Ward 5 Candidate Responses

We received responses from two 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?

Stan Sandhu 1) Economy, Jobs, Diversification 2) Equity & Fairness 3) Safe & Clean Communities
Raj Dhaliwal Infrastructure, Inclusion and equitable city

 

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? 

Stan Sandhu We will ensure that women, especially those that are low-wage, racialized and newcomers, are at the forefront of the economic recovery - we will engage, listen carefully, and make sure the economic recovery leaves no Calgarians behind. All marginalized communities will be part of the solution moving forward. For Calgary to come roaring back, we must unite and work together.
Raj Dhaliwal We need to provide strong support mechanisms for more women to join the workforce. One of them is affordable child care and early learning. I am advocate of this, and will work with other levels of governmens to implement this. Also, work with our businesses to create incentives for them to create more local jobs. Ward 5 is home to many new comer and racilaized women, therefore an active transit infrastructure is essential for them to access jobs throughout the city. Also, i will work with local busniesses there to create jobs that match the skills being offered by these new comers (example: ethnic restaurants, grocery stores etc.). Work with professional associations to minimize the need for re-certifications etc. for new comers.

 

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?

Stan Sandhu Calgary is at an inflection point and we need experienced leadership that can help us navigate through these difficult times. There will be very tough decisions that need to be made, and some decisions may not be popular. We need leaders to put the political rhetoric aside and work together for the betterment of the city. I will ensure that we squeeze every dollar to ensure we get the most out of it - including a high quality of services and programs.
Raj Dhaliwal
 		We need to work with provincial government to collaborate on finding new revenue sources for the city. We need to encourage investment in the city, which will increase tax source, by reducing bureaucratic processes. Also, create a transit system that supports and attract new business' to set up their operations in the city. This will also help with the Calgary downtown re-vitalization plan, which will help in alleviating some of the tax burden from our citizens. We will have to diversify our economy. it will include support for our "non-core" industry. Majority of Calgarians are supportive of taxation regime as long as they get good services. We need to make sure that we work on tax stabalization without hurting the quality of jobs.

 

4. What is your plan for diversifying Calgary’s economy for a just transition away from oil and gas?

Stan Sandhu Diversification is critical for our city moving forward. We cannot solely rely on the oil and gas industry any longer. We need to be competitive at a world stage and open up doors to future investment. We will need to work with all stakeholders, including other levels of government, to ensure Calgary is set up for success. The Calgary of the future will look must different than the Calgary of the past. Calgarians will be up for the challenge!
Raj Dhaliwal
 		We need to insure that all opportunities are inclusive and accessible. We will have o invest in infrastructure to support innovation and new industries. We need to attract industries like entertainment, clean energy technology, tourism etc. so we can lead diversification away from "core" industry. We will have to invest in services that will improve people's quality of life so we can attarct not only new industries but also make sure that we are not losing our talent to other jurisdictions. We need to plan a complete city: We need to be moving towards a model where every resident can access all of their daily needs; school, grocery store, place of worship, amenity space, etc. within walking distance. This will make Calgary as a winning city.

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?

Stan Sandu

Yes
Raj Dhaliwal

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?

Stan Sandu

Yes
Raj Dhaliwal

Yes

 

3. Will you support policies to ensure zero food waste not only from Calgary's restaurants, groceries, distributors, but also corporate events?

Stan Sandu

Yes
Raj Dhaliwal

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."

Stan Sandu

Yes
Raj Dhaliwal

Yes

 

5. Do you support focusing new development within established areas instead of continuing to approve new developments on the outskirts of Calgary?

Stan Sandu

Yes
Raj Dhaliwal

Yes

 

6. Will you support completion of the Green Line, including crossing the river to 16 Avenue N?

Stan Sandu

Yes
Raj Dhaliwal

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?

Stan Sandu

Yes
Raj Dhaliwal

Yes

 

Equity and Inclusion

1. Which of the following measures will you support to address poverty and social isolation in our city?

  1. Affordable housing
  2. Low-income transit pass
  3. Fair Entry recreation pass
  4. Increased access to childcare
  5. Increased financial support to community associations
  6. Enough for All Poverty Reduction Strategy
  7. Other
  1 2 3 4 5 6 Other
Stan Sandhu             I believe we should consider all options with an open mind.
Raj Dhaliwal
 		Yes Yes Yes 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?

  1. Maintain unionized City workers
  2. Contract out
  3. Other
  1 2 Other
Stan Sandhu     Our workers are the heart and soul of everything that we do. Any conversation like this must put workers rights, salaries, and benefits at the forefront. We must ensure our workers and their families are considered in all decisions.
Raj Dhaliwal
 		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)

Stan Sandhu Yes
Raj Dhaliwal
 		Yes

 

4. Do you support Universal Basic Income?

Stan Sandhu No
Raj Dhaliwal
 		Yes

Diversity & Reconciliation

1. What is your plan to address the increase in hate crimes and overt displays of racism in our city?

Stan Sandhu I crafted the Notice of Motion that fought against the unjust policy of Bill 21 in Quebec. I also worked in creating the Anti-Racism Task Force in the summer of 2020. I will continue to work with the diverse communities in Calgary to make sure that hate has no place in our city. We must come together and work in good faith to move our city forward. There is extreme rhetoric on all sides of the political spectrum and must find a path forward, by uniting and building bridges.
Raj Dhaliwal
 		Following the death of George Floyd and the over 5000 Calgarians who protested on the footsteps of City Hall, the Committee of Community and Protective Services held a 4-day Anti-Racism Public Hearing, where hundreds of Calgarians shared their stories. The Anti-Racism Action Committee was struck to study and to make recommendations on steps the City of Calgary should take to address systemic racism in our City and organization. I vow to uphold the City’s Commitment to Anti-Racism and to take action based on the recommendations put forward in the White Goose Flying Report and those made by the Anti-Racism Action Committee and to work towards reconciliation and inclusiveness in all decision making as a councilor.

 

2. How will you support policies to ensure more Indigenous voices are included in making municipal decisions?

Stan Sandhu We must move towards actual policies that are inclusive to our indigenous communities. I will ensure voices of all communities are engaged and included in all decision-making. This is a critical aspect to building our city back and the post pandemic recovery.
Raj Dhaliwal
 		I support taking action based on the recommendations put forward in the White Goose Flying Report.

 

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.)

  1. Enthocultural training for police
  2. Increase number of Aboriginal Liaison Officers
  3. Alternative response models (PACT and DOAP teams)
  4. Other
  1 2 3 Other
Stan Sandhu       I believe we should consider all options with an open mind.
Raj Dhaliwal
 		Yes Yes Yes The Community Safety Investment Framework, established in 2020, is an innovative solution to these challenges and includes; mental health and addictions specialists, racially sensitive crisis response, and trained professionals in de-escalation.

 

Mental Health & Addictions

1. Which of the following do you support to address mental health and addictions?

  1. Implement alternative emergency response models
  2. Implement trauma-informed care
  3. Supervised consumption sites
  4. Other
  1 2 3 Other
Stan Sandhu       I believe we should consider all options with an open mind.
Raj Dhaliwal
 		Yes Yes Yes  

 

General Comments

Do you have any other comments you would like to share with us?

Stan Sandhu  
Raj Dhaliwal
 		 

 

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This survey was sent out to mayoral and ward councillor candidates throughout July and was developed in collaboration with the following organizations: