Council Candidacy Question and Answer Canmore 2021

Hello readers, I have been receiving inquiries from many people these days as they wanted to get to know what are my values and intention for the community. If you have questions, please feel free to message them to me through the chat button or email it to me at jynforcouncil@gmail.com.

THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Question: What are your primary goals to help Canmore grow into a more sustainable community that is faced with the threat of climate change? (asked by Jonah and Kael, Grade 11 students from Canmore Collegiate)

Answer: Every day, we learn about various actions we can take against climate change. We understand that every small action and choice collectively has a significant impact on the health of our planet. We could ban single-use plastics, encourage everyone to find alternatives to using cars, and educate each other on conserving energy, among other measures. We know what needs to be done, but the real challenge lies in putting these ideas into action. Above all, we need to spread kindness to each other, our environment, and our planet. Even in times of uncertainty about what to do, the spirit of compassion will guide us.

To explain why, I come from the Philippines, where I've firsthand witnessed the effects of climate change. We face extreme weather, with the number and intensity of typhoons increasing each year. When my little brother was only three days old, a storm blew away our roof, and we huddled in the corner of our destroyed house, waiting for the storm to pass. We were fortunate to survive that ordeal. Furthermore, I've lost count of how many times school was canceled due to flooding. Additionally, pollution has contributed to a shorter life expectancy for the local population. I often think my grandparents might still be alive and proud of my achievements had they lived in a healthier environment. My family is lucky to have moved to Canada for a better life. We're also fortunate in Canada because we haven't experienced the full wrath of climate change as intensely as I have. It's crucial for us all to recognize that climate change is a universal threat, and we are all responsible for addressing it.

THREE SISTERS MOUNTAIN VILLAGE (TSMV)

Question: Could you give a brief summary of your views and plans surrounding the Three Sister Mountain Village Area Plan? (asked by Jonah and Kael, Grade 11 students from Canmore Collegiate)

Answer: Because we live in an area that's home to lots of wildlife, it's really important for us to take care of the environment. The animals were here before us, so we need to respect their home. We learned something cool at artsPlace from some Indigenous elders: the phrase "Wazin Ichinabi," which means "we are one" or "I am one with you." It reminds us that we're all connected - not just to each other but to nature too.

The plan to expand Canmore, like what's proposed for the Three Sisters Mountain Village, isn't a great idea for our environment. Grizzly bears, for example, need a lot of space to roam. Their families need to mix and mingle to stay healthy. If we block their way, they could disappear forever. Plus, this area has old mines underneath, making the ground unstable. Building a village here could be dangerous because the land might collapse. We shouldn't risk people's safety.

Instead, I'm asking everyone, from kids to grown-ups, to help protect our environment. Why not pick up some litter in your area when you have time? You don't need to tell everyone about the good things you do. It's even cooler to do them just because it's the right thing to do.

MUNICIPAL RESORT STATUS

Question: Given the unsuccessful attempts for two decades to lobby the province to achieve resort municipality status, how would candidates go about advocating the province in the short- and long-term to potentially achieve resort municipality status? Short of achieving the status, are there other potential ideas within the legal confines of a municipality that could help the Town of Canmore when it comes to raising increased revenue from visitation to help with increased infrastructure costs? (Question by RMO with 250-word limit on answer) Answer: Thank you for this great question, as it brings attention to the important issue of resort municipality status. It's key for our taxpayers to know why this matter is so crucial. Even though Canmore welcomes a large number of tourists, we're not officially recognized as a tourist municipality. This means we can't collect a special tax from tourists to help cover our town's expenses. Right now, it's our residents and local businesses who foot the bill for the infrastructure and services that tourists use when they visit Canmore. There's an additional fee collected from visitors through hotel charges, but that money goes to the province, not directly to our town. If we were able to impose a dedicated tourist tax, it could significantly ease the tax burden on our residents and potentially make housing more affordable.

We're not the only ones dealing with this challenge; Jasper and Banff are in the same boat. The CAO of Canmore mentioned we were on the brink of achieving this status during the planning for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. However, the bid's failure, the 2019 Alberta elections, and the pandemic have all delayed progress on this issue. The new Council needs to prioritize this, not only to improve affordability for residents but also to strengthen our negotiations with the provincial government alongside Banff and Jasper. British Columbia has similar initiatives, so it's certainly feasible for Alberta. Meanwhile, our town could seek a provincial grant to temporarily support our municipal expenses.

Love Your Lake - Community cleanup drive on Sept 26 2021 initiated by Town of Canmore, Bow Valley SPCA, Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley and WildSmart.