Response to an email: Tourism, Downtown, Zoning, Growth, Housing

How specifically would you promote Red Deer?  ie:  tourism, economic growth? 
 
As a city councillor, I could promote tourism by making downtown safer with more peace officers in the summer and volunteers walking around to welcome and help visitors. I want to grow downtown with more shops and places to live, while supporting festivals, attractions, and local businesses. I’d also support kiosks in Parkland Mall and Bower Mall to encourage people to explore downtown, and promote the return to natural landscaping of excess green spaces in our parks to reduce maintenance costs.

Naturally as Council we should continue to support the Downtown Area Business Association and Tourism Red Deer's efforts while doing what we can financially, within reason, for Westerner Park, Heritage Ranch and other 'tourism' venues in our city. 

While the temporary grace period provides necessary relief, the City cannot absorb this as a loss. Repayments on the $19 million Westerner Exhibition Association (WEA) loan will have to recommence in April 2027, ensuring fiscal responsibility and protecting taxpayer interests.

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Tailored zoning—like a localized development corridor—protects heritage areas, streamlines permits and red tape, and avoids controversies like Clearview North/Ridge’s A-1 zoning. Economic growth starts with proactive planning and clear zoning. Vacant lots within Red Deer should have completed environmental assessments and nearby infrastructure ready to support development.

​In the case of Clearview Ridge/North the city owned the parcel of land, sold it to developers, and then the developers came back with a plan on how to develop it. We should have that 'zoning' defined years before the developers even see the parcel of land available. 

While private owners are responsible for their properties, working with the city allows them to provide potential buyers with clear information on what can be built, what services and utilities can handle, and the future growth potential of the area—speeding up sales and reducing uncertainty.

Would you buy an empty lot in Red Deer if you knew exactly what could be built, the infrastructure capacity, and any environmental considerations? I would. The city should also improve construction and development notifications, expanding advisement from 100 metres to 300 metres so residents and neighbouring streets are fully informed of projects that may affect their daily lives.


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How specifically would you address safety and policing? 
 
As a city councillor, I want to improve certain areas—not to displace anyone to the trees, but to provide better shelters and support services that help people off the streets. There is already land available that could be used for temporary housing options, like small-scale units instead of high-rises, to help people transition back into society. I hope to collaborate with local leadership, community organizations, and provincial partners to explore making this a reality. 

I also want to explore more local control over policing when our RCMP contract comes up and support programs that let young offenders, aged 14–20, do community work as restitution instead of just paying fines.


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How specifically would you address homelessness?  ie:  There are a number of mobile home parks in Red Deer, and all charge exorbitant lot rent, without consideration of the tenants income, or disability status.  Other cities base lot rent on income level for disabled people. 

How would you address this concern,  particularly due to the recent announcement of a cut-back in income support for the disabled?

Regarding homelessness and income support, I’m not sure how mobile home parks directly relate to homelessness, as these parks are privately owned and the city cannot set or control lot rent. The city can, however, inspect conditions and require improvements, though this can sometimes lead to higher costs for tenants.

I did comment on rent control the other day on my website and Facebook, here’s what I said: “Making Renting in Red Deer More Transparent - The City of Red Deer cannot control how much landlords charge for rent—that’s set by Alberta’s Residential Tenancies Act. Rent control is provincial law, so the city has no authority to set prices.

However, the city can make renting more fair and transparent. One idea is a voluntary rental registry where landlords list each of their properties.

This could include:
- Current rent charged
- Average rent for similar units
- Whether units are available or empty

For example, while the city reports a 1.6% vacancy rate, my building was 33% empty for months. Accurate reporting is essential. Landlords or property managers who don’t provide their information should still be listed, with a clear note that they have not reported and are not being transparent.

When tenants and the public can see this information, it can help make rents more reasonable. Landlords may be less likely to overcharge if everyone can compare prices and see real vacancies.

The city can also:
- Ensure rental units are safe and well-maintained through inspections
- Educate tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities
- Share public reports about landlords who ignore rules or maintenance standards
- Recognize responsible landlords to encourage better practices

By collecting and sharing this information in one place, the city can increase transparency and accountability in the rental market—all while staying within the law..”


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Regarding "income support for disabled residents", the maximum Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD) benefit as of January 2025 is $1,673 per month, with the average around $1,539. CPPD does not cover services like basic dental care, eye exams and glasses, prescription drugs, essential diabetic supplies, or emergency ambulance services. That's it.

I personally receive $1,440* per month for CPPD/CBD/other (which I will, of course, forgo as a Councillor) while my rent, insurance and electricity alone cost $1,095* per month.
 
AISH recipients currently receive $1,901* per month, with some receiving up to $2,300*. In 2027, this will be reduced to $1,740* per month. In addition to the monthly support, AISH covers essential services such as basic dental care, eye exams and glasses, prescription drugs, essential diabetic supplies, and emergency ambulance services. It also provides timely support for a special diet, emergencies, medical equipment and supplies, employment and training costs, and moving to a new residence.

While some may see recent changes to federal or provincial supports as reductions, I believe it is fair for the province to adjust overlapping benefits, as recipients continue to receive meaningful support. It’s important to acknowledge the help that is provided, while also recognizing that living on these amounts can still be very challenging.

Provincial support in Alberta includes Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL), and the Residential Access Modification Program (RAMP).

Local support in Red Deer includes the City of Red Deer Fee Assistance Program, Red Deer County Fee Assistance Program, Cosmos Disability Support & Services, the Opportunities Fund – EPSS, Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) Services, and the Red Deer Housing Authority's Rental Assistance Benefit (RAB) and Temporary Rental Assistance Benefit (TRAB) programs.

I support the program that lowers city transit fees for seniors, people with disabilities, and other low-income residents. However, since I don’t use the bus every day, the monthly pass didn’t really help me. I would have liked to see the discount applied to per-ride tickets as well, because I wasn’t going to pay $34 just to ride a few times in a month.


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“Other cities base lot rent on income level for disabled people”

Municipalities in Alberta do not directly set rent based on tenants’ income unless they own the park - like Calgary (South Hill Mobile Home Park), Red Deer County (Melody Meadows, Waskasoo Estates, Salem Acres, South Park, Spruce View, and Kountry Meadows) and Kneehill County (Torrington Mobile Home Park) does. It is something Red Deer could consider, but I personally don't believe that Municipalities should be in the real estate business.

Private property owners can designate a portion of their properties as “affordable income,” which can give them additional benefits from government programs. In Red Deer, programs like the Housing Accelerator Fund, the Affordable Housing Partnership Program, and the Permanent Supportive Housing Capital Grant Program help fund and support new affordable housing developments through partnerships with private and non-profit organizations.
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