Latest news with #RajDhaliwal
Hamilton Spectator
29-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Calgary graduates first class from revised peace officer program
Twenty-seven new peace officers, the first since the reform of Calgary's peace officer program, graduated into service on Friday. Calgary's 2025 – 04 Community Peace Officer Induction Program (CPOIP) class consisted of 14 Calgary Transit peace officers, 13 Calgary Community Safety peace officers, and two peace officers from Wheatland County and Banff Municipal Enforcement. The latter pair being the first officers who will serve out of town to have trained in Calgary. Ward 5 Councillor Raj Dhaliwal said that peace officers are integral pieces of the Calgary community. 'You're building relationships, working respect and helping create a city where everyone feels safe,' he told the graduating class. 'As a city council board member in one of the most dynamic and fastest growing cities, I know firsthand how much our communities rely on the visibility and dignity of police officers. Our residents deserve to feel secure and they deserve to be treated with fairness and dignity.' General Manager of Community Services for the City of Calgary, Katie Black, assured the graduating class that city workers are a family who look out for each other. Black said she was thrilled to have all 29 graduates as colleagues. Training began April 28, 2025. Training officers took part in two phases with the first being provincially standardized CPOIP training, which included relevant sections of the law, use-of-force, emergency vehicle operations, and RADAR/LiDAR use, among other skills. Phase one of the training included the officers from Wheatland County and Banff. Banff's Jonathan Mey, was one of the graduates from the July 25 ceremony. He said that he had been working towards the program after emigrating to Canada with his family in 2021, after serving as a detective constable with the South African Police Service. 'The instructors were exceptional, and the training was adapted to reflect our towns and situations we may come across. I know my father, who served 44 years in law enforcement but is sadly no longer with us, would be proud of what I've achieved.' Phase two put officers through department-specific training for Calgary Transit and Calgary Community Safety. 'It's incredibly rewarding to see officers from different communities come together, learn from one another and build lasting connections,' said CPOIP Training Sergeant Ian Stewart. 'This class brought a wide range of experience and perspectives, and we're proud to have helped prepare them for the important work ahead.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Calgary Herald
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Council supports hail resilience program — but no funding for it
A city-led hail resilience program received council's support on Tuesday, but local lawmakers stopped short of committing any funds toward it for the next four-year budget cycle. Article content The multi-pronged program was put forward earlier this month, in response to a notice of motion last year from Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal, asking the city to consider reinstating the Resilient Rooftop Rebate Program that was discontinued in 2022. Article content Article content Article content Dhaliwal's motion came after his northeast ward was pummeled by a series of supercell hailstorms last August. The hail damaged roughly 60,000 homes in Calgary and generated more than $3 billion in insurance claims, making it Canada's costliest weather event of 2024. Article content Article content Administration also proposed conducting a hail equity impact analysis to examine how hail damage has impacted socioeconomic inequity in certain vulnerable neighbourhoods. Article content Article content Article content Nicole Newton, the city's natural environment and adaptation manager, told council the network would foster collaboration between governments and the different sectors that deal with hail, including the insurance, real estate and building industries. Article content '(It's about) bringing those all together and having the right conversations around where does each responsibility start and stop and where does it overlap,' Newton said. Article content 'We would look to other municipalities and try to figure out other areas in North America and see what fits best with all the players at the table, and ensure we're taking the right strides in terms of advocacy, education initiatives and maybe different incentive programs.' Article content The recommendations also included having Mayor Jyoti Gondek pen a letter to the provincial government to implement a provincial grant program to support low-income households with their hail damage-related costs. The letter would also advocate for changes to the Municipal Government Act, allowing for hail protection upgrades to be included in the city's Clean Energy Improvement Program.
Global News
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Resilient roofing program helped Calgarians but rebate won't return
After years of devastating hailstorms leaving a trail of damaged neighbourhoods in their wake, the City of Calgary is looking at creating a new hail resiliency program. City administration is recommending the creation of a 'Hail Resilience Improvement Network', which would improve collaboration with builders and other partners to develop information and tools for Calgarians on hail resistant home upgrades. It also calls on investments into Calgary hail exposure maps to help with planning decision and 'strengthen advocacy efforts.' A 'Hail Equity Impact Analysis' would also be completed to assess how repeated hailstorms affect socioeconomic inequity in vulnerable communities, which would inform new policies and programs. 'As our weather patterns continue to change, severe hailstorms are expected to become more common, increasing the already high risk for existing homes,' the city said in a report. Story continues below advertisement 'As our city continues to grow outwards, we are also increasing this risk by building more unprotected homes in areas that are historically prone to hailstorms.' Last August's hailstorm in northeast Calgary resulted in an estimated $2.8 billion in damage to 58,802 properties. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy According to Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott, who chairs the city's Community Development Committee, the long-term plan is aimed at lobbying the provincial government to make several legislative changes. 'We're making sure that we're putting all the information together, getting the right groups in the room and going to the proper order of government to make sure that resilience is a function of the next building code,' he told reporters Thursday. The proposed program is the result of a notice of motion from Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal in late 2024, which asked the city to review its former Resilient Roofing Rebate Program. However, administration is not recommending the resurrection of that program as part of its hail resiliency plan. That program was created in the aftermath of a hailstorm through northeast neighbourhoods in late 2020, which caused an estimated $1.2 billion in damages, and offered homeowners a rebate of up to $3,000 for upgrading to impact-resistant roofing materials. Dhaliwal expressed disappointment that a rebate program isn't in the cards. Story continues below advertisement 'These recommendations are sound and great, but they're for the future, tomorrow, but not today and the issue is today,' he told reporters. 'The residents in Redstone, Cornerstone, Cityscape, Skyview, Saddleridge, Taradale, how are they going to cope with some of the issues they're seeing today?' The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) found roughly $13 million in damage was avoided due to the number of upgraded roofs installed through the program, which cost the city $5.25 million. The city also noted the rebate structure didn't address the needs of lower-income households who could not cover initial costs, and language barriers and application complexities created obstacles for some homeowners. However, a new type grant program could be in the cards. Administration is recommending the mayor write a letter to advocate the province to create a grant program to help vulnerable, low-income homeowners pay for hail protection upgrades to their homes, or change the Municipal Government Act to allow hail protection upgrades to be part of programs offered through the City of Calgary. In the meantime, Dhaliwal said he plans to bring forward a 'stop gap measure' to help hail-impacted residents sooner when the matter goes to council later this month.
Calgary Herald
09-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Opinion: Don't restrict ride-sharing — and eliminate cap on taxi licences in Calgary
Calgary city council wisely rejected a flawed proposal to restrict the number of rideshare drivers on platforms such as Uber and Lyft. Article content At stake was more than just passenger convenience or driver freedom. It was a fundamental question about the city's role in the local economy. Article content Article content Coun. Raj Dhaliwal, who introduced the motion, argued that there are too many ride-share drivers, making it difficult for both ride-share and taxi drivers to earn a living. He urged council to intervene. Article content Article content But this argument reflects a misunderstanding of both the ride-sharing industry and the proper role of the municipal government. Article content Article content Calgary's 16,500 ride-share drivers are independent contractors who decide for themselves when and where to work based on the fares offered. Many drivers value this flexibility and choose to drive part-time, especially during busy periods such as Stampede when ridesharing platforms typically raise their fares to attract more drivers and meet heightened demand. Article content If city hall capped the number of ride-share licences, it would deny these drivers an opportunity to earn money on their own terms and make it harder for passengers to get a ride when they need one. Article content Dhaliwal's proposal rested on the assumption that restricting the number of ride-share drivers would raise driver wages. The reality is more complicated. Article content Article content Restricting the number of drivers can mean more fares per driver and higher fares overall. But that extra money doesn't automatically end up in the pockets of drivers. Article content According to a study commissioned by the city, restricting the number of licences can instead increase profits for taxi companies and transportation network companies (such as Uber and Lyft) rather than benefitting drivers. And of course, restricted supply means higher prices, lower availability and worse service for Calgarians looking for a ride. Article content Moreover, as Coun. Jasmine Mian rightly noted during deliberations, influencing private wages in a particular industry isn't part of the city hall's mandate, nor should it be.
Global News
28-05-2025
- Global News
Council eyes $15M for Calgary Transit operator safety after bus driver attacked
Calgary city council will consider a multi-million-dollar funding injection to bolster safety for transit operators, after a bus driver was assaulted while on duty. During an update to transit's RouteAhead strategy Tuesday, council unanimously supported an amendment from Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal that calls for the city to spend $15 million from reserves to retrofit buses with 'more secure security shields.' 'Right now we've got these shields — they're not even shields, they're little screens that are not that effective,' Dhaliwal told reporters. Dhaliwal's amendment also asks for transit to install new signage on all vehicles about safety and informing passengers that assaulting an operator is a federal crime, including 'non-compliance consequences.' It also calls for a review of all safety and training practices, and include an annual safety status progress report to council. Story continues below advertisement Council's debate comes after a Calgary Transit bus driver was assaulted in the early morning hours of May 13 while driving a route near Falconridge and Castleridge boulevards Northeast. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The driver was taken to hospital in critical condition, but was later upgraded to stable, and investigators believe he was attacked when he refused the suspects' request to detour from his original bus route. Darryl Flett, 22, and Curtis Baker, 20, were each charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of robbery and one count of failing to comply with a court order. 'We knew it was only a matter of time before this happened,' said Mike Mahar, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583. Mahar told Global News that drivers face harassment daily like spitting, physical threats and racial slurs; he noted efforts to make proactive changes have taken months to address. 'We just couldn't get it done at transit, administration just wasn't moving on things the way it has to happen,' he said. 'It just wasn't a priority.' During Tuesday's meeting, Calgary Transit director Sharon Fleming noted transit was looking to spend $1 million to install plastic separation barriers but could find better materials if council approves the $15 million spend. 'We have done a number of things to enhance (operator) safety. As you know we have temporary plexiglass shields on all our buses,' she told council. Story continues below advertisement 'We also have done a number of things to help with safety training and education for our operators, things like dealing with conflict de-escalation, additional customer service training.' Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean expressed frustration with the province and federal government, and called for harsher penalties and bail reform. 'It's their responsibility, they need to crack down on this crime,' he told reporters. 'These costs are being downloaded to the city and we can only bear so much onto our taxpayers.' According to Mahar, the driver who was assaulted has been released from hospital and is recovering at home, but that recovery has a long way to go. 'It's just by whatever graces, in his words a guardian angel of some sort, that he's here today,' Mahar said. City council will make a final decision on the $15 million funding request in Dhaliwal's amendment during next week's council meeting.
