Canmore’s council and mayoral candidates participated in their first byelection forum on Tuesday (June 5).
Hosted by the Bow Corridor Organization for Responsible Development (BowCORD) and the Bow Valley Clean Air Society on World Environment Day and Canadian Clean Air Day, the focus was on the environment and candidates answered two set questions. As well, they responded to questions from the gallery.
Victor Zablotni was unable to participate in the environmental forum, or a tourism forum held Wednesday (June 6) due to the death of a family friend. In a short statement read aloud by environmental forum moderator Anne Wilson, Zablotni said he had no plans to withdraw from the race for a council seat. However, Zablotni indicated he would be at both the CAUSE Canada and BOWDA all-candidate forums.
The CAUSE Canada forum on social issues will be held at the Canmore Seniors’ Association Drop-in Centre Monday (June 11) at 7:30 p.m., while the BOWDA forum on building and development issues is scheduled to take place at Silvertip Golf Resort Tuesday (June 12) at 7 p.m. Anyone attending the BOWDA forum, which is open to the public, is asked to email Ron Remple at [email protected] to register. Questions for the candidates participating in the BOWDA forum can also be emailed to Remple.
On Tuesday, the environmental forum kicked off with the following:
Do you support applying municipal setbacks from environmentally sensitive areas, including wildlife corridors, habitat patches and watercourses, without exception? And two, would you require an independent review of environmental impact statements
Ed Russel (mayor hopeful)
“I voted for the shortening of the setback at the Opera House building at Spring Creek and saved the town $500,000. To arbitrarily say you support applying municipal setbacks without exception doesn’t work.”
Pam Hilstad (mayor hopeful)
“Sometimes there are mitigating circumstances, but my preference is to stick to what the municipal development plan says. I don’t have a problem with independent environmental assessments.”
John Borrowman (mayor hopeful)
“I’m a clear advocate for environmental impact statements and am a champion of environmental stewardship. I also have a clear record of supporting setbacks and the supporting documents.”
Karen Greene
“Once land is developed, we can’t protect it. I support setbacks but occasionally there might be exceptions. I support environmental reviews of all projects.”
Jason Best
“I can’t accept environmental impact statements without exceptions. There should be independent environmental reviews of projects. But the Municipal Development Plan is very old and needs to be updated.”
Rob Seeley
“I think Canmore has done a very good job and continues to do a good job. There is a lot of really good information and we’ve had a lot of wins with our recycling and our integrity and we all want to do the right thing and I think we have done a good job. Without exception? There’s always an exception, so I think we have to be careful of that. We want to do the right thing; however, there are exceptions to that.”
Vi Sandford
“We should follow the recommendations of the municipal development plan and I think those recommendations were made with good consideration, good science and good input from people who have a consideration of the concerns, so I would support the minimum setbacks from ESAs (environmentally sensitive areas).”
James Louden
“To the south of Canmore we have wildlife corridors. To the north we have wildlife corridors and in the middle is a big block of Swiss cheese called Canmore and the animals have to get through this town somehow. Without exception, absolutely, I will support making sure these setbacks are maintained.”
Sean Krausert
“Absolutely, there should be environmental impact assessments done by qualified biologists. And we have to understand what could happen before it happens. With respect to the minimum setbacks… I think that absolutely most of the time we’re going to hold up those setbacks, but occasionally there is an exception.”
Shirley Ketterer
“Given the fact that most developers would have this information with respect to setbacks, it would be a hard sell on my part to give in to any exceptions. I’m thinking developers would work with us proactively to address any changes prior to requesting a setback.”
What is your position on changing the traffic lights on Railway Avenue to a roundabout to reduce vehicle idling and fuel consumption?
John Borrowman
“I approved the first roundabout. It was in doubt and not everyone was supportive, but I think it’s been a huge success. I would support the approval of other roundabouts and I’m an enthusiastic supporter.”
Pam Hilstad
“The roundabout is a great way of moving traffic, but we need to look at it from an engineering perspective. I support the discussion.”
Ed Russell
“As someone who drives it five times a day, I think the roundabout is the best thing that’s happened to us. If we can apply it to other intersections, it would be excellent. I would support more if engineering and the costs aren’t prohibitive.”
Jason Best
Roundabouts are a great idea and they’re fuel-efficient.
Karen Greene
I hope to be part of a council that supports roundabouts, but it must work with engineering and the budget.
Shirley Ketterer
“The left-hand turn in intersections is where you see most accidents, so I would say that for both environmental and air quality reasons and for safety I would support the roundabout.”
Sean Krausert
“Roundabouts meet my three ways test: economically, they save money in the long run, socially, they are much safer having only four points of potential contact compared to 16 and, from the environmental standpoint, there’s less fuel consumption and less air pollution and idling.”
James Louden
“I very much agree with roundabouts. It’s protecting the planet and the environment to a degree, but preferably you should park your car and walk or bike.”
Vi Sandford
“Our model of a roundabout is very simple and effective and appropriate for Canmore. I support and encourage roundabouts for Canmore.”
Rob Seeley
“I also support roundabouts and I’m big on infrastructure planning and when you plan a town, roundabouts do makes sense. I love our no-idling bylaw and any time you can save money and protect the environment, it makes sense. Roundabouts are a good thing.”
