Voters probably should know who is asking me what and why, and what my answers are. Therefore I am making the survey questions and my answers available here.
For some context as to how we came to have a Chamber in Edmonton that is very politically active please check the following link.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_F._Powell_Jr.#Powell_Memorandum,_1971
Survey Response
Dear Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Policy Team
Thank you for the questions. Here are my short answers —
What are your top priorities for Edmonton’s council?
Getting the big money out of politics is my top priority. I want to build a caring economy with love and respect for everyone and our planet. For more please check our platform — https://www.briangregg.com/platform
I want to encourage City Council to neither hamper nor pamper business. In my business experience I have found that business people are sure to take care of themselves even to the extent of lobbying government to pamper them. Our City has been home to many great business people.
What are your ideas to support vibrancy downtown following the pandemic?
We need to invest in public luxuries. More parks more free gathering spaces for non-commercial public events. Free fun is the future of a vibrant downtown.
What solutions do you propose to address housing, homelessness and addictions?
Lets start with addictions. We need to elect a federal government that will decriminalize drugs and provide clinics to support addicts with a safe supply and counselling. I recommend that we elect the first NDP Federal Government. Jagmeet Singh is the only leader who will do that.
Blaming bloated management and privatizing away good jobs are mean picky attempts to find a solution. The revenue problem again is stemming from bad tax policy at the Federal and Provincial level. For over 40 years Conservative and Liberal Governments have lowered taxes on the rich. They have cut services to the bone not leaving any room to deal with emergencies. The wealth gap has mushroomed to a point that is ridiculous. I have to speak up about the importance of electing better governments that are not going to be bullied by the constant lobbying from those who want to pay less tax but should be paying more.
We need to build affordable and low income housing in every neighbourhood to balance the city. We need to have a housing first program as the foundation for a social safety net that as studies show, will save us huge cost in the long run.
What action will you take to improve red tape and permitting delays at city hall?
The Mayor cannot just take action. Council together does. What is the rush? How many projects reduce our carbon footprint?
Red tape is not the problem. Too many applications from too many developers trying to capitalize on opportunities made available by sweetheart tax responsibilities. At the same time the lack of revenue from low taxes does not allow the city to hire more staff to deal with the overload. I don’t think we can have it both ways. Low taxes equals low service. High taxes equals high service. Nothing is perfect. There will always be some waste. It becomes a waste in itself to focus too much energy on eliminating all waste.
For too long in Alberta, booms have been induced by promoting low taxes and cheap labour. Promoting high wages and high taxes will enable steady sustainable growth.
What is your plan to support an inclusive economic recovery?
We do not need a recovery. We need a renewal. We have been living in a mean and cruel economy as I said, that is based on cheap labour and low taxes. If a business cannot profit without cheap labour and low taxes perhaps they should find a new enterprise.
Long range I want to see the city move to the 15 minute neighbourhood where every community has a community hub that has free services for those in need. Not a few big centres but a hub in every community providing a few emergency shelter beds that are never full and where people are transitioned out in a matter of days to more permanent shelter, a 24/7 medical clinic, a 24/7 soup kitchen a 24/7 library school with computer terminals. Again this requires better Federal and Provincial governments that understand the need to tax more fairly to generate the revenue for these services that, when invested in, will pay back hugely in the long run.
Given the large difference between non-residential tax rates in the City of Edmonton and surrounding municipalities, what will you do you ensure the City of Edmonton is a competitive place for business?
This is a matter that needs either a dictate from the provincial government to equalize tax rates across regions or for regions to cooperate to do so. Competing in a tax race to the bottom is so short sighted and serves only to drive down revenues and services for all.
How can voters learn more about you and your vision for the city? (Please limit this answer to links to your webpage and social media.)
Vote Breezy For Mayor October 18, 2021
