Who met with us?

Kourtney Penner (Independent - Incumbent)

Alex Williams (The Calgary Party)

Who did not meet with us but completed our survey?

Rob Ward (Communities First Party)

All candidates for Ward 11 responded in some way.

Kourtney Penner

Yes

Kourtney highlighted that the City should review its hiring policies and examine how services are delivered in order to create stronger pathways into stable employment. She spoke to the importance of pensionable jobs and opportunities for advancement into higher-level roles, as well as expanding partnerships with organizations like the Youth Employment Centre. She emphasized the need for the City to lead by example in its employment practices, considering a social procurement lens, and ensuring that internal job opportunities are more accessible to staff who currently cannot apply for city-contracted positions. Kourtney also raised the question of whether all jobs are being assessed solely on financial terms (aka impact to budget) or whether the quality of those jobs and the opportunities they provide for workers are also being considered.

Rob Ward

Survey Response:

I believe this conversation needs to be a two-way dialogue, not a single pre-determined outcome such as ending all contracting. Contracting decisions affect budgets, service delivery, and long-term workforce planning, so it’s important to fully understand the impacts before making changes.

As a Councillor, I would first seek input from City Administration on how contracting is currently being used, what services are impacted, and what alternatives exist. From there, I’d be open to working with community partners, including your organization, to explore strategies that create more entry-level opportunities for youth and equity-seeking groups, while ensuring taxpayers receive good value for their dollars.

If your group has a draft strategy, I would welcome the chance to review it—it would help speed up the conversation and highlight where we share common ground. While the role of a Councillor isn’t to draft strategies for third-party groups, it is to listen, collaborate, and help shape policies that reflect the needs of all Calgarians.

Alex Williams

Yes

Absolutely work on job strategy for equity seeking communities.

Alex supports the city not contracting out as many jobs including entry level e.g. snow
removal and cleaning. Some points he mentioned: The City in general has better
unions and benefits than the companies that they contract to. From a city perspective,
initially it might look like they are saving money but:

Having different companies do something like clearing snow results in less
efficiency, lower overall quality and inconsistent quality. A lot gets lost and the
city losses control.

If the job is not done correctly in the first place, then city residents can/will call
311 (e.g. poorly cleared transit stations or bad snow removal) and the city
may have to redo the work at increased cost.

Need to increase small business by reducing barrier to start new businesses and
increase reward (may be more federal / taxes)Mixed housing reduces the stigma of subsidized housing etc.

Kourtney Penner

Yes

Kourtney confirmed the current Mental Health Strategy assistance is provided by community partners (non-profits) with program funding provided by Family and Community Support Services (FCSS). Kourtney suggested re-evaluation of the matrix of applications, to prioritize equity-seeking groups, could be a way to improve the system. Kourtney would continue her advocacy to the province for indexing of FCSS funding. (FCSS is a joint municipal/provincial funding program to provide social services.) She would also like additional gathering places to be identified for the provision of wrap-around services e.g. mosques, Vivo Recreation Centre, etc.

Rob Ward

Survey Response:

Yes

Mental health is a critical issue that affects families and communities across Calgary. However, the City’s primary responsibility is to provide core municipal services like roads, snow clearing, waste management, and protective services. One of the reasons property taxes keep rising is because City Hall continually steps into areas, like health care, that are properly the responsibility of the Province. • That said, I recognize the City does have a role in being a strong partner. For example, City Council can: • Support community-based organizations already delivering preventative programs. • Advocate to the Province to ensure Calgary gets its fair share of resources for mental health services. Provide facilities, connections, and logistical support to help local groups reach more people. As a Councillor, my focus would be on ensuring taxpayer dollars aren’t used to duplicate provincial programs but instead on building effective partnerships where the City can add value. If your group has a draft strategy, I’d encourage sharing it with the Minister responsible for mental health, and I would be open to reviewing it to see where City Hall could play a supportive—not duplicative—role.

Alex William

Yes

Alex mentioned the importance of cultural diversity. There are diverse groups in Calgary, those of Indigenous, European, and other cultural heritages. Alex identified the need for relationship building and communication with the province. He said we can nott just walk past someone on the street without helping, even if the province can't. Alex talked about making sure the city has spaces that enable the building of community and promoting connections. An example he shared was that of seniors who are isolated and thus face mental health issues. Alex is interested in learning about what CACG wants and understanding our priorities. Follow-up question: How will you deal with the province "getting in your lane?". ( the example of Minister Dreeshen saying Calgary should not be investing in bike lanes) Alex indicated it was important to build strong relationships with the province. He mentioned that Kourtney Penner has stated some Provincial Ministers are very good to work with. Alex stressed finding common ground with the province. He suggested framing an issue with respect to fiscal responsibility could work, as both the City and the Province agree on this point. As an example, Alex shared that the cost of 3 constructing one km of a roadway is equal to the cost of building 10 km of a bike lane.

Kourtney Penner

Yes

Kourtney recognized that renters are under significant stress and require greater supports. She noted that the City has already contributed $10 million to the United Way to help individuals with urgent needs such as utility payments. She also emphasized that the City can play a role in encouraging innovative approaches, such as promoting energy-saving measures, which can help reduce costs for renters in the long term.

Kourtney stressed that land is a key factor in addressing the housing crisis. What the City is able to contribute is land, while the provincial and federal governments need to provide the funding required for building non-market housing in Calgary. She is currently part of a core housing team working on these issues. As part of our discussion, Kourtney suggested that one way to improve how land is allocated would be to change the non-market sale process so that housing providers could first identify the type of housing they want to create, and then the City could match that with an appropriate parcel of land, rather than starting with land availability alone. She underlined that rezoning remains an important part of this process.

Rob Ward

Survey Response:

Yes

Affordable housing is a serious issue, and I agree the City has a role to play—but we need to be clear about what that role is. The provincial and federal governments are responsible for funding rent supports and social housing programs. The City should not be duplicating these responsibilities with taxpayer dollars. Instead, my role as Councillor would be to advocate strongly to other levels of government to ensure Calgary receives its fair share of funding, while also supporting local nonprofits and housing providers who already deliver these programs more effectively.

Where the City can make a real difference is by ensuring land-use decisions make sense. That means:

• Prioritizing growth near transit corridors, major roads, and underused commercial areas where infrastructure already exists.
• Avoiding blanket rezoning that overrides community input and creates uncertainty for homeowners.
• Making surplus City-owned land available for housing projects where appropriate, but with clear conditions that ensure accountability, financial responsibility, and community benefit.

At the end of the day, the City should focus on removing barriers, improving permitting timelines, and maintaining the core services that make Calgary an attractive place to build. But it cannot become the developer, banker, or landlord—that’s not sustainable and would only drive up property taxes further, making affordability worse.

Alex William

Yes

Reiterated his experience of the frustration from taking three months to find rental accommodations.

How will you work with us to expand and better coordinate rent supports for
renters in crisis?

• • will ensure that renters have the protection they need
  • make it easier to legalize suites and to determine how to do that
  • will investigate the possibility of backyard suites
  • will advocate for rental protection
  • will advocate for resources available for renters to access
  • will advocate for programs, incentives education, funding that is needed to
    support renters

Alex was asked what he thought about developers who promised significant affordable
housing units in a building and then cut the number of affordable units in half or more.
Alex said that work needs to be done to sort out the holes and plug them in the system.

How will you ensure that sufficient land is made available for affordable housing
and zoned appropriately, and, before being released?

• • Rezoning (to R-CG) the city is a good start
  • non-market housing providers have been investigating the use of the
    under-utilized land in the city
  • work with private homeowners
  • look at a new plan for Macleod Trail which has access to transit and could
    be developed to provide housing integrated with businesses
  • different options for housing within communities
    

Kourtney Penner

Yes

Kourtney emphasized that the City must both mitigate and adapt to climate change. She noted that Calgarians are already experiencing the impacts, including smokier conditions, drought, and floods, and that the focus now must be on how to move forward rather than debating how we arrived here. She confirmed that she will be voting against the upcoming motion to rescind the Climate Change Strategy, stressing that the work is already underway, teams are in place, and funding has been secured. She highlighted that health and safety remain of utmost importance to Calgarians and that the Climate Strategy is central to protecting both.

Rob Ward

Survey Response:

Uncertain

I am opposed to the 2021 Calgary Climate Strategy as it was never properly discussed with voters before being passed, it has shown no measurable results in reducing emissions, and the size of the City’s climate office has ballooned with little return on investment for taxpayers. Before committing more resources, we need a full assessment of what this strategy has actually accomplished and whether it delivers value.

That said, I strongly support building a resilient city. To me, that means:

• Ensuring new housing and infrastructure are built to last against flooding, storms, and extreme weather.
• Promoting energy efficiency in ways that lower utility bills for residents and businesses.
• Investing in core infrastructure—such as reliable transit, water, and waste systems—that strengthens both our economy and our resilience.

Calgarians want a practical, balanced approach: one that makes our city stronger and more efficient without creating costly bureaucracies or unrealistic programs that drive up property taxes. My focus will always be on solutions that deliver results and value for taxpayers.

Alex William

Yes

• Making the city livable is a priority.
• City has an opportunity to act on strategies from all levels of government that
impact areas such as:

• • Transit
  • Cycling
  • E-bikes
  • The way that we build the city

• Trees: fostering our tree canopy for the future. Make sure streets stay cool. Transition plan for older trees dying.
• Infrastructure: We have twice as much asphalt per capita in this city compared to 1975. Creates heat islands.
• Sprawl and building into wetlands and farmland
• Parking lots: bad for drainage and walkability. For example, create a MacLeod Trail master plan and work with property owners to redevelop. Include parks and plazas. Try to put parking underground.
• Parking minimums are costing owners and renters money.
• Naturalization: use natural wildflowers and native grasses for lawns. Might have to change bylaws, would also need a cultural shift.
• Priorities:

• • Calgary Plan 
  • Zoning Plan and Street Manual  Start building the city greener- retrofit streets, how we build new
    communities (i.e., don’t need massive roads)

Kourtney Penner

Yes

Kourtney noted that Council has recently met with the Indigenous Gathering Place Society and other groups and affirmed that Council is dedicated to advancing this project. She emphasized the importance of focused commitment and continuity from all groups involved, along with stable funding, in order to move forward. She acknowledged that while progress is being made, the visions of the different groups must be realistic and sustainable in the long term. She noted that this cannot be a City-funded project alone, particularly when it comes to operational costs. Kourtney also highlighted that Council now annually reviews the White Goose Flying report as a way of tracking progress on Truth and Reconciliation commitments.

Rob Ward

Survey Response:

Yes

I believe in reconciliation, and I respect the calls for an Indigenous-led gathering place in Calgary. If there is a clear request from Treaty 7 Elders and elected Chiefs, I would absolutely work with them on a path forward. Their voice must be at the center of this conversation—not third-party groups speaking on their behalf.

As a Councillor, my role would be to:

• Listen directly to Treaty 7 leadership to understand their vision and priorities.
• Ensure any City involvement is fiscally responsible and does not duplicate existing programs or facilities.
• Work with other levels of government to identify appropriate land or funding partnerships, recognizing that reconciliation is a shared responsibility.

I believe projects of this significance must be led by Indigenous voices and supported by respectful collaboration—not rushed promises without a plan or clear direction.

Alex William

Yes

Alex will listen and be supportive of the gathering place. He will make sure the land is purchased, and the project is completed.

• He will change bylaws regarding smudging and other indigenous practices that are presently do not abide by city smoking bylaws.
• He stated that The City of Calgary is risk averse.
• He shared that he is a serious decision maker and will advance the project through education and communication.
• He will change and introduce bylaws so that this project proceeds and will research what funding has been earmarked for the project or ensure funding will
be available.

Kourtney Penner

Yes

Rob Ward

Yes

Alex Williams

Yes

Kourtney Penner

Kourtney sees government collaboration as a ‘three lane highway with dotted lines”. At times, having conversations with administration and provincial staff may be the place where work can be done. Connecting with other levels of government can be ‘tricky’, but arguing is not going to help. Kourtney has learned to identify what is in her sphere of control. She focuses on what actions she can take and what data she can share. Sometimes, it is just an issue of patience. Regarding bike lanes, Kourtney is willing let the issue go, for the moment. She believes if we re-name the lanes as multi-use pathways, and expand their use for all groups, especially people with disabilities, they may be better supported.

Kourtney believes all current services and programs are important. She did not identify any for reduction or elimination. Kourtney explained that the core services are evolving; that the services of 2025 are not the same as in 1975. For example, the City must now include a focus on technology but as well programs like the low income transit pass. She believes that if a service is underperforming, it is likely under-invested. Kourtney spoke about snow removal commenting that the purchase of equipment has not kept pace with the growth of the city. (Previous Councils cut the budget for snow removal to trim expenses.) When assessing services, the definition of ‘efficiency’ must be clarified by the City. Is it accuracy and level of service, or cost savings? She sees this clarification also applies to other services including policing and firefighting.

Kourtney believes the City could better focus on where engagement is truly needed and better understand the value proposition of engagement. Kourtney also spoke to the topic of demographic capture. Some citizen groups are unlikely or unable to engage. The City must know where those ‘blind spots’ are.

Kourtney stated she chose to run again because there are more things she wants to do. She mentioned several actions she was especially proud of including helping to get the Green Line to downtown, the provision of free transit for children under 12 years of age, and creation of the Wurklund Centre (Arts Commons Transformation Project). Kourtney has moved ‘more to the middle’. For example, she has softened her stance on urban sprawl because of the number of people moving to the city. Kourtney believes a strong element of consistency in representation is required for the next Council to function most effectively. She is eager to help provide that. (She also mentioned, if she was not re-elected, she would help orient the new Ward 11 Councillor.)

Rob Ward

At the heart of good government is understanding roles and responsibilities. Many of the issues raised in this survey—such as health care, rent supports, and social programs—fall under the
Province’s jurisdiction. When municipalities step too far into these areas, it often leads to duplication of services, higher property taxes, and frustration for residents who are already paying into provincial and federal systems. 

That doesn’t mean the City has no role. We should be a strong partner—providing input, advocating for Calgary’s fair share of resources, and supporting community organizations where appropriate. But we must always keep taxpayers in mind and focus our core resources on the essential municipal services Calgarians rely on every day: roads, snow clearing, water, waste, police, fire, and transit.

I believe this balance—respecting jurisdiction, partnering where it makes sense, and focusing on core services—is the best way to deliver value and accountability for Calgarians.

Alex Williams

Alex said he has not identified areas where services/programs need to be cut. Alex would focus instead on tax efficiency. He wants to look at how the city is built thus increasing long term cost efficiency. For example, urban sprawl results in higher costs that impact Calgarians. 

Alex believes minor tweaks are needed regarding citizen engagement. Compared to the other cities he knows, Calgary has the most extensive citizen engagement process. He believes the concern about citizen engagement is focussed primarily on the by-law review process. Alex sees there needs to be more effort directed to the engagement of disadvantaged groups including individuals with disabilities, students, immigrants, those with children, Indigenous peoples, and those trying to make ends meet do not have time to engage in the current process.