Economic and Sustainable Growth
We need to define the challenges of seeking balance and solutions for sustainable growth in Ward 6, focusing not just on the hard infrastructure required to make Ward 6 successful, but also on the people and community programs that support it.
Livable Communities – ‘Communities Now’ Program
Even though Calgary is over 1 million strong, we are made up of 14 Wards and many communities. Ward 6 is a compelling growth leader in Calgary. With significant infrastructure programs underway and a continuing need to make these investments, it is time to renew our municipal efforts to support Ward 6.
We need to be more proactive than reactive in resolving Ward 6 community needs by establishing ‘Communities Now’ - a program to encourage community-led collaborative initiatives with the City to enhance the quality of our neighborhoods. We need to be resourceful and creative, considering partnerships between business, the government and community to address the need for infrastructure such as sports and recreation facilities and community centres.
Ward 6 needs vibrant communities where neighbors know and help each other and the only strangers are the friends we haven’t met yet. We need to continue building strong, thriving communities that develop pragmatic solutions to local challenges, supported by their municipal government. Ward 6 will lead the way with these initiatives.
Traffic congestion
I believe our traffic problems are interconnected – from the traffic circle in Discovery Ridge to Old Banff Coach Road.
People accessing Ward 6 from inside and outside the city choose the path of least resistance, the least congested, to reach their destinations. It is time then to give them a more appropriate route, an improved option.
For example, the short-cutting through Signal Hill on Sierra Morena Blvd and Sierra Morena Road onto 34th Ave SW and then 69th St SW has reached 20,000 vehicles per day. This volume is almost three times what these neighbourhood roads were designed for.
Solutions for relieving congestion throughout our neighbourhoods in Ward 6 must include Highway 8. As this perimeter roadway is built up, people will increasingly use it to reach their homes and not our neighbourhood streets.
The Provincial Government has the jurisdiction over Highway 8 to pre-build this stretch of the ring road from Sarcee Tr. to 101st St. I will work closely with them to hasten the upgrading of this roadway. A free flowing interchange should be built at the Sarcee Tr., Glenmore Tr and Highway 8 intersection. Appropriate interchanges would be built at 69th St, 85th St and 101st St alleviating congestion.
As more people use this approach from the south, fewer drivers will use Richmond Road (and Sierra Morena Blvd and Road) and17th Ave SW as the east west routes into the Ward. Less pressure on those routes will ripple through the Ward with all arteries sharing fairly the traffic access to communities.
Auditor General Position
I believe that the role of an internal auditor is an essential one for any professionally managed private or public organization. Typically this role is to investigate processes to determine if the management designed processes are indeed being followed.
As we have grown and the demands of our community have become increasingly complex, we require the services of an auditor general.
Fundamentally, this position will have the mandate and resources to audit what they deem important. This would include making determinations about the effectiveness of the processes themselves.
Our auditor general would report to City Council and the reports made public – so you know what is happening with your tax dollars.
Taxation and Budgeting
Tax dollars collected in Calgary should largely stay in Calgary and be spent here on initiatives and facilities that benefit Ward 6 and Calgarians.
The taxpayers of Ward 6 need their Alderman to have a proven track record in business and financial management to represent them at City Council.
Calgary requires economic growth to sustain our quality of life in Ward 6. To achieve our goals, we will use our creativity, then our wallets to develop innovative solutions.
Why Vote for Richard?
An important part of my responsibilities at Calgary Economic Development has been to attract companies to Calgary with jobs and investments. As part of this activity we engage with new Calgarians who may be associated with the move to ensure that they are welcomed into our communities. We also work to integrate the new business into our market.
As an important part of those functions, I have regularly worked with the Mayor’s Office, City Council and Administration to resolve client needs including the necessary permits and approvals for their businesses.
I believe that this experience of getting issues managed at City Hall will serve you well.