• Thirty-one candidates respond to the CTF’s five questions

CALGARY, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released the results of its Calgary mayoral and aldermanic election survey. Four of nine mayoral candidates and 27 of 49 aldermanic candidates responded.

The full results of the survey can be found here: http://taxpayer.com/media/CTF%20Calgary%20Candidate%20Survey%20Results.pdf

Candidates were asked five short questions to help inform CTF supporters and the broader public.

• 75% of candidates commit to opposing public funding for a replacement of the Saddledome with only 9% of candidates supporting, and 16% unclear.
• 69% of candidates support limiting property tax increases to the rate of inflation (CPI), 22% do not, and 9% were unclear.
• 84% of candidates support limiting city employee compensation by the rate of inflation (CPI), only 3% are opposed and 13% were unclear.
• 72% of candidates support returning the “provincial tax room” to taxpayers in the next budget, 19% are opposed, and 9% were unclear.
• 88% of candidates promised to disclose if they have received donations from unions doing business with the city before election day, 9% would not, and 3% were unclear.

“Overall, we’re pleased with the majority of responses that we’ve received back from candidates. This will allow CTF supporters and other voters make an informed decision on election day,” said CTF Alberta Director Derek Fildebrandt. “We’re planning on keeping a close eye on candidates after the election to hold them to their word.”

“Based on the results of the survey, we’re hopeful the next council will be able to keep a lid on tax hikes, wage hikes and won’t be pocketing the so-called ‘tax room’ that should go back to taxpayers,” continued Fildebrandt.

Mayor Nenshi did not giving a straight ‘yes’ or ‘no to any of five questions asked and was unclear in his answers regarding public funding of a new NHL arena and limiting employee raises to the rate of inflation. He was also opposed to limiting tax increases to the rate of inflation and returning the “provincial tax room” to taxpayers next year.

Jon Lord will not commit to releasing donations from unions doing business with the city before the election. Lord answered ‘positively’ towards four out of five questions.

“Getting straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions from politicians is like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall.” Fildebrandt concluded, “We have done our best to allow candidates to express themselves accurately within the confines of a broad survey. Overall, I think most candidates were able to do that.”

The full results of the survey can be found here: http://taxpayer.com/media/CTF%20Calgary%20Candidate%20Survey%20Results.pdf