Mayoral Candidate CERT Questionnaire Responses and Podcast Forum
Learn about your candidates for mayor in the City of Calgary
TUNE IN LIVE-LIVE on October 2 at 7 pm MST
The Calgary Environmental Roundtable (CERT) has created a candidate questionnaire and podcast series dedicated to climate, the environment, and nature for the 2025 municipal election. Learn all about it here!
Take Action
SEND your mayoral and ward candidates an email requesting their participation in the CERT questionnaire and forum campaign.
TUNE IN on October 2 at 7 pm MST, listen to your candidates for mayor answer the Calgary Environmental Roundtable (CERT) Candidate Questionnaire.
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JOIN the CERT organizations: Alberta Environmental Network, Calgary Urban Species Response Team, Calgary Climate Hub, Bird Friendly Calgary, The Climate Reality Project Canada, Calgary River Valleys, and For Our Kids Alberta.
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Your Mayoral Candidates’ Answers
Answers and video transcripts collected from Ward 1 candidates will be fully updated by end of day, October 12th, 2025.
1️⃣Calgary’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?
Jaeger Gustafson
My vision is that Calgary leads the world once again in conservation of our ecosystems.
Jeromy Farkas
In the 2023 review, it was identified that Community-wide Transportation GHG Emissions (https://climate-and-environment-dashboard-thecityofcalgary.hub.arcgis.com/pages/mobility-community-wide-transportation-ghg-emissions) are significantly off track from targets. In response, my platform speaks to several integrated mobility and planning pieces, including:
Prioritize transit-oriented development to add new housing where it makes the most sense: near transit stations, education, and jobs—reducing pressure on established neighbourhoods while supporting walkability and cutting commute times.
Expand linear parks and off-street connections between neighbourhoods, schools, and services and ask the province to consider park-pathways when determining school walk zones.
Create a Tactical Urbanism Fund to support low-cost, high-impact interventions.
Take the politics out of active transportation by tying funding to usage. If 2.5% of trips are made by walking or wheeling, 2.5% of the transportation capital budget should support those modes. This creates a fair, transparent basis for investing in transportation, fixing pathway gaps, and building long-awaited links like the Calgary to Cochrane Trail.
Address the lack of wayfinding across Calgary’s active mode network to encourage increased use of active transportation modes. Just like road signs for drivers, signage for walking, cycling, and rolling should be clear, consistent, and citywide.
Expand secure bike parking and end-of-trip facilities throughout Calgary, with focus on locations hosting large events.
One of the key issues for climate resilience is how buildings and bylaws are designed to help Calgarians live throughout extreme heat and weather events. In my platform I have pledged to:
Establish a Renters’ Advisory Council ensuring that tenant voices help shape municipal housing policy, for example, to begin exploration of a Maximum Heat Bylaw (https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/tenants-advocates-calling-for-maximum-heat-bylaw).
Champion a Housing First strategy prioritizing permanent housing with wraparound supports.
Establish a City Housing Innovation Lab to test new solutions—from prefab builds to adaptive reuse; and international best practices like mass timber, courtyard blocks and modular construction with potential improvements to the footprint of housing production.
Adopt the Housing Equity Roadmap to ensure Calgary’s housing system works for racialized, indigenous, disabled, newcomer, and 2SLGBTQIA+ residents.
I will also explore measures like solar-ready bylaws, solar and EV rebate programs and expanding low-interest loan programs like CEIP and energy efficiency retrofits in city-owned buildings
2️⃣ 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?
Jaeger Gustafson
We need to do more than protect. Calgary is going to run our of water. The watersheds are shifting. And a Calgary with Mayor Gus will have water for the next 400 years.
Jeromy Farkas
The 2023 review of Calgary’s Climate Strategy review also noted that Habitat Restoration (https://climate-and-environment-dashboard-thecityofcalgary.hub.arcgis.com/pages/nature-ecology-habitat-restoration) is off track from stated goals. I understand that lack of strategic planning for how we build a city can stretch resources, threaten biodiversity corridors and natural habitats. My platform addresses these concerns in several ways, including commitments to:
Protect public parks from sale or loss to private development, preserving them for future generations while allowing for thoughtful improvement and use.
Protect and expand Calgary’s ecological network, connecting natural areas, riparian zones, and wildlife corridors.
Fund natural infrastructure with the same seriousness as roads and pipes, to protect lives and livelihoods.
Ensure every Calgarian lives within 400m of a multifunctional park with two or more core functions.
Implement public feedback into the Connect: Calgary’s Parks Plan and integrate it across all city departments.
Collaborate with Canada's 2 Billion Trees program to plant 1.3 million new trees in the next 10 years—prioritizing areas of low canopy and high heat exposure.
Focus on collaboration to improve amenities and partnerships in existing parks. For example, to enable the operations of the Bearspaw Marina and to launch a major regional park in the Nose Creek Valley corridor.
Support Indigenous co-design and stewardship of public places, recognizing land and history.
Build capacity among community associations and nonprofit organizations (such as the Nose Creek Preservation Society) to plan and fundraise for local improvements by exploring the City of Calgary issuing charitable tax receipts on behalf of worthwhile projects.
3️⃣ 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?
Jaeger Gustafson
Check out my website! I am going to have a CIVIC Corridor. MayorGus.ca/concordium
This will be like a central park for Calgary for next 400 years. Also I am protecting the Ecosystems in all of Alberta. Check out MayorGus.ca/horses
Jeromy Farkas
Please see answer to Question 2 and my Parks and Places That Connect: A vision for a healthier, more connected Calgary Policy Brief (https://www.jeromy.ca/policy-brief/parks-and-places-that-connect/)
4️⃣ 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?
Jaeger Gustafson
We are going to ensure we move the city to a better economic situation everyday so that people can afford to live again.
People know me, I'm all about quality. And we will have the money we need to get it done.
Jeromy Farkas
My 25-point housing and development plan, Restoring Certainty: A targeted vision for housing in Calgary (https://www.jeromy.ca/policy-brief/restoring-certainty/), is designed to bring housing certainty, respond to the housing crisis, protect renters and prioritize transit-oriented development. This includes commitments to:
Prioritize transit-oriented development to add new housing where it makes the most sense: near transit stations, education, and jobs—reducing pressure on established neighbourhoods while supporting walkability and cutting commute times.
Implement a publicly communicated infrastructure alignment requirement, requiring major proposals to be accompanied by a review of current infrastructure (sewer, water, transit, etc.) with a plan for how necessary upgrades will be funded and timed.
Protect public parks from sale or loss to private development, preserving them for future generations while allowing for thoughtful improvement and use.
Tie development of Area Structure Plans (ASPs) directly to infrastructure and servicing commitments, so communities grow with the necessary support in place.
Launch a Calgary Renters’ Support Office to provide legal information, mediation, and support.
Advocate to the province for improved rental protections, including clear rules around ‘renovictions’ and reasonable notice standards, and advocacy for the expansion of rent-geared-to-income housing, where rent is based on a tenant’s ability to pay.
Support the creation of a Non-Market Housing Acquisition Fund to preserve at-risk rental buildings.
Champion a Housing First strategy prioritizing permanent housing with wraparound supports.
Establish a Renters’ Advisory Council ensuring that tenant voices help shape municipal housing policy, for example, to begin exploration of a Maximum Heat Bylaw.
Create a dedicated Housing Delivery Team to speed up permitting and approvals, for example, by implementing a City-led site readiness program to identify and proactively service underused parcels of land near transit or employment hubs, so builders can hit the ground running instead of waiting years on infrastructure upgrades.
Offer expedited approvals for affordable and family-oriented housing by pre-approving building forms to reduce delays on common infill designs, like Edmonton’s new Point Access Block Guide.
Offer a “permit guarantee” for compliant applications so that, if a development meets all zoning and design criteria, the City must approve or respond within a fixed number of business days. If the deadline is missed, the permit is automatically escalated for resolution.
Pilot a Responsible Builder Certification to recognize builders with strong records of compliance and community engagement with fast-track processing and dedicated City liaisons.
Increase transparency for both community and industry with initiatives like publishing service standards and providing rolling 5–10 year infrastructure forecasts by area, so builders can align with servicing timelines and reduce uncertainty.
Pre-zone appropriate surplus City lands specifically for affordable and supportive housing to reduce delays and give nonprofits the certainty they need to plan, fundraise, and build.
Offer multi-year operational funding to proven housing nonprofits through collaborations with the provincial government to launch a 10-year Social Sector Surge to fully fund Family & Community Support Services.
Guarantee pre-development grants for mission-aligned projects by providing early-stage funding (e.g., for land assessment, community engagement, or design work) so projects don’t stall before they start.
Pair smaller nonprofit providers with City staff or larger partners to support with technical expertise, capital planning, or project management—without sacrificing mission alignment.
Work with CMHC and provincial partners to support nonprofits that are trying to grow beyond single-site projects, making it easier to build in new forms, or multiple small buildings as a cohesive package, supportive housing, and Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing.
Expand interdepartmental secondments: Allow for temporary staff placements between departments (e.g. Planning to Affordable Housing or Legal), so staff better understand one another’s pressures and constraints—and solutions are more grounded.
Establish a City Housing Innovation Lab to test new solutions—from prefab builds to adaptive reuse; and international best practices like mass timber, courtyard blocks and modular construction.
Launch a small internal innovation fund where staff can pitch pilot projects to reduce red tape, improve approvals, or streamline housing delivery.
Adopt real-time simulation tools (such as Digital Twin Urban Modeling) to help staff visualize to the public the impact of new housing, infrastructure, and transit—allowing faster, more evidence-based decisions.
Adopt the Housing Equity Roadmap to ensure Calgary’s housing system works for racialized, indigenous, disabled, newcomer, and 2SLGBTQIA+ residents.
My plan for transportation and mobility, Moving Forward: A vision for a safer and more connected Calgary (https://www.jeromy.ca/policy-brief/moving-forward/), outlines several initiatives to improve moving throughout the city, enable mobility choice, take the politics out of decisions around municipal infrastructure like bike lanes, and ensure that people can get where they need to go. This includes:
Address the lack of wayfinding across Calgary’s active mode network. Just like road signs for drivers, signage for walking, cycling, and rolling should be clear, consistent, and citywide.
Support investments to enhance service, including tactical transit lanes, queue jumps, bus signal priority, and enhanced frequency to make services fast, frequent, and efficient.
Complete Phase 1 of the Green Line and advance conversations with community, industry, and province on future phases, and support strengthening the Bus Rapid Transit route that serves the north leg of the Green Line to get people moving now while they are waiting for light rail to get to them.
Support the creation of a Calgary Transit Foundation (along the lines of the Calgary Public Library Foundation) to facilitate additional funding and community engagement.
Plan specific transit capital investment in lockstep with new neighbourhood development to avoid costly retrofits and ensure micromobility (e-bikes, scooters) integration at all major stations.
Extend the Low-Income Transit Pass program for ten years.
Integrate transit planning into the City’s overall tourism and event strategy, for example, by coordinating and adjusting transit service to ensure it meets the demands of major events, and exploring transit fares built into admission fees for events over a certain capacity.
Take the politics out of active transportation by tying funding to usage. If 2.5% of trips are made by walking or wheeling, 2.5% of the transportation capital budget should support those modes. This creates a fair, transparent basis for investing in transportation, fixing pathway gaps, and building long-awaited links like the Calgary to Cochrane Trail.
Implement enforced standards for safe detours for active and wheelchair transportation.
Expand secure bike parking and end-of-trip facilities throughout Calgary, with focus on locations hosting large events.
Designate and invest in a Calgary Goods Movement Network to optimize key freight corridors and reduce industry transportation delays, including expanded and upgraded road access in and around major logistics hubs and around YYC Calgary International Airport.
Coordinate land use planning to ensure industrial zones are near high-capacity infrastructure, and ensure that new industrial employment centers are built alongside transit access for current and future workers in order to reduce emissions from large vehicles stuck in traffic.
Champion and partner with provincial and federal governments to improve regional trade corridors and implementation options for intermunicipal transit service.
5️⃣ENMAX 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?
Jaeger Gustafson
I am already working on creating the first nuclear reactor in Alberta. This is called TERMAL TRANSFER TECHNOLOGY. We are going to have so much power we will have extra. And I will use it for Data Centres.
Low cost energy benefits the least in societies the most. This is a key priority.
Jeromy Farkas
ENMAX is a critical partner in helping Calgary reach its 2035 clean electricity goals. If elected, I will ensure ENMAX plays a leadership role in three key areas:
1. Driving the Clean Energy Transition
Direct ENMAX to expand investment in renewable generation — solar, wind, and battery storage — to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Support upgrades to the grid to handle more distributed energy resources like rooftop solar, community solar projects, and electric vehicle charging.
Ensure ENMAX aligns its capital planning with Calgary’s 2035 targets, so corporate operations run fully on clean energy.
2. Ensuring Affordable & Equitable Access
Mandate programs that help households, especially low-income ones, retrofit homes and adopt clean energy technologies without high upfront costs.
Expand on-bill financing and rebate programs so families can save money on energy while contributing to emissions reductions.
Protect Calgarians from energy poverty by committing ENMAX to fair rates and transparent billing practices.
3. Public Accountability & Transparency
Require annual reporting on ENMAX’s progress toward Calgary’s clean electricity goals, with clear metrics on renewable generation, emissions reductions, and affordability impacts.
Strengthen Council’s role in governance to ensure ENMAX decisions reflect public interest first, not just financial returns.
Encourage ENMAX to lead in innovation and job creation around clean tech, positioning Calgary as a hub for the clean economy.
6️⃣How will you advance sustainable water use and watershed protection in Calgary’s growth and development decisions?
Jaeger Gustafson
Water Abundance - Check out my legal innovations on https://www.mayorgus.ca/alberta-aquacapture
Jeromy Farkas
Expand tree canopy and native vegetation projects to support natural water retention and reduce runoff pollution.
4. Regional Collaboration for Water Security
Work with regional partners — including the Province, Bow River Basin Council, and neighboring municipalities — to secure long-term water allocations that balance urban, agricultural, and ecological needs.
Advocate for watershed-wide conservation measures, recognizing that water security is a shared responsibility across the region.
5. Accountability & Public Engagement
Push for transparent public reporting on Calgary’s water use, conservation progress, and watershed health.
Engage residents and businesses in water stewardship education, encouraging everyday conservation and protecting our rivers for future generations.
7️⃣How will you ensure recommendations from Calgarians including residents, frontline communities, environmental groups, and city staff are meaningfully considered in Council decisions?
Jaeger Gustafson
We are ushering in a new era of collaboration and transparency.
Council meetings will be conducted in a circle to promote openness, equality, and meaningful dialogue. I have rewritten the procedural bylaws to ensure that cooperation—not division—guides our work. You can review the updated framework at MayorGus.ca/concordium
The agenda has been thoughtfully planned for the next 16 years to ensure consistency, vision, and long-term impact. Council will meet a minimum of twice per week, far exceeding the traditional standard of two meetings per month. Additional sessions will be scheduled as needed to address emerging issues in real time.
Councillors will also be actively engaging with the community alongside me. Together with my personal media team, we will ensure full transparency and accountability every step of the way.
Jeromy Farkas
Listening to Calgarians — residents, frontline communities, environmental groups, and City staff — must be more than a box-ticking exercise. If elected, I will ensure their recommendations are meaningfully considered in Council decisions through these steps:
Transparent & Accessible Engagement
Expand early engagement in decision-making, so residents and frontline communities are consulted before policies are finalized.
Use plain-language communication and multiple formats (in-person, online, multilingual) to make participation accessible to all Calgarians.Formal Integration of Public Input
Require that all Council reports include a summary of community and staff input received, and clearly show how those recommendations shaped the final proposal.
Establish tracking and reporting mechanisms so residents can see where their input was incorporated, and if not, why not.Elevating Frontline & Equity-Seeking Voices
Create advisory tables that include equity-seeking groups, Indigenous leaders, and frontline communities, ensuring their perspectives are formally built into city planning.
Provide capacity support (childcare, honoraria, transit passes) so that marginalized Calgarians can participate fully in public consultations.Empowering City Staff Expertise
Value and respect the expertise of frontline City staff by ensuring their recommendations are included in Council debates, not buried in administration.
Protect staff from political interference by supporting evidence-based policy development.Accountability & Feedback Loops
Commit to public feedback reports after major consultations, outlining what was heard, what was acted on, and what was not — with reasons.
Hold myself and Council accountable by regularly meeting with community stakeholders to review progress and adjust as needed.