Ward 1 Candidate CERT Questionnaire Responses and Podcast Forum

Learn about your candidates for Ward 1 in the City of Calgary

Watch the Ward 1 CERT FORUM with Ali Oonwala 👇

The Calgary Environmental Roundtable (CERT) municipal election campaign, led by the Gravity Well Podcast, is a nonpartisan coalition focused on elevating environmental priorities in the municipal election. The initiative connects residents with candidates through questionnaires, podcast panels, and voter engagement tools, emphasizing the importance of clean water, biodiversity, and climate action for a sustainable future. This episode features a discussion with your Ward 1 candidate, Ali Oonwala, who advocates for practical solutions in housing, transit, and environmental protection. Key topics include bird-friendly building standards, watershed protection, and affordable housing. The campaign encourages public participation and transparency in decision-making, aiming to build a resilient and healthy city for all Calgarians. Learn more about the CERT campaign here!

Thank you to Kathleen Johnson, from Calgary Urban Species Response Team and Bird Friendly Calgary, for joining me as co-host. SIGN UP to help watch for injured birds and learn about the Global Bird Rescue campaign.

Take Action

• Want to hear more from other candidates? SEND your mayoral and ward candidates an email requesting their participation in the CERT questionnaire and forum campaign.

• WATCH the September 22 at 12 pm MST, listen to your candidate, Ali Oonwala for Ward 1, answer the Calgary Environmental Roundtable (CERT) Candidate Questionnaire.

• SEND and SHARE the letter writing tool on your social media or via email with your network!

• WATCH other Ward and Mayoral episodes!

  

• 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.

• FOLLOW The Gravity Well on Substack, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Bluesky.

Your Ward 1 Candidates’ Answers

Answers and video transcripts collected from Ward 1 candidates will be fully updated by end of day, October 12th.

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?

Ali Oonwala

Yes — I will work to ensure Calgary meets the 5-year goals in our Climate Strategy. My focus will be on practical, near-term actions that reduce costs for families, create jobs, and make our city healthier and more resilient:

• Reduce Energy Poverty & Utility Costs

• Expand access to retrofit programs for older homes and apartments, prioritizing low-income households so energy savings benefit those who need it most.

• Partner with utilities to offer on-bill financing and rebates for solar, insulation, and efficient appliances, so families can cut utility costs without heavy upfront expenses.

• Create Clean Economy Jobs

• Work with local trade schools and industry to train workers in green construction, retrofitting, and renewable energy installation.

• Use City procurement to prioritize local contractors who can deliver on energy-efficient housing, electrified transit, and renewable infrastructure projects.

• Improve Public Health Through Mobility & Air Quality

• Invest in safe, reliable transit and active transportation options to reduce vehicle congestion and air pollution.

• Expand Calgary’s urban tree canopy and green spaces, improving air quality and providing natural cooling during heat waves.

• Build Equitable, Climate-Resilient Communities

• Ensure new housing developments include climate-resilient design standards (stormwater management, flood protection, green roofs).

• Prioritize climate adaptation projects in vulnerable neighborhoods where residents are most exposed to extreme heat or flooding.

• Near-Term Accountability

• Support the creation of a public scorecard that tracks Calgary’s 5-year climate targets — emissions reductions, energy savings, job creation, and health improvements.

• Require annual reporting across City departments so Calgarians can see progress in real time, not just in long-term plans.

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?

Ali Oonwala

Expand tree canopy and native plant restoration programs to improve habitat and climate resilience together.

Accountability and Community Engagement

Establish a public reporting tool showing how each approved development meets environmental protection requirements.

Engage local watershed groups, Indigenous communities, and environmental organizations early in planning to ensure decisions reflect lived knowledge and ecological expertise.

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?

Ali Oonwala

Yes — I will commit to dedicating budget dollars to protect Calgary’s biodiversity and improve wildlife safety. Here are the specific actions I would champion:

• Bird-Friendly Building Standards

• Ensure that new developments comply with bird-friendly design standards (glass treatments, lighting design, and building orientation).

• Dedicate funds to incentivize retrofits for existing high-risk buildings, reducing bird collisions without placing the full burden on property owners.

• Wildlife Corridors and Safe Crossings

• Invest in planning and infrastructure that creates and protects safe wildlife corridors across Calgary, particularly in areas where new development borders natural habitats.

• Support projects like wildlife overpasses, underpasses, and green buffers that prevent dangerous road crossings.

• Biodiversity Enhancement Programs

• Fund native tree and plant restoration projects that provide habitat for pollinators, birds, and small mammals while improving climate resilience.

• Expand the City’s urban tree canopy targets to increase shade, air quality, and biodiversity in all neighborhoods, especially underserved ones.

• Dedicated Budget & Partnerships

• Commit to setting aside annual budget allocations specifically for biodiversity protection and wildlife safety initiatives.

• Partner with universities, nonprofits, and Indigenous communities to co-develop biodiversity programs grounded in science and traditional knowledge.
  Public Accountability

• Require annual reporting on biodiversity funding and outcomes, so residents can see tangible progress — from reduced bird collisions to increased native species habitat.

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?

Ali Oonwala

Affordability and accessibility are central to building a healthy, sustainable Calgary. If elected, I will take these steps to ensure housing, rent, and transit are within reach for more Calgarians, while also reducing emissions and improving quality of life:

1. Affordable Housing & Rent Supports

Expand non-market and affordable housing supply by dedicating City-owned land, streamlining approvals, and partnering with nonprofit and mission-driven developers.

Strengthen rental supports by coordinating with the Province and nonprofits to create a seamless safety net for renters in crisis.

Retrofit existing housing stock with energy-efficient upgrades, reducing utility bills for low- and middle-income households while cutting emissions.

2. Accessible, Reliable Transit

Invest in frequent, reliable transit service so that every community — especially underserved ones — has a dependable alternative to driving.

Advance projects like Green Line expansion, bus rapid transit (BRT), and on-demand neighborhood shuttles to make transit practical and affordable for daily use.

Keep transit fares affordable, with targeted subsidies for youth, seniors, and low-income Calgarians.

3. Equitable Urban Planning

Use zoning and land-use policy to encourage mixed-income, transit-oriented development, reducing sprawl and keeping housing close to jobs, schools, and services.

Protect renters and homeowners from displacement in redevelopment by embedding affordability requirements into new projects.

4. Inclusive Budgeting & Climate Action

Dedicate budget dollars toward housing, transit, and energy efficiency as core investments in both affordability and climate resilience.

Ensure that every major budget decision includes an equity and climate lens so vulnerable Calgarians are prioritized.

5. Accountability & Community Partnership

Establish clear 5-year affordability and accessibility targets, tied to Calgary’s Climate Strategy: Pathways to 2050.

Work with community associations, equity-seeking groups, and housing advocates so residents help shape solutions, not just receive them.

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?

Ali Oonwala

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?

Ali Oonwala

Water security is one of Calgary’s most urgent long-term challenges. If elected, I will ensure that sustainable water use and watershed protection are built into every growth and development decision. My commitments are:

1. Smarter Land Use & Growth Decisions
   Require water impact assessments for all major new developments, ensuring projects do not worsen Calgary’s water scarcity.
   Prioritize denser, transit-oriented development over urban sprawl, reducing the strain on water infrastructure and natural watersheds.
   Protect wetlands, riparian areas, and natural stormwater systems that naturally filter and store water.

2. Water-Efficient Building Standards
   Mandate high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems, and greywater reuse in new housing and commercial projects.
   Incentivize retrofitting existing buildings with water-saving technologies, reducing long-term demand across the city.

3. Watershed Protection & Natural Infrastructure
   Strengthen protections for Calgary’s river valleys, creeks, and wetlands, integrating natural infrastructure (rain gardens, permeable pavement, green roofs) into urban design.
   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?

Ali Oonwala

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.