards reconciliation.

The systems that we live within were built with inequities at every level. Too often, systemic inequality is seen as moments in our past. And yet, you and I still see, hear, and feel the inequalities of our systems and institutions. They are not moments from our past, they are realities of our present.

If we are to actually end racist, sexist, and discriminatory systems, we need to confront them today and always. We can no longer only express shock at racist Tiki Torch marches, and stop at "thoughts and prayers." We need action, and action now.

Where we can go, together: Fighting systemic discrimination in all of our institutions requires uncompromising spirit, courage, and hard work. Healing the injustices of our past and present is necessary to make sure our city lives up to the promise of our future.

To do this, we must recognize the strength and value in harm reduction strategies. We can no longer rely solely on reactionary systems to help those in need. Rather, we must fund the organizations already doing the work, and create new networks to support people before they ever find themselves in marginalized and vulnerable positions. Calgarians deserve a robust and resilient social service system that reflects the realities of those it serves.

One thing is clear: the economic, social, and environmental cost of systemic discrimination is a heavier burden on our society than the cost of investing in the solutions that will create an inclusive and equitable Calgary.

Social: As a city, we have waited too long to respond meaningfully to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action within our municipal powers, and as identified within the White Goose Flying Report. We must act now. This means educating every single public employee on our history, our systems, and the impacts they have on racialized and marginalized communities. Embracing systemic change is necessary to uplift everyone, but we must prioritize addressing the injustices done to Indigenous, Black, and all marginalized peoples that have gone unaddressed and continue to cause harm and pain.

Our city services must reflect our commitment to justice. We need more wraparound services for the most vulnerable; a continued expansion of physical and mental health supports; amplification of marginalized voices in city decisions; and the creation of culturally responsive public spaces and housing options. This work is not easy, but it must take precedence if we are to build a city where everyone is a part of our success.

Economical: The built into our systems and institutions have created barriers for many citizens to engage in Calgary’s economy. The barriers that exist prevent a whole section of Calgarians from achieving their economic potential in our system. Focusing on reducing barriers to economic participation through job retraining, language services, early childhood care and education, mental health supports, harm reduction strategies, poverty reduction strategies have proven to be more of an effective measure than reactive policies. 

Environmental: Those who are socially, economically, or institutionally marginalized are especially vulnerable to environmental impacts. Any environmental action that doesn’t meaningfully reflect marginalized experiences is incomplete. As part of our commitment to honouring the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action, we must include Indigenous connections to land. 

Actions:

1. Support and expand housing access as a first response to poverty.
2. Investigate municipal opportunities to provide, subsidize, or partner with organizations to offer low-cost/sliding scale access to Childcare and Early Learning Programs.
3. Review existing hiring practices and disaggregated data collection to evaluate the representation of marginalized groups in City staff positions including, but not limited to, administrative roles, leadership positions, and committee and board positions.
4. Institute an Intersectional Demographic Census to further support precise programming and supports for Calgarians.
5. Expand language support options for communications between The City and the public, including 311, calgary.ca website, public hearings, city budget, Planning and Development information and outreach/engagement activities.
6. Identify specific resources to investigate, plan, and execute recommendations from the White Goose Flying Report which require collaboration between City departments and arms-length organizations by end of 2023, including reports back to relevant committees, Council, and the public.
7. City Council and City departments to fulfill their respective recommendations from the White Goose Flying Report, with a goal of satisfying the recommendations by end of 2024, including a report back to Council and the public.
8. Expand services and programs offered with Fair Entry.
9. Investigate and create strategic partnerships to end food insecurity.
10. Expand partnerships between The City and organizations offering mental health supports for the community.
11. Advocate for changes to the Police Act and expand citizen oversight of Calgary Police Service.
12. Expand support for social agencies that do work to mitigate the root causes of violence.
13. Advocate, support, and facilitate programs intended to validate international employment certification for newcomers to Calgary.

Where we are: As we have seen from the impacts of more severe weather and natural disasters, Calgary is not immune to the effects of climate change. Extreme and dangerous flooding, hail, heat waves, and cold/snow events have all increased in our failure to act on the climate crisis. Our plans for climate resilience and tackling the climate crisis cannot just be empty strategies without concrete timelines, incentives, and meaningful and diverse measures of accountability.

Where we can go, together: The time to take bold action addressing climate change is now. The next Council must continue to support and advance The City’s Climate Resilience Strategy, apply and encourage stronger adaptation and mitigation efforts, and most importantly, stop subsidizing sprawl if we are to achieve our goals on climate change.

Social: Designing our city must be done with the next 50 years in mind, not the last 50. Calgarians want a plan for a city that is sustainable for generations to come. In doing so, we recognize that there are solutions and there is opportunity. This future forward thinking and design should give every Calgarian the tools to do their own part in fighting our climate crisis.  We do this by embracing diverse transportation options; retrofitting publicly owned buildings with sustainable technologies for community use; maintenance, nurturing, and expansion of our urban forest; and most importantly, limiting sprawl and enhancing our established communities rather than spreading our city thin.

Economical: Calgary is a city where people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences can come together to tackle big challenges. Coalitions of stakeholders must be brought together to work on our goals of climate resilience. Community members young and old, small and big businesses, developers, and other orders of government, all need to be involved if we are to achieve a sustainable future for Calgary. The reality is, climate change effects impact and threaten all of us, so it takes all of us to achieve resilience.

Through these efforts, we will lead with a strong climate response that will only make our economy stronger and more reliable. This will ensure our students, workforce and businesses can meet climate challenges with innovation and vision and will help protect our economy from the boom and bust cycles that have haunted us.

Environmental: We must be courageous and reimagine public places with inclusive active transportation options, including pedestrian and cycling infrastructure for the health and wellness of us and our planet. I will fight for a city that: sets and achieves reductions to greenhouse gas emissions and the city’s carbon footprint; invests in electric vehicle infrastructure; and provides all Calgarians with the tools needed to reduce their own emissions to zero.

 Actions: 

1. Ensure all active climate and environment city programs are expanded to include condominiums and apartments, and to guarantee all future programs will include these housing options from day one.
2. Prioritize funding for actions, policies, and incentives that meaningfully contribute to meeting The City’s environmental protection, sustainability and climate resilience goals and targets outlined by the Climate Resilience Strategy, Municipal Development Plan, Calgary Transportation Plan, and other related strategic plans.
3. Establish regular monitoring and reporting of progress, and accountability and transparency of work done to advance climate resilience.
4. Establish higher environmental standards and regulations for development and redevelopment.
5. Investigate and incentivize development using green, low-energy, and renewable/sustainable materials for buildings, and enable renewable energy systems to power those buildings.
6. Retrofit all publicly owned buildings with renewable energy infrastructure and energy efficiency improvements where possible.
7. Set Emission Reduction Targets for Enmax that cascade toward the goal of Net Zero Emissions by 2035. 
8. Transitioning all Calgary Transit vehicles to zero emission models by gradually replacing existing vehicles at the end of their lifecycle.
9. Support City emissions reduction goals via procurement of renewable energy sources to power all City-owned and operated facilities and infrastructure, including Calgary Transit.
10. Investigate and implement a municipal Clean Energy Improvement Program as used in other municipalities (i.e., Okotoks) to provide Calgarians with the tools to meet our emissions reduction targets.
11. Continue to advocate for extreme weather mitigation funding from Provincial and Federal governments, such as flood mitigation along the Elbow River.
12. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure: fast chargers, investigate and implement guidelines for electric vehicle parking infrastructure, alongside future legislation by the federal government.