Every year, Canadians gather to reflect, reconcile and to embrace resurgence in our work towards reconciliation.
For the Calgary Alliance, it's taking the lessons shared with us by Chief Crowchild, who inspires us to "making wolf," which he shares with the community as a teaching in his work as an Elder in our communities.
We are proud to share with you that city council passed the Housing Affordability Task Force recommendations over the weekend in an emergency meeting.
And the recommendations passed with a resounding 12-3 vote, well beyond expectations and sending a clear message that this council is moving forward on making substantive changes in our city's rules and procedures to create more housing.
The recommendation on alterations to zoning also survived, meaning that council will move forward with exploring changes to zoning so that we can build communities that are multi-generational and that thrive. The discussions on some of the more controversial policies, such as a discussion on rent controls, changes or reductions to parking minimums, and other items, also survived the amendment process.
What's Next?: Now councillors, administration and our civil servants will work together towards building several packages of proposals, and will return to council with those changes to bylaws, administrative procedures and new modes of including Calgarians into new housing in their communities. Please stay tuned and subscribed to our newsletter as we track these policies at council.
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Calgary is in a housing crisis. Your presence is needed: firstly, to share with our political leaders the importance of this issue to everyday Calgarians. It impacts all walks of life, from students to those on fixed incomes and Calgarians starting their lives in our communities and neighbourhoods.
We've launched a writing campagin, which you can view and send in a message to your city councillor here.
Rev. Erin Klassen joined CTV Morning News to discuss the budget deliberations at city hall during budget week 2022. Watch the full clip at 1:24:30 at CTV News.
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Many speakers, including Steve Bentley of the Calgary Climate Hub, were critical of the budget’s lack of funding for climate initiatives.
“This budget is supposed to be our net-zero launch,” he said. “Between this council and the next, that’s us either missing or meeting our 2030 net zero goals. Does this feel like a net-zero launch budget to you? I’m not feeling it."
Read more"I think the increased cost for transit reduces the accessibility in general. It impacts folks' everyday budgets. It puts the cost onto the users," said Erin Klassen with the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good, a community advocacy group.
Klassen says the budget does not align with some of the goals and priorities council has set out in its first year.
"The desire to reduce mental health challenges, addiction, homelessness and systemic racism experienced by Calgarians every day," are all priorities for council, Klassen said. "But then cuts to the sections of the city that would support those things."
Read moreView previous media mentions here.