BOMA Calgary

Industry Members Define Their Election Issues

The election seems to mirror the late-August weather here in Calgary: full of smoke and no clear vision.  Perhaps the legions of City Council and Mayoral hopefuls are laying low in the bushes  waiting for the other guy to come out first with their platform.  What a silly way to seek public office.  If you have a vision, if you have a plan, if you stand for something, then have the courage to speak.  Leaders must be brave, but the candidates seem to be very timid in articulating what exactly it is they stand for, and exactly what it is they would seek to accomplish if elected to civic office.  Perhaps they underestimate the value of that single vote.  Certainly I don’t give my vote up without careful consideration and reflection as to congruency with my own personal vision for Calgary.  Perhaps it is this willful reluctance on the part of candidates that keeps 80% of the electorate away from the polling statioins.  Is their way of saying: “Sorry folks, but you guys and what you say just doesn’t interest me.”  Could be.

While BC was burning, BOMA Calgary members were communicating their thoughts on Calgary’s election issues as seen from the perspective of an industry member.  In our survey, which was available in June through mid-August, BOMA member were asked to indicate if they thought Calgary was a better place to live and to do business since the 2007 election.  You might say it was their commentary on how they percieved the civic leaders’ collective performance.

I will summarize the findings of the survey, which was anwered by 11% of members, and therefore is statisically valid.

1. When you reflect upon the overall quality of life in Calgary today versus 2007, the time of the last election, do you think our city is a better place to live?

• 29.1% Said yes.
• 36.7% Said no.
• 25.3% Said no change. (But this could mean no change from “good” or “bad” depending on perception.)

2. Thinking about the business climate today versus three years ago, (E.g. municipal tax rates, “red tape”, investment climate, etc.), do you think Calgary is a better city now in which to conduct business than in 2007?

• It’s Better 7.6%
• It’s Worse 50.6%
• No change – it’s still OK 20.3%
• No change – it’s still poor 12.7%

3. Thinking about the spending priorities and fiscal management of the City of Calgary today versus three years ago, do you think Calgary is better managed than in 2007?

• Yes – 10.1%
• No – 73.4%
• No Change – 7.6%

4. In your opinion, what is the number 1 competency the new mayor and City Council should possess?

• Solid finanical management – 29.1%
• Inspiring leadership – 8.9%
• Prinicpled decision making – 6.3%
• Clear vision, plan and priorities – 27.8%
• Good communications and listening skills – 3.8%
• Transperency and Accountability – 7.6%
• Courage to make tough choices – 6.3%
• High level strategic thinking – 10.1%

So there you have it.  This is what members said.  But it was not all bad news and it is incumbent upon me to report the positives as well.  Most notably there was a perceived and significant increase in Public Safety. (Thank you Chief Hanson)  As well, there were modest gains in terms of environmental management, housing affordability (probably more due to the tanking of  the economy than any deliberate action of Council), and improvements in transportation, mostly interchanges and West LRT.

But in the open-ended questions, respondents noted that the red tape at City Hall is very cumbersome and the administration is more of a barrier to creativity and innovation by industry rather than an enabler.  There were the predictable negative comments about tax burden, but more significantly there was concern over the value received for that tax dollar, and the lack of real or genuine accountability for those expenditures.  Lastly, the respondents indicated they did not beleive that Council was accessible enough, nor was there meaningful opportunities to provide Council with input.  Several respondents complained about Aldermen not returning calls, letters, email, etc. 

So, candidates, there you have it.  This is what industry members had to say about where we are after 3 years of the current City Council.

I suspect that platforms will roll out after Labour Day and in the run down to the election, it will be interesting to see what comes out from the aspiring Council Members.  Fluff or substance.  I want much less of the former and a whole lot of the latter.  I think my vote is important.  Do they?