Freeze Property Taxes

Ward 5 homeowners have faced 7.2% higher property tax increases than the city average since 2021 (City of Calgary 2023 Assessment Data), while 23% of small businesses in NE Calgary now pay over $10,000 annually in city fees and taxes (CFIB 2024 Report). Meanwhile, the city operating budget grew $587 million (14%) since 2020, even as road maintenance budgets were cut (City Financial Statements).

We demand an immediate 2-year property tax freeze for primary residences, reform of the unfair assessment model, a comprehensive audit of all city departments targeting waste (including the $6 million art budget exposed by CBC Calgary in 2023), and a cap on business tax increases at the inflation rate.  

Public Safety Crisis Response

Ward 5 has suffered a 12% increase in property crime (2023 CPS Annual Report) with police response times for Priority 2 calls now 42% longer than in 2019 (Calgary Police Commission Data). Shockingly, only 3 community patrol officers cover all of NE Calgary (City Council Minutes, February 2024). Our plan funds 4 additional CPS beat officers for Ward 5, installs 50 new CCTV cameras in high-crime areas like Marlborough Mall and Temple Drive, expands DOAP Team coverage to 7 days a week, and implements mandatory minimum fines for repeat vandalism offenders.  

Fix our Roads & Infrustr

With 39% of Ward 5 roads rated "poor" or "very poor" (City Infrastructure Report 2023) and our ward ranking third in the city for pothole complaints (311 Service Data 2022-24), we propose a Pothole Repair Guarantee with 48-hour response for Priority 1 reports. Our accelerated 3-year paving plan focuses on key routes including 52 Avenue NE in Monterey Park, 32 Street NE in Marlborough, and Ogden Road SE, while creating a dedicated sidewalk repair fund for seniors' routes to transit, addressing the 17% of sidewalks that remain non-ADA compliant (City Accessibility Audit 2023).