Final forum sticks to pocket books
Mayoral candidates spar over city hall spending and taxation
Despite a campaign rife with personal attacks and warnings about racists, the 200 voters at the last mayoral forum before the election wanted to focus on the bottom line issues of taxation and spending.
Calgarians packed a northeast community centre Tuesday evening to watch the men vying for council’s top job face off one final time before Monday’s election.
Nine of the 10 mayoral candidates answered a range of questions submitted by the boisterous audience on topics, including the Midfield mobile home park, efficient transit, secondary suites, and a $14.5-million ask from Calgary police for more boots on the ground.
Asked about the ethics of dipping into the city’s rainy day fund for one-time tax reductions in an election year, candidates had a variety of opinions.
“This is not ethics, this is an insult to the people,” said Emile Gabriel. “(Council) gives you a tax break during an election year to buy your vote.”
Council voted 12-2 in January to limit non-residential municipal tax increases to a maximum of five per cent using $45 million in funds destined for the fiscal stability reserve, also known as the rainy day fund.
The decision came as business owners outside the downtown core were bracing for major property tax hikes amid an economic downturn that spurred a massive $4-billion drop in the assessed value of downtown offices.
Then, in June, elected officials voted unanimously in favour of dipping into the rainy day fund again, this time pulling $22.5 million to give Calgarians property tax relief in 2017 by offsetting a 1.5 per cent property tax hike with a onetime rebate.
Longtime city councillor Andre Chabot, who voted against the five per cent cap for business owners, labelling it a Band-Aid, said Tuesday he believes the best solution is to amend the taxation system through the city charter.
“I felt it was a very short-term solution and didn’t provide for long-term benefit,” Chabot said of the five per cent cap for nonresidential property owners.
Incumbent Naheed Nenshi, who spearheaded the five per cent cap, said it’s not just raining in Calgary, it’s pouring.
“It’s very ethical to use our rainy day funds when it’s raining,” said Nenshi, who is seeking a third term after winning the last municipal election with 74 per cent of the vote.
Lawyer and former firefighter Bill Smith, who has emerged as the front-runner in the race, according to recent polls, said the city needs to stop spending at the level it’s used to.
“The bigger question here is why have we not reined in our spending?” said Smith, adding the last thing he wants to go after if elected is front-line services.
Candidate Curtis Olson, a senior officer with the Calgary Police Service, said he would bring open government to city hall.
“On one hand we had council dipping into the reserve fund, on the other, they voted to raise taxes in 2018.
“This doesn’t cut it for Calgarians,” Olson said.
Candidate David Lapp said all Calgarians should be concerned about “the lack of honesty at city hall,” while Stan (The Man) Waciak, who is also running for mayor, said he believes in being taxed fairly.
“The problem with that term rainy day fund is you can’t predict the weather. It’s monsoon season,” said Jason (Jason GoGo) Achtymichuk, who said he would go through the budget line by line if elected.
Brent Chisholm was the only no-show candidate at the forum at the Crossroads Community Association hosted by 12 Community Safety Initiative, a group focused on crime prevention.