Ward 9 Candidate CERT Questionnaire Responses and Podcast Forum
Learn about your candidates for Ward 9 in the City of Calgary
TUNE IN LIVE-LIVE on October 3 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!
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.
TUNE IN on October 3 at 12 pm MST, listen to your candidates for mayor 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, For Our Kids Alberta, and Solar Alberta.
FOLLOW The Gravity Well on Substack, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Bluesky.
Your Ward 9 Candidates’ Answers
Answers and video transcripts collected from Ward 9 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?
Alison Karim-McSwiney
The first step is to determine where and how resources and money are being allocated and spent. Currently, there is a significant budget that has been allocated to address the climate emergency but no plan has been provided to elected officials. To make progress a clear plan needs to be created. I will endeavor to ensure that objectives are met and tracked.
Ariana Kippers | 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?
Alison Karim-McSwiney
These are extremely important issues to me and I will make a priority of working with new developments and planners to incorporate effective strategies that could include grey water recycling, xenoscaping while prioritizing the protection of trees, native flora, water sources and natural habitat.
Ariana Kippers | 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?
Alison Karim-McSwiney
I would be in favor and working with other levels of government if necessary to protect wildlife. As stated in the White Paper I would also work to explore or continue partnerships with with organizations such as the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the Climate Innovation Fund, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities who might support investments into corporate and community climate projects and help leverage private investment.
I would also consider lending initiatives that could include financing programs such as the Clean Energy Improvement Program and credit enhancement programs (e.g., loan guarantees or loan loss reserves) that could facilitate public and private investments into the community.
Ariana Kippers | 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?
Alison Karim-McSwiney
People who have worked with me know my passion in this area. I’m an approved practitioner of Just Communities. Poverty is toxic and if we can increase affordability I would be delighted if it falls within the municipal responsibility. If it is outside of this I would advocate for Ward 9 residents to other levels of government as per residents requests.
Ariana Kippers | 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?
Alison Karim-McSwiney
While Enmax does have district energy, solar and wind power. It would certainly be advantageous for the corporation to continue working toward increasing climate friendly energy practices whenever possible and pivoting away from coal generated power.
Ariana Kippers | 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?
Alison Karim-McSwiney
Water is a precious resource and necessary for all life forms. We require further research into state of the art approaches. Grey water recycling for example would lessen water wastage.
Ariana Kippers | 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?
Alison Karim-McSwiney
In many ways, this is the primary reasons that I’m running. In my extensive work with Ward 9 communities over the last three decades I watched as all-too-often community leaders concerns were ignored. Impactful decisions were made without any meaningful community engagement. Anyone who has worked with me over the last three decades knows that I’m a team player. I listen, I engage with the community and then I work to collaboratively lead impactful change. The kind of leadership that brought the transit-friendly mainstreet design to 17th Avenue SE, that helped to create Journey to Freedom Park and community events like Global Fest and East Town Get Down. As an elected representative I promise to take the same approach. I will listen and work for community.
Ariana Kippers | 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.