Calgary Municipal Election Candidate Questionnaire
An initiative by the Calgary Environmental Round Table, led by The Gravity Well
The Calgary Environmental Round Table (CERT) is a non-partisan coalition of environmental and climate organizations working to ensure that water, nature, and climate are front of mind in the Calgary region. For the 2025 municipal election, CERT has generated a candidate questionnaire to gather information for sharing with our membership and with Calgarians to inform their voting decision in an unbiased way. Results of this questionnaire will be shared publicly but CERT does not recommend candidates or political parties.
To help voters make informed decisions, CERT has developed a candidate questionnaire focused on municipal environmental priorities. The responses will help constituents engage with candidates through email, at the door, and in public forums. Ward-level organizers are also encouraged to use the questionnaire in their own local engagement efforts.
Candidates who complete the survey may have the opportunity to be profiled on The Gravity Well podcast (Live-Live from September 22 through October 10th at noon MST) and featured on The Climate Lens, two Calgary-based podcasts focused on environmental and climate issues. These episodes will highlight candidate perspectives and plans while also featuring the work of CERT member organizations.
Survey responses will be publicly shared through CERT member newsletters, media outreach, networks, and on this campaign page. This campaign is expected to reach tens of thousands of Calgarians concerned about environmental issues. CERT member organizations have an extended reach within our communities, with over 11,000 engaged individuals and organizations.
Purpose of the Candidate Survey
This survey is designed to:
Help Calgarians understand candidate positions on key environmental issues such as clean water, nature protection, and climate action.
Provide a platform for candidates to share their priorities with a citywide audience.
Support residents in building informed relationships with those running for council or mayor.
The following questions are intended for candidates seeking election to Calgary City Council or for Mayor.
Deadline
This campaign will officially launch on September 1, 2025. Our members will be able to request your candidates complete the survey by Thursday, September 25, 2025. A list of candidates who did or did not respond will be made public on this campaign webpage and through our member networks. If a candidate does not complete the survey by the deadline (with friendly reminders), this will be clearly indicated in campaign materials.
Proposed Questions
Calgary’s Climate Strategy outlines 5-year goals to reduce energy poverty and utility costs, create clean economy jobs, improve public health, and build more equitable, climate-resilient communities. If elected, how will you work to achieve these outcomes for Calgarians?
How will you ensure that new community development and redevelopment in Calgary protects our watersheds, river and creek valleys, wetlands, and the wildlife and urban biodiversity that depend on these ecosystems?
Will you commit to dedicating budget dollars toward protecting Calgary’s biodiversity and improving wildlife safety in our urban environment, including through measures such as enforcing bird-friendly building standards, retrofitting existing structures, and supporting safe wildlife corridors?
What steps will you take to ensure housing, rent, and transit in Calgary are affordable and accessible so that more Calgarians can access services with dignity, and live and work in a healthy city?
ENMAX is wholly owned by the City of Calgary. What role do you see for ENMAX in helping the city achieve its 2035 clean electricity goals?
How will you advance sustainable water use and watershed protection in Calgary’s growth and development decisions?
How will you ensure recommendations from Calgarians including residents, frontline communities, environmental groups, and city staff are meaningfully considered in Council decisions?
Get Involved
This questionnaire and engagement will be successful, if you:
Share the survey with your network and candidates
link to social media campaign/direct ask
Share your questions and thoughts → subscribe below.
Share your time → join this campaign to restore, protect, and plan the City of Calgary’s future.
A letter writing tool will be available by September 1st, 2025.
Apply to participate as a co-host in a podcast with your ward candidates.
Organizational Support
This candidate survey is supported by member organizations of the Calgary Environmental Roundtable (CERT), a collaborative network of non-profit, community-based, and research-focused groups working to advance environmental solutions in Calgary. These organizations share a commitment to ensuring that water protection, biodiversity, and climate action are central to our city’s decision-making.
CERT member organizations have contributed to the development of this survey and are committed to sharing its results widely across their respective platforms and networks. Our members are acknowledged below, demonstrating the broad, citywide coalition behind this initiative. This visibility underscores the collective importance of environmental issues to diverse communities and sectors across Calgary.
Candidates who complete the survey will not only inform voters but also contribute to a broader civic dialogue on the future of our city’s environmental health and resilience.
