Ward 7 Candidate CERT Questionnaire Responses and Podcast Forum
Learn about your candidates for Ward 7 in the City of Calgary
TUNE IN LIVE-LIVE on October 1 at 12 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!
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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 October 1 at 12 pm MST episode, listen to your candidates for Ward 7 answer the Calgary Environmental Roundtable (CERT) Candidate Questionnaire.
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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.
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Your Ward 7 Candidates’ Answers
Answers and video transcripts collected from Ward 7 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?
David Barrett
If elected, I will champion a proactive and integrated approach to actually achieving our Climate Strategy goals. To get there, I will focus on on four key areas:
Tackling energy poverty & utility costs: I will advocate for a city-wide energy retrofit program, leveraging federal and provincial green funding to help homeowners and landlords, particularly in low-income and older communities, improve insulation, windows, and heating systems. This will help to reduce emissions and cut household utility bills. Additionally, I will advocate for an expansion of the Alberta Municipalities Residential Clean Energy Improvement Program which helps to finance renewable energy upgrades
Creating Clean Economy Jobs: I will work to attract and retain clean tech firms and renewable energy service companies by streamlining permitting processes and promoting Calgary’s skilled workforce. I will push for a "local-first" procurement policy for city projects, prioritizing Alberta-based companies that provide sustainable goods and services, creating local jobs in the process. We have an incredible wealth of experience and knowledge in renewable energy infrastructure in Calgary - we should be leveraging it to its fullest potential
Improving Public Health: The climate strategy is a public health strategy. I will prioritize active transportation and transit, which reduces air pollution and promotes physical activity. This means implementing my policy for accelerating the construction of protected bike lanes through consistent funding and ensuring transit routes serve Calgarians' needs, connecting them to jobs, services, and recreation safely and efficiently.
Building Resilient & Equitable Communities: Climate action cannot leave anyone behind. I will ensure that all climate adaptation projects, from flood mitigation in Sunnyside to heat-reducing urban forests in communities with less tree canopy such as the Downtown West and the East Village, are developed with direct input from the residents who live there. Equity must be a core metric in our decision-making. Tools that prioritize an analysis of equity, such as the tree equity index, should be utilized wherever possible.
Core to accomplishing all of this is using and updating reporting metrics. Holding each and every business unit in the City of Calgary organization to their climate targets using reporting will be critical.
Heather McRae | The Calgary Party
We will ensure Calgary’s Climate Strategy moves from aspirational to actionable. That means better accountability on existing climate targets and ties back to KPIs in infrastructure, land use and transit decisions.
Link housing and infrastructure planning to ensure greater efficiency of use in new communities.
Accelerate retrofits of City-owned buildings and work with the federal and provincial governments to fund this
Expand rapid transit and active mobility networks to cut emissions while giving Calgarians better, more affordable ways to move around.
Support clean economy job creation by tying procurement to local low-carbon industries.
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?
David Barrett
As a watershed scientist, this question is particularly close to my heart. Our natural ecosystems are not just amenities, they are also critical infrastructure for flood mitigation, water purification, wildlife habitat, and our quality of life. My approach will be:
Defend and Strengthen the role of watershed protection in the planning and development process: I will advocate the inclusion of watershed protection metrics in land use planning, and development applications for greenfield developments.
Enforce a "No Net Loss" Policy for Wetlands and Natural Areas: For any new greenfield development, the loss of natural wetland or forest must be compensated for by restoring or creating a comparable natural space within the same watershed. This should be a mandatory condition of approval.
Prioritize Green Infrastructure: I will push for developments that use natural landscapes (bioswales, naturalized stormwater ponds, permeable surfaces) to manage water. I will also push for an increased use of natural rain gardens. This protects our rivers from pollution, reduces runoff, and enhances urban biodiversity.
Protect our river valleys and corridors: I will oppose development that infringes upon or fragments our major environmental reserves and will work with the administration to protect these critical habitat areas, while also pushing back against endless urban sprawl
Heather McRae | The Calgary Party
We will make protection of rivers, wetlands, and natural corridors a non-negotiable part of Calgary’s growth. Our commitments include:
Strengthening watershed and riparian protection in development processes
Encouraging all redevelopment projects include stormwater management, tree cover, and habitat protection.Encourage development inside Calgary's existing footprint to limit Calgary's impact on the surrounding habitat and biodiversity
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?
David Barrett
Yes, unequivocally. Protecting our natural heritage is a core municipal responsibility.
I will push administration to require bird-friendly glass (etched or patterned) and responsible lighting strategies for all new commercial and multi-family developments. The City of Calgary can be a leader and include bird-friendly modifications in building retrofits.
I will support strategic investments in infrastructure that keeps wildlife and people safe, such as wildlife-friendly fencing along key transportation corridors and dedicated animal underpasses/overpasses in areas.
Heather McRae | The Calgary Party
We commit to investing in biodiversity and wildlife safety, through ensuring a portion of retrofit funds can go to meeting standards where appropriate. We will work to prioritize wildlife corridors in community design, with safe crossings and connected park systems.
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?
David Barrett
Housing and transit are the bedrock of a healthy, equitable, and climate-resilient city. I have a number of additional strategies. My strategy involves some core pillars of my policy platform:
Housing: Champion "missing middle" housing by incentivizing and fast-tracking approvals for townhomes, duplexes, and gentle density in established communities near transit hubs. I will support the full implementation of Calgary’s Housing Affordability Strategy, including the development of non-market and affordable housing on city-owned land.
Rent: Strengthen tenant support services and advocate for provincial partnerships to enhance rent supplements and protections for vulnerable Calgarians.
Transit: Work to make transit more affordable, reliable, and extensive. This includes:
Advocating for sustained funding for low-income transit passes and exploring fare-capping models.
Prioritizing transit-oriented development (TOD) to ensure more Calgarians can live near high-frequency service. This means along all core transit routes, such as BRT’s and LRT’s.
Investing in dedicated bus lanes and traffic signal priority to make bus service faster and more reliable, making it a more attractive option for everyone.
Heather McRae | The Calgary Party
Housing and transit are climate policies as much as social policies. We will:
Ensure zoning decisions unlock more housing supply, especially near transit corridors.
Deliver a reliable, frequent transit system, expanding MAX Rapid Bus and getting the Green Line back on track.
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?
David Barrett
Working with ENMAX to achieve Calgary’s 2035 clean electricity goals to:
Accelerate Local Renewable Generation: ENMAX should aggressively invest in and build new local renewable energy projects. We should not have an energy company that is investing in carbon-intensive energy systems in other jurisdictions, rather we need to use ENMAX to expand local green energy production.
I have proposed a funding model for solar farm generations that could be led by ENMAX and administered by the Federation of Calgary Communities (or comparable non-profit). It would see an initial up-front capital investment in a few key solar generation projects on/at community or civic buildings. Partial revenue from this generation would then be pushed into a green energy fund where other community projects could apply for and receive funds to conduct feasibility surveys and initial background work. Once built, these new projects would then also feed into the fund, helping build new projects.
Work with ENMAX to advocate for exploring new and emerging battery technologies to help improve green energy storage in the grid.
Direct ENMAX dividends to be used for supporting residential green energy investments and rebate systems on items such as heat pumps, hot water tanks, etc.
Heather McRae | The Calgary Party
ENMAX should be a cornerstone of Calgary’s clean energy transition. We will:
Push ENMAX to adopt a transparent 2035 decarbonization roadmap with clear milestones regarding supply and procurement of clean electricity.
Ensure ENMAX supports low-income Calgarians through expanded energy efficiency programs and equitable rate structures.
Treat ENMAX not just as a revenue source, but as a public asset accountable for delivering affordable, clean power.
6️⃣How will you advance sustainable water use and watershed protection in Calgary’s growth and development decisions?
David Barrett
I will:
Advocate strongly for continued collaboration with the Province and upstream municipalities to ensure the health of the Bow and Elbow River watersheds. Our growth cannot come at the expense of our water quality.
Continue to support the incredible work being done by the water education and efficiency teams within the city to help reduce waste.
Support strategic investments in repairing and modernizing our water and wastewater systems to reduce loss and increase efficiency, ensuring we can handle growth without waste or strain on the system. Also explore the use of novel technologies to identify locations of potential leakage and priortize repair. This can only occur if we begin to address the sprawling nature of our infrastructure.
Work with the province to continue to advance water reuse legislation allowing for a broader use of stormwater, greywater, etc.
Heather McRae | The Calgary Party
We know Calgary’s water system is already under strain. Last year’s Bearspaw South Feeder Main failure was a wake-up call — and with over 22% of our treated water lost to leakage (compared to less than 5% in Edmonton), the status quo is unsustainable
That’s why we are calling for the creation of a modern, publicly owned water utility — independent, accountable, and run by experts. This model, proven in cities like Edmonton (EPCOR) and even with ENMAX here in Calgary, would:
Protect long-term water security: Invest in preventative maintenance and monitor risks to avoid catastrophic failures.
Advance sustainable growth: Integrate water infrastructure planning with housing, transit, and community development to avoid overloading our rivers and aquifers.
Reduce hidden costs: Replace today’s site levies — a $12,000+ “hidden water tax” on each new home — with fair, utility-based financing that spreads costs across decades.
Ensure transparency and accountability: Require the utility to publish clear performance benchmarks and capital plans, overseen by regulators and open to the public.
As Calgary adds more than 100,000 new residents each year, collaboration with regional partners will be critical. We will lead joint watershed protection, risk-mapping, and investment planning across the Bow and Elbow Rivers, ensuring Calgary’s growth never undermines our shared water resources.
7️⃣How will you ensure recommendations from Calgarians including residents, frontline communities, environmental groups, and city staff are meaningfully considered in Council decisions?
David Barrett
As someone who has been volunteering and working hard in these areas, I understand the wealth of knowledge that residents, non-profits, and advocates bring to the table. I commit to working closely and continuously with these people and organizations alongside experts within and external to the City of Calgary organization.
Empower city appointed committees such as the climate advisory committee to provide more input directly to council members, with frequent opportunities to take part in policy development, refinement, and advocacy. I believe that by leveraging collective expertise and knowledge, we can get the City meaningfully moving towards its climate targets.
Heather McRae | The Calgary Party
We will rebuild trust in City Hall by ensuring engagement is real and transparent. That means:
Expanding proactive engagement with residents, frontline groups, and experts at the start of planning processes.
Requiring Council to publicly report on how community recommendations were incorporated (or why they weren’t).
Strengthening two-way communication with community associations and advisory panels so input shapes decisions, not just checkboxes.