Jobs, housing, and more among topics discussed at chamber all-candidates forum

“I think it’s important we, as residents, pick the best team for council because we need candidates that are going to do what’s best for us,” she said. “We need more accountability.”

There were a total of 24 candidates in attendance, including four mayoral candidates: Cindy Jefferies, Victor Doerksen, Lawrence Lee, and Gareth Scott. The fifth mayoral candidate, John Gallagher, was not in attendance.

The rest were city council candidates, including Chad Krahn, Calvin Yzerman, Gabriel Beck, Don Robinson, Kevin Klerks, Anthony Klywak, Jaelene Tweedle, Calvin Goulet-Jones, Christian Comete, Dianne Wyntjes, Adam Goodwin, Ashley MacDonald, Bruce Buruma, Buck Buchanan, Cassandra Curtis, Hans Huizing, Kraymer Barnstable, Thomas Sypkes, Tristin Brisbois, and Zainab Mohamoud.

Council candidates not in attendance included Brandon Bouchard, Greg Martin, Gail Parks, and Haley Wile.

The night began with every candidate delivering an opening statement, followed by the mayoral segment, where each candidate was asked the same three questions. They had one minute each to answer every question.

Each question focused on different topics including their vision to make Red Deer a place where businesses and people want to invest and stay.

Lawrence Lee explained he hopes to instruct a new framework around how they can build and develop better, saying if we build in a smart, affordable way, people will come to the community and thrive.

Meanwhile, Cindy Jefferies said it begins with a conversation with builders and developers in the community. She explained there are many things the municipal government can do better by working together.

Another question for the mayoral candidates was what concrete steps they would take to improve transparency and consistency in the city’s infrastructure investment plans?

Gareth Scott said he would introduce a prequalifying program that other cities have in place so that contractors who are interested in working with the city, the city know who’s qualified and who goes through the bidding process.

Victor Doerksen said it all starts with a proper capital plan that knows what we’re committed to, knows what we’re planning, and how they’re going to fund it.

Meantime, council candidates also answered multiple questions, followed by their final statements. The two-hour-long event wrapped up with rapid-fire questions at the end.

Some of the questions answered by council candidates were on improving housing affordability, the efficiency of the development and permitting process, and improving the city’s financial position, among others.

Another Red Deer resident, John Stuart, said he left feeling more prepared on who he hopes to vote for, but wished the candidates could have had more time to answer questions.

“Our previous council was quite dysfunctional at times, so I hope after the election whoever we vote in can be more efficient,” he said. “It’s in the best interest of the future of our community.”

by Ian Gustafson

Jobs, housing, and more among topics discussed at chamber all-candidates forum

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