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CBC
11-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
As Calgary Party launches, Alberta's major cities brace for big change to local politics
Social Sharing The Calgary Party officially launched on Saturday, marking the beginning of a long road ahead introducing its candidates to voters around the city, amid a range of new party names on the ballot in this fall's municipal election. Alongside Communities First and A Better Calgary Party, the Calgary Party will vie for the mayoral and councillor seats as part of a major shift in local politics that Alberta's two biggest cities are undergoing. This fall's election will be the first in Calgary and Edmonton to include official political parties. The Calgary Party is a centrist party led by mayoral candidate Brian Thiessen. A lawyer and former chair of the Calgary Police Commission, Thiessen said the new party will run candidates in every ward who have agreed to develop policy and vote together on four key policy areas: public safety, housing, transit and critical infrastructure. Otherwise, he says the party won't whip votes on any other issues. "I think it was a sea change day for municipal politics in Calgary," Thiessen said on his party's launch. While he acknowledges political parties aren't a popular addition to local politics, Thiessen is optimistic about what his party can accomplish. He argued that if a party can get eight or more candidates elected, it will be able to follow through on election promises more effectively and efficiently by co-operating from day one, which he contrasted against Calgary's current council that is often criticized for its dysfunction. "I've talked to councillors who say it takes up to two years for council to get to know one another and learn how to work together. This one never did. We'll be working together on day one," Thiessen said. Calgary's political sea change Municipal parties are being introduced after new provincial legislation was unveiled last year in Bill 20, that among other things allowed parties and slates to run in Alberta's two biggest cities for mayoral and councillor seats. School boards are excluded from the change. Albertans have no idea what to expect from municipal party politics, said Duane Bratt, political science professor at Mount Royal University. He argues it will be difficult for voters to familiarize themselves with what these new parties offer and know what to expect from them. "People know what the NDP stands for, the Liberals stand for, the Conservatives stand for. Instead, we're going to get a whole bunch of parties with the word 'Calgary' in there," Bratt said. "[Federally], people have history and tradition to get a sense of where they stand. But A Better Calgary? The Calgary Party? What's the difference between those?" The Communities First party presents itself as more of a known commodity for voters, with Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp running for mayor and incumbent councillors Andre Chabot, Dan McLean and Terry Wong seeking to retain their seats under the party banner. Sharp said the party also won't be whipped, as its members may disagree, but they'll work to support each other's interests. Communities First has already pledged to work together to repeal blanket rezoning. Sharp said she initially had reservations about the introduction of political parties, but the idea has grown on her because she thinks co-operation between eight candidates is needed to accomplish anything at city hall. "We thought, why don't we build a unique caucus of like-minded individuals committed to individually representing our constituents," Sharp said. She added that Calgary has never seen a more divided council than the one it currently has, and she doesn't believe the same division will be seen with political parties. The third registered party is A Better Calgary, which launched last summer. Its organizers have said it intends to run on a platform of common sense and fiscal responsibility, and that it was formed out of frustration with decisions made by Calgary's current council. The party has not yet selected a mayoral candidate. Along with Calgary's three registered parties, the Principled Accountable Coalition for Edmonton party and Edmonton First slate are set to run in Alberta's capital. City councillor Tim Cartmell is also expected to launch the Better Edmonton party. While the practice is new in Alberta, other major Canadian cities like Vancouver and Montreal already have municipal political parties. While most of the focus around political parties may lie in the mayor's race, Bratt is interested to see how the successful candidate's victory will influence the make-up of council around them. "Where it could impact are councillors that are directly affiliated by party status with a mayoral candidate, and so we'll have to see if they've got coattails," Bratt said. Most of the discussion around this shift in municipal politics has revolved around campaigns, but Bratt said not enough focus has been given to the way parties could shift how councils govern. He added that voters don't know whether to expect voting discipline once parties are in power, or whether city hall will see opposition party leaders. Independent pushback Some independents running in this fall's election are skeptical about the addition of parties. Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek is set to run as an independent when she seeks re-election, and she's called political parties "the kiss of death for local representation." Former city councillors Jeff Davison and Jeromy Farkas are two other mayoral candidates who currently aren't running under party banners. Farkas said he opposes a "takeover of city hall" by political parties. He added that the level of dysfunction and vitriol that can be seen between parties at various levels of government in Canada and the U.S. should be a warning for Albertans. He added that instead of partisan politics, voters want to see council work across ideological divides to push good ideas forward. "When you have an environment of party politics where an idea is judged based on the jersey colour rather than is it a good idea or is it what Calgarians need, I think we all suffer," Farkas said. The 2025 municipal elections in Alberta are scheduled for Oct. 20.
Calgary Herald
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Gian-Carlo Carra not running for re-election after four terms on Calgary city council
Another of Calgary's veteran city councillors said he won't be seeking another term in office this fall. Article content Article content In his Ward 9 newsletter on Friday, Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra confirmed he won't run for re-election in this year's municipal vote, while also endorsing mayoral candidate Brian Thiessen and his Calgary Party. Article content 'It is with wistfulness, but also clear conviction and fierce pride, that I announce my decision not to seek a fifth term as Ward 9's city councillor this October,' he wrote. Article content Article content Carra was first elected in Ward 9, which includes several inner-city neighbourhoods that straddle both sides of Deerfoot Trail, in 2010. He is currently serving his fourth term, representing a diverse range of communities that include Inglewood, Bridgeland and Ogden on the west side of the freeway, and Radisson Heights, Dover and Forest Heights on the east side. Article content Article content He also touted his efforts to tackle historic injustices in the city, in areas such as systemic racism and gender equality. Article content Carra said championing the $180-million revitalization of International Avenue will be remembered as his favourite achievement as a councillor, while the failed bid for Calgary to host the 2026 Winter Olympics was his biggest disappointment. Article content Article content 'I entered council representing east Calgary communities that I think have done an oversized job in building the city we live in today but were significantly underinvested in. I think I've significantly reversed that trend,' he said. Article content But he lamented the current state of politics and took aim at all three levels of government for descending into 'anger, fear and division.' Article content 'I was elected in a beautiful moment in time alongside Naheed Nenshi,' Carra said. 'It was an age of politics in full sentences. Article content 'I think unfortunately, more and more politicians are stepping up to play a game of politics rather than govern.' Article content Article content Carra joins a growing list of councillors who have confirmed they won't run this October, including fellow veteran Peter Demong, and first-term colleagues Evan Spencer, Jasmine Mian and Courtney Walcott. Article content He said he agreed with Mian who announced, during a council meeting, her decision to step down due to growing political gamesmanship, particularly when it came to the province's interference in the Green Line project.
Calgary Herald
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
After four terms on council, Gian-Carlo Carra calling it a day
Article content Another of Calgary's veteran city councillors said he won't be seeking another term in office this fall. Article content Article content In his Ward 9 newsletter on Friday, Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra confirmed he won't run for re-election in this year's municipal vote, while also endorsing mayoral candidate Brian Thiessen and his Calgary Party. Article content 'It is with wistfulness, but also clear conviction and fierce pride, that I announce my decision not to seek a fifth term as Ward 9's city councillor this October,' he wrote. Article content Article content Carra was first elected in Ward 9, which includes several inner-city neighbourhoods that straddle both sides of Deerfoot Trail, in 2010. He is currently serving his fourth term, representing a diverse range of communities that include Inglewood, Bridgeland and Ogden on the west side of the freeway, and Radisson Heights, Dover and Forest Heights on the east side. Article content Article content He also touted his efforts to tackle historic injustices in the city, in areas such as systemic racism and gender equality. Article content Carra said championing the $180-million revitalization of International Avenue will be remembered as his favourite achievement as a councillor, while the failed bid for Calgary to host the 2026 Winter Olympics was his biggest disappointment. Article content Article content 'I entered council representing east Calgary communities that I think have done an oversized job in building the city we live in today but were significantly underinvested in. I think I've significantly reversed that trend,' he said. Article content But he lamented the current state of politics and took aim at all three levels of government for descending into 'anger, fear and division.' Article content 'I was elected in a beautiful moment in time alongside Naheed Nenshi,' Carra said. 'It was an age of politics in full sentences. Article content 'I think unfortunately, more and more politicians are stepping up to play a game of politics rather than govern.' Article content Article content Carra joins a growing list of councillors who have confirmed they won't run this October, including fellow veteran Peter Demong, and first-term colleagues Evan Spencer, Jasmine Mian and Courtney Walcott. Article content He said he agreed with Mian who announced, during a council meeting, her decision to step down due to growing political gamesmanship, particularly when it came to the province's interference in the Green Line project.
CTV News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Ward 9 Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra announces he will not run in fall election
Calgary Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra announced Friday that he's stepping out of the political spotlight but not necessarily leaving the arena. In a newsletter to his Ward 9 constituents, Carra said he made the decision not to run for re-election 'with wistfulness, but also clear conviction and fierce pride.' When he was first elected in 2010, Carra said his mission was to transform how the city grows with great neighbourhoods. 'Over the past 15 years, we have settled the question of whether growth can pay for itself,' he said. 'We've learned that the best city-building happens through collaboration between public and private investment. 'I am fiercely proud of the historic investments made in Ward 9 over the course of my tenure – from transit, active modes, Main Streets, and industrial sector mobility improvements, to parks, playgrounds, recreation facilities, cultural institutions, non-market housing and other critical infrastructure. 'I would confidently put Ward 9's record of investment during my time in office alongside that of any councillor in Calgary's history.' In 2015, the Canadian Institute of Planners held a competition to identify its annual 'great places in Canada' competition and declared Inglewood, one of the areas Carra represented, to be Canada's Greatest Neighbourhood. 'A great neighbourhood to visit,' they said, 'but also, and perhaps most importantly, a great neighourhood to live.' In the newsletter, he said he will now work with the Calgary Party, one of the city's new municipal political parties, to help get its mayoral candidate, Brian Thiessen, elected.
