In the first full day of official campaign time, candidates spent little time laying out some of the main plank in their platforms.
Most of the announcements came early in the day, prior to candidates convening for a mayoral forum at the Kerby Centre Tuesday afternoon.
Barb Higgins was slated to hold a quick news conference later this afternoon.
Ric McIver – McIver pledged to scrap the $3 park-and-ride fee at LRT stations and drop city parking rates. McIver said the city’s parking policies have led to discontent among Calgarians.
“Just about everyone knows of Calgary’s fame in a category no one should be proud of.”??
Joe Connelly – Connelly said crowdsourcing will help decide how to find $60 million in budget savings through online feedback from Calgarians.
“This is a game changer. This is a real democracy and Calgarians can take back your city,” Connelly said. Connelly would ask Calgarians for their ideas his first 100 days in office. ??
Naheed Nenshi – Nenshi trumpeted a 10-year- poverty reduction plan, modeled on the 10-year plan to end homelessness. He would start with a panel of experts and various agencies and pledges to enhance social agencies.
“The long-term cost of poverty in Calgary greatly exceeds any incremental cost the city may incur as a result of this plan.”??
Craig Burrows – Burrows vowed to clean up city hall, and would start by freezing salaries for council and city management. Former city officials/politicians would also be subject to a ‘cooling-off’ period, preventing them from obtaining city consulting contracts for three years after leaving the city. “If you’re out, you’re out,” he said.
Wayne Stewart – Using the Kerby Centre forum as a launching point, Wayne Stewart focused on senior’s issues, saying he’d like to see a free-ride for seniors at city municipal services like Calgary Transit and the Calgary Zoo. Stewart also wants to see more ‘Granny suites’, and improved regulations for accessibility for seniors.
“Having turned 69 just last week, I am the only candidate to understand seniors issues and I am the only candidate who has experienced them firsthand,” Stewart said.
