Ward 11 Candidate Responses
We received responses from three candidates in this ward. The Calgary Climate Hub is a non-partisan organization, and posting these responses does not indicate an endorsement. Responses are presented in the order they were received and have not been edited.
General Questions
1. What are the top three issues you hope to make progress on during your time on Council?
Lauren Herschel | Economic health, Affordability and Investment in Calgary (projects and infastructure |
Kourtney Branagan | -Bolstering our biodiversity and climate resilience strategies especially around native plants. -Supporting community associations with better resources and supports (either through the City or the Federation of Calgary Communities) to do community building, infrastructure projects, and building maintenance. -Bringing an inclusive lens to city building with a focus on improving our transit and cycling networks. |
Carolyn Krahn | 1. Bring the Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) to Calgary. 2. Bring a collaborative edge to Council decisions to get more done. 3. Complete a traffic safety audit of the community to improve pedestrian accessibility. |
2. Women - especially low-wage, racialized and newcomers - have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. In your capacity as a public servant, how will you address these impacts and ensure that all women benefit equitably from the economic recovery?
Lauren Herschel | I would like to work closely with organizations that support women, and ensure we have representation on a panel or working group held at a time and location that works for them. I would make sure consultation is meaningful when it comes to developing policies and processes that aid Calgary’s economic recovery. We will also measure economic data as it pertains to women, to ensure that they are benefiting from the recover to the same extent as men, and adjust plans if that is not being met. I would also suggest the city could work with City Partners like the library to develop and roll out programming (or augment exciting programs) that supports better employment opportunities for low income, racialized women and newcomers. I’d also make sure such programming is available across the city. |
Kourtney Branagan |
-I believe we need to address the delivery of services, especially transit, as we continue to return to work. We need to move quickly on restoring service levels, improving safety at stations, and ensure snow clearing for transit is a priority going into the winter months. During the pandemic,I was grateful for: As we revisit our neighborhood plans, we need to ensure the city recognizes and supports urban forms which support this lifestyle. Choice in housing, local commercial developments, and improving neighborhood green spaces all come to mind. Through the pandemic I also saw: |
Carolyn Krahn | Women and racialized communities need to be at the table when decisions are being made that concern them. I would seek to improve the community engagement process to provide more opportunities for more access to interpreters, more flexible times, and greater accessibility in locations for feedback. This could also involve partnering with community partners and agencies that work directly with these diverse groups to provide an easier access point. |
3. Calgary has been dipping into emergency funds to pay for operations for the past several years. How would you approach taxation and the delivery of programs and services to Calgarians?
Lauren Herschel | The solution to this is multi-faceted. I would work with the provincial government to reform the residential and commercial property tax programs so that they are a sustainable source of City operating cost funding, while not placing an unreasonable burden on homeowners and businesses. I would also explore other sources of recurring revenue to support necessary City initiatives and services. I would continue to look for efficiencies in the operation and implementation of City services. We need to ensure that City departments are empowered to adapt their processes quickly when needed to improve service levels to Calgarians more efficiently while reducing costs where possible. And finally, I’d like to see a review City financial processes to ensure funds are being accurately tracked and managed across all departments. The city recently disclosed funds ($60 million) had been misallocated from a levy fund for a number of years – this would suggest there is room for improvement on financial controls, and there could be funds and efficiencies found through that. |
Kourtney Branagan |
The fact that we have a disparity between revenue and spending highlights that we need to dig deeper into our values as a city and our spending priorities. It is time to have a frank conversation that property taxes exist everywhere, are going up everywhere, and the main driver in Calgary is sprawl as it strains the efficiency of our operating capacity for all departments. We are also working under a capital or operating budget model devised at a time when our infrastructure replacement needs were minor compared to today’s need to replace utilities as part of an urban growth strategy. We have the opportunity to review our financial models and ask bigger questions about how we fund growth and change (growth being in established neighborhoods as well as greenfield). My priority for Calgary is to have one of the best service levels ratioed to our property taxes (ie. $/capita). We need to be competitive with other Canadian municipalities in our standards of delivery of services. We improve our efficiency and delivery of services, while adding to our revenue stream when we densify our existing footprint. |
Carolyn Krahn | It is no secret that with the downtown vacancy rate, and the changing economy of Calgary means that there is less tax dollars available. I think the City is on the right track with the SAVE (Solutions for Achieving Value and Excellence) program, but they will need to seek alternate sources of income to be sustainable. This could involve sending less tax money to the province, or operating programs and services that combine into community hubs to provide more than one type of service at one location. |
4. What is your plan for diversifying Calgary’s economy for a just transition away from oil and gas?
Lauren Herschel | The first thing I would suggest is that we make sure the City is nimble and adapts quickly to market changes via policies and processes. We need to give businesses of all sizes as much predictability as possible. This will improve Calgary’s employment rates and in doing so help stabilize our economy, and make the city more attractive for investment. Calgary also needs to focus on initiatives that will encourage new investment in Calgary creating jobs, economic diversification (t in sectors like tech, research, energy, robotics, manufacturing etc). There should also be plans to encourage diversification within the energy industry, to optimize the energy sector skillsets Calgary has. We need to ensure that we as a City and a council are not creating unnecessary obstacles to success and growth for employers or community innovation. |
Kourtney Branagan |
All sectors must contribute to a robust economy. This means strong supports and services must exist for sectors such arts, technology, tourism, food, as well as our green entrepreneurial initiatives. When the City celebrates the success of these industries we show that our city is an opportune place to build businesses across sectors, and that sectors are codependent on each other for vitality. I believe the City should be a leader in transitioning their own buildings and assets towards green alternatives, provide incentives for residents and businesses to make modifications to assets as well. We need to work with the other levels of government to communicate opportunities to take advantage of programs and rewards. I also believe the City should be prioritizing ‘green’ plans for business permit applications, building and development permits, and event permits. This can look like expedited time for approval, financial incentives, or other incentives. We can continue to incent opportunities through programs such as the Mayor’s Innovation Challenge and devise other opportunities through procurement strategies with the City. |
Carolyn Krahn | Calgary is well positioned to embrace a pivot to the technology sector, and become leaders in green technology. To do so, there has to be investment and engagement between the Province and the City. My plan involves improving relationships between the Province and Calgary Economic Development to support upskilling and employment support when transitioning industries. |
Climate Change and the Environment
Questions:
1. Will you commit to setting clear interim targets for Calgary and ENMAX to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 to help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees?
Lauren Herschel | Yes |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes |
2. Will you work to reduce emissions from buildings to net-zero by (1) ensuring The City's Sustainable Building Policy has clear targets, is transparent, and requires third-party certification, and (2) by providing incentives for privately-owned new buildings and retrofits?
Lauren Herschel | I support #1 but I'd need to have a better understanding of what those incentives look like and what we'd see in return. I do think the idea has potential. |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes |
3. Will you support policies to ensure zero food waste not only from Calgary's restaurants, groceries, distributors, but also corporate events?
Lauren Herschel | Yes |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes |
4. Will you strengthen the City's procurement policies to ensure goods and services are sustainably and ethically sourced? The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply states that sustainable procurement "considers the impact of environmental, economic and social factors along with price and quality."
Lauren Herschel | Yes |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes |
5. Do you support focusing new development within established areas instead of continuing to approve new developments on the outskirts of Calgary?
Lauren Herschel | No |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes |
6. Will you support completion of the Green Line, including crossing the river to 16 Avenue N?
Lauren Herschel | Yes |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes |
7. Do you commit to providing equal access to low-cost, low-carbon transportation to all areas of the city, including transit, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure?
Lauren Herschel | Yes |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes |
Equity and Inclusion
1. Which of the following measures will you support to address poverty and social isolation in our city?
- Affordable housing
- Low-income transit pass
- Fair Entry recreation pass
- Increased access to childcare
- Increased financial support to community associations
- Enough for All Poverty Reduction Strategy
- Other
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Other | |
Lauren Herschel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Support for post secondary students (jobs, bus passes) |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2. Do you support providing City services primarily through unionized City workers, or do you support contracting out City services to private companies?
- Maintain unionized City workers
- Contract out
- Other
1 | 2 | Other | |
Lauren Herschel | I would have to see the numbers and have a better understanding of what would work best. I do believe city workers work hard and are valuable to the city | ||
Kourtney Branagan | Yes | ||
Carolyn Krahn | Yes |
3. Would you support Fair Trade Calgary's initiative to make Calgary a globally-designated Fair Trade town? (Find out more at: http://www.fairtradecalgary.com/at-a-glance.html)
Lauren Herschel | Yes |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes |
4. Do you support Universal Basic Income?
Lauren Herschel | |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes |
Diversity & Reconciliation
1. What is your plan to address the increase in hate crimes and overt displays of racism in our city?
Lauren Herschel | Work with Calgary Police to enforce hate crime laws. I would speak up when I see or hear racist behaviours - I don't think council calls it out enough. I would ensure we regularly consult with affected residents to better understand how the city can support. |
Kourtney Branagan |
The city needs to first be a leader within the organization to equip all staff to 1. recognize and 2. intervene in acts of racism (or sexism). We have roads, parks, waste staff who are eyes on our streets daily. They need to be part of the solution. These learnings need to then extend to: I believe we need to bring in the voices of those with the lived experiences to talk about how urban form and planning contribute to increases in hate crimes and racism. We need these voices to talk about how the structures of boards and committees perpetuate racism. We need to give space for these voices to restructure our systems. We also need leadership who is actively anti-racist. We need to see marginalized groups in our leadership across departments. This means commitment to funding diversity and inclusion training and hiring practices. |
Carolyn Krahn | By embracing opportunities to celebrate diversity and finding more ways to bring visibility to diverse events in this city. There needs to be an acknowledgement that racism is embedded in our systems and structures and to change that we need to look at public spaces and who they benefit. |
2. How will you support policies to ensure more Indigenous voices are included in making municipal decisions?
Lauren Herschel | I would increase funding to the Indigenous Relations office so that they could play a more active role in development of policies and process. I would look at the City's hiring strategies to see if it creates any roadblocks to indigenous employment at the city. I would want to work with City Partner organization to see how they could add indigenous representation to their boards and advisory groups where possible. I would also want there to be meaningful ongoing engagement on relevant issues throughout the process. |
Kourtney Branagan |
The city needs to look more comprehensively at who engages with them. Our data collections needs to be more robust to capture key demographics. We need to learn from this and understand who our outreach strategies are attracting and how they likely need to shift towards practices which are culturally sensitive. The city must continue to work to build trust with the Indigenous community. We can review our board appointment practices, hiring practices, and work on the many calls to action as presented in the White Goose Flying Report. |
Carolyn Krahn | I would like to see the next City Council make meaningful steps towards the recommendations outlined in the 2016 White Goose Flying Report. This also involves continuing to involve Indigenous voices at the table when decisions are being made. |
3. What steps will you support to increase trust and reduce uses of force by police that disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in Calgary? (Please use "other" for additional ideas.)
- Enthocultural training for police
- Increase number of Aboriginal Liaison Officers
- Alternative response models (PACT and DOAP teams)
- Other
1 | 2 | 3 | Other | |
Lauren Herschel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Additional social work resources/partnerships where applicable. |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Funding to support diversity and inclusion hiring and promotion practices, funding to support mental health training and supports for officers (pre, during, post service) |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes | Yes |
Mental Health & Addictions
1. Which of the following do you support to address mental health and addictions?
- Implement alternative emergency response models
- Implement trauma-informed care
- Supervised consumption sites
- Other
1 | 2 | 3 | Other | |
Lauren Herschel | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Kourtney Branagan | Yes | Yes | Yes | training and education for first responders (shockingly they receive little), mental health supports for first responders (so their trauma isn't passed onto others) |
Carolyn Krahn | Yes | Yes | Yes |
General Comments
Do you have any other comments you would like to share with us?
Lauren Herschel | The question about established area vs suburban development was problematic with a yes no answer. There needs to be balance for a number of reasons including housing choice and affordability. New communities are extremely energy efficient, compared to the existing housing stock in established areas (esp. those built 1950-1990). These older homes leak heat and have much greater energy requirements than new builds - we need to find a way to address that as much as we need to focus on adding density to established areas. New communities also offer greater choice in housing types than the average established area community. I am a firm believer in adding density to existing areas, but after researching, Ive learned that balanced, thoughtful growth across the city where needed is critical. Black and while, all or none solutions rarely come without unintended consequences and thats why its' so important to look at city growth in a holistic way rather than pitting established areas against new communities. This will ensure we have housing affordability while also addressing climate resiliency. Thank you. |
Kourtney Branagan | Thank you for being active and engaged! |
Carolyn Krahn | I believe in the capacity of Calgary to be an inclusive, economically successful, and diverse city. To do so, we need to elect councillors this election cycle who are willing to make decisions that act in the benefit of all Calgarians. We can build a city that supports strong partnerships between economic drivers and social programs to create opportunities for all Calgarians to enhance their quality of life. |
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