Council

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: I have experience as a Councilor as I was involved (elected) in a small community in Saskatchewan from 2009 to 2011. I was involved in Community decision making for the town, Policies, Guidelines and Municipal Government. So, I am quite familiar with the role of a councilor. The roles are basically the same with towns and cities as they are governed by the Provincial Government Municipal acts, such as the Alberta Urban Municipal association and similar in Saskatchewan. I have been involved in Community Organizations as a board member, President, chair or co chair . My work experience in Leadership and management roles also affords me the ability to work with others in a respectful manner at all times . I have been on many organizations over the years, Local, Provincial and National. I believe my community involvement and work history has given me the experience to work well with others. I currently sit on seven committees here in Grande Prairie. I have been the chair on the Community Advisory Board of the Homeless, Northwestern Polytechnic Indigenous Advisory Committee, GPRH Indigenous Engagement Committee and Grande Prairie Friendship Center, past president and current board member and RCMP/GPPS Equity and Diversity and Inclusion Committee. I am semi retired so have the time to take on the Role as a city Councilors; I am a small business owner and am involvement in Indigenous cultural education in the community.

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: 1. I have 2 university degrees - BA in Eng and a Bachelor's in Business Administration. I have owned businesses, worked as a graphic designer, as a registered financial planner and stock broker, so I have a pretty solid grip on finance, human resources and management. 2. The last 15 years of working life was spent managing non profits. I ran the first $1m United Way campaign in GP before moving to Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention for 5 years before retiring in 2029. This has given me knowledge of addictions, mental health and associated supports. 3. I have council experience, serving 3 terms from 2001 to 2010 and a third term 2022 to 2025.

Dylan Bressey: My career has given me a broad perspective, with leadership experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. I have owned and operated several small businesses and also spent over a decade as a non-profit director, running youth programs and managing a large summer camp. This is complemented by my City Council experience, where I have earned a reputation as an engaged Councillor who engages deeply with the community and comes to meetings prepared and ready to ask the important questions. Through my role as Vice President at Alberta Municipalities I have been able to visit cities across Alberta to learn how they are run. Finally, as a Board member and Audit/Finance Chair at the Alberta Municipal Services Corporation, I benefit from further insight into governance of large organisations and get to directly impact services the City relies on such as electricity, insurance, and employee benefits. My volunteer experience is just as important to me. I founded the Grande Prairie Disc Golf Club, which has built three courses and will host the National Championships next summer. I was also on the founding board of a Neighbourhood Association, helped restart a school Parent Council, ran the Ambassador program for the Alberta Summer and Winter Games, and serve on the United Way Board to help tackle childhood poverty. All of these roles, both on and off the clock, share a common focus: making our community an even better place to live. This diverse background has given me a practical perspective on how to make every dollar count, set priorities, build community, and foster the collaboration required to get things done for the residents of Grande Prairie.

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: my experience is listed on votecroken.ca. my skills of one on one with homeowners and business owners over the fedral census will and has translated into municipal politics. By giving me on the ground knowledge of ratepayers issues and concerns.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: Past CEO of the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce, advocating for and promoting business throughout the region, and working with municipal, provincial, and federal government; Entrepreneur with a marketing and publishing business focusing on business stories through the region; Past 15 years as General Manager of the Prairie Mall Shopping Centre responsible for developing and managing eight-figure budgets, and responsible for all aspects of operation, including building management and capital improvement budgets.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: My work experience as a Senior Project Manager is directly relevant to the role of a city councillor. It has given me over eight years of experience in strategic planning, fiscal responsibility, and leading complex projects to successful completion on time and on budget. In addition, my Master of Public Administration (MPA) and my Advanced Certificate in Local Government Administration have provided me with a deep understanding of municipal governance, policy development, and the legal framework that guides a council's work. These skills, from managing large-scale budgets to navigating complex regulations and bringing diverse groups together for a common purpose, will be invaluable in ensuring our city is managed efficiently and our projects are delivered effectively for all Grande Prairie residents.

Michael Ouellette: Was elected as a school trustee and have been a business owner and the president of the chamber of commerce and chair of the downtown association. The skills I have learned is how to lobby government and get results and how to listen and learn from people who have had issues.

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: I’ve worked in managerial rolls at various companies since mid 1990s. I was Zone 1 Director for Hockey Alberta 2009-2016 and I stay informed of economic happenings locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: With 30+ years of experience in business management & administration, retail management & sales, B2C online business development, P&C insurance work, and expertise in the non-profit sector, including founding a local non-profit centre providing free services to individuals in crisis, I have a unique perspective and skillset to see challenges to overcome rather than insurmountable problems. My goal is to offer vision and strategy, and collaborate around the council table to work towards great outcomes for the residents of Grande Prairie.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: I have been in business ownership and management for over 15 years. During that time I have learned the value of professionalism, integrity and transparency. These skills are vital for an effective city council.

Rob Wasylciw: No response.

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: In all my discussions with voters so far TAXES appear to be the biggest issue. I believe a lot of work is required to maintain the current level as history has proven that Taxes never go down .. In the last 10 years , taxes have always gone up except for 2 years where they stayed the same .. My thoughts on how to maintain taxes to not go up is to better manage all aspects of the city services by asking the tough questions.. There are over 300 departments in the city management and they all need money to provide their services.to me the onus is on each department to reduce spending by looking at ALL aspects of what they do ..and where they can reduce spending . Taxes and grants is city income .. city services is expenditures..

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: 1. Cost of living in the north is high. Previous councils have worked hard to keep tax increases very low - at 22% over 10 years vs inflation at 29% for the same period. This work must continue. Council must also consider other ways to reduce cost of living. If the province fails to step up to equalize electricity transmission and distribution costs soon, the city needs to find other solutions. Just this change alone would result in significant relief. Franchise fees are another area where there is room for adjustment, adding to city coffers. 2. Economic development and work force attraction are key to a healthy future. There is work to be done at the airport and lands to the west. The tri-minicipal agreement to form Invest NW and bring the region's economic development efforts under one roof will be good for the region. 3. Public buildings, whether that be cultural or recreational, take several years to plan. Therefore must always be on council's minds. The multi sport turf centre going up on the north end alleviates immediate pressure, leaving time to plan the next.

Dylan Bressey: Some top priorities I see for our next Council are creating a more Open City Hall, focusing on the Boring Stuff of good governance and fiscal prudence, Affordability, and the Economy. I don’t think there are singular approaches to any of these issues. I also don’t believe Council can solve any of them on its own: we need the whole community involved. That is why I have published a full platform with many ideas to address each of these issues. You can check it out at bressey.ca/platform. As you give it a read, I would love to hear your feedback.

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: There are many issues one of them is always snowplowing? you cant predict weather so I would work with city workers to find the best way to deploy snow removal and accountability to the contractors by getting gps on their units.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: Crime is an issue. The implementation of a municipal police force will allow us to be more innovative with our approach to reducing crime in our community and allow us to engage citizens more in that effort. RCMP approach was considered rigid and not directly accountable to citizens; Another consideration is that the community has a strong energy/forestry/agriculture economy, but not known for other sectors. I would be a strong advocate to expand the program offerings of Northwest Polytechnic to include more tech training. My long-term vision would be to see Grande Prairie develop a tech sector. This will take years to develop, but we can start by offering programs at NWP in an effort to keep more young talent in our region, as opposed to moving to larger centre like Edmonton and Calgary if they have career interests beyond the primary resource sectors.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: I see three significant, interconnected issues facing our city, and my approach would be rooted in practical, purpose-driven solutions. Community Safety: We must take a multi-faceted approach that not only supports the RCMP/GP Police in proactive enforcement but also addresses the root causes of crime, such as addiction, poverty, and mental health challenges. Healthcare and Mental Health Access: As a City Council, we must become relentless advocates to the provincial government to attract and retain more doctors and mental health resources. Our citizens deserve timely access to care. Economic Resilience and Affordability: My priority is to support our local economy by ensuring City Hall is fiscally responsible. This means making strategic investments in infrastructure and services while managing taxes to keep Grande Prairie a place where families and businesses can thrive.

Michael Ouellette: Taxes need to be looked at and see we’re we can save money. I would never support a 7% tax increase as a sitting council member told us that this is what administration brought back to them. Unacceptable any tax increase must be inline with the cost of living index.

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: The main issue is the affordability crisis being faced by young families, seniors and small business. We need to review each line item on the Expense Sheet for the City to see if we really need to be doing that item or if it can be done more efficiently. We need to address local issues by consulting with local industry and local experienced leaders rather than connecting with federally and internationally controlled organizations like the FCM. We should get out of the FCM and that will save us thousands and thousands of dollars and potentially millions over the next 10 years. We need to consult with other northern cities that deal with northern issues effectively.

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: Crime fueled by the drug trade and lack of affordable housing. I believe our new municipal police will be effective in addressing issues of crime. As accountable to local residents, they will be hand picked and well-trained to be responsive, collaborative with businesses and property owners, and will understand the needs and concerns of our community. We can create strategies unique to our city to address local problems. We need to incentivize builders of entry-level housing options designed to help first-time buyers enter the market, as well as affordable & subsidized housing. Cut red tape and stop micro-managing the process to allow more builders to participate.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: This is a very broad question, not that we have lots of problems, but most challenges the city faces are not easily addressed, which is why we need to elect a competent council. Houselessness has been an ongoing and increasingly noticeable problem in the city. In order to address this, we must implement a multilevel solution and not just focus on the symptom that we see daily.

Rob Wasylciw: No response.

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: I must honestly say the city does a lot of good things for the people of the city .. BUT there are many other opportunities where the city can do better at.. I have a list of about 25 issues that have been presented to me . They will all have to be addressed over time as their is no easy fix to many of them Yes the city does many things Yes still many opportunities to work on I dont think their ever will be a right amount The city needs to look after the best interests of the city as a whole !

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: The short answer is public safety, streets and transportation and public facilities. However, the world we live in grows increasingly complex, and with other levels of government failing to step up to provide necessary services such as family doctors, sufficient homelessness supports, etc., municipal government must do what they can to fill the gaps. This is the government closest to our residents and it is not possible to look the other way.

Dylan Bressey: I love working in municipal government because it's the order of government closest to the people. Our role is to deliver the services residents use the most in their daily lives, such as roads and parks.Our services are also central to public safety, such as fire and police. This closeness means we have to be the most adaptive level of government, flexing to meet community needs as they change. I think this flexibility is one of our greatest strengths, but it becomes a problem when it lets other levels of government off the hook for their duties. In some areas, the City is being forced to do too much. We are being asked to take on responsibilities that don't belong to us, which stretches our resources and places an unfair burden on local taxpayers. This happens the most with social issues, where cities are on the front lines of challenges with affordability, mental health, and addiction because the federal and provincial governments aren't fulfilling their responsibilities. I’m proud of some of the work the City has done because it was needed to meet crises situations. But I don’t favour increasing City investment in these areas. I also have concerns about our role as a regional service hub. Grande Prairie taxpayers are shouldering an unfair share of the financial load for programs, facilities, and infrastructure that supports the entire region, a problem made worse by provincial funding cuts which have disproportionately impacted midsize cities Strong advocacy is needed to ensure other governments meet their responsibilities and that Grande Prairie receives its fair share of funding. Fighting for this has been a major focus of my work on Council, and I hope to continue that fight, using my role as Vice President at Alberta Municipalities to bring a strong northern and mid-sized city voice to the provincial table.

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: hard to say what a role is when i've only lived in a couple citysi in my life. I think gp offers a good amount of events/programs. we are a diverse city so try and balance the 3 bears way I guess.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: The role of any municipal government would be to provide a safe community, is inclusive, and provides for economic opportunities for its citizens. Obviously, that role also includes providing a strong quality of life with educational and recreational opportunities for individuals and families. I believe the City, for the most part, has followed that role requirement.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: The fundamental role of a municipal government is to provide core services that are essential to the daily lives of residents. Things like public safety, roads, water, waste management, and land use planning. It is also a critical advocate for its citizens to provincial and federal levels of government. I believe the City should be focused on doing the right things exceptionally well. Instead of getting sidetracked by every possible initiative, we should concentrate our efforts and resources on our core responsibilities. This means being fiscally responsible and making strategic, long-term investments that directly improve the quality of life for our citizens. My goal is to ensure the City of Grande Prairie operates with a clear, purpose-driven mandate that serves our residents efficiently and effectively.

Michael Ouellette: The role of city council is to look at what the spending of the city is. To lobby federal and provincial funding for our city. To be accountable to the citizens of Grande Prairie . And to adhere to the Municipal government act:

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: I think we need to focus on city priorities. Focus things everyone uses everyday, like street building and maintaining, water and sewer, garbage disposal, safety, energy, recreation facilities and development and press the province to step up and take care of their responsibilities like education, health and addiction care.

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: The municipality is responsible for local roads, municipal policing & protective services, parks/playgrounds/trails, recreation facilities, building permits & fees, family & community services, seniors' housing, transit, utilities, and waste mgmt. The city has expanded into other areas like housing/homelessness, whether by provincial & federal design, or the urgency of the need. Some of the decisions made in this area have been costly, and it will be critical for the new council to consider cost-reduction strategies in order to avoid unnecessary tax hikes.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: The primary role of council is to set policy and guidance on city matters. What city council does is determined by what the needs and priorities are. These can change from day to day. Would the city get more done of we had a larger council? Potentially, but increases administration costs and the burden on the taxpayer.

Rob Wasylciw: No response.

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: Yes Property Taxes are too high .. everyone I've talked to has said that and i also feel my taxes are too high

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: None of us like paying taxes. I don't, you don't. But the services provided are what makes this a great city to live in. I am committed to keeping any tax increases as low as possible, and this might mean a reduction in some services. But it also means council and our administration needs to dig harder to find other sources of income.

Dylan Bressey: Property taxes are too high a proportion of City revenues. We need to be growing non-tax revenues so that they can cover a higher portion of City services.

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: fairly high side.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: Many people think property taxes are too high, but tax rates on their own are meaningless, they are tied to property values. The real question is if Grande Prairie is an affordable community, and there are many sources that suggest that GP is one of the more affordable communities in which to live in the province, consistently ranking in the top 6 most affordable. The average cost of a home in GP is $380,000. Compare that to Calgary (average cost of home is $612,000), or Edmonton ($463,000), St. Albert ($550,000), Airdrie ($534,000), Lethbridge ($412,000), Red Deer ($406,000), and we can see that Grande Prairie is actually an affordable place to live. Couple that with strong job and entrepreneurial prospects, and it becomes an even more desirable place to live in terms of making financial gains.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: Based on comparative reports, Grande Prairie’s residential property tax rate is generally considered too high relative to other major and mid-sized cities in Alberta. The data indicates that Grande Prairie has historically relied heavily on residential taxes to fund municipal services, even though the city's per-resident spending is often competitive or even lower than the provincial average. This leads to a higher burden on homeowners. My stance is that while essential services must be funded, we must aggressively pursue fiscal responsibility at City Hall to alleviate this burden. My approach would focus on two key areas: Strategic Financial Management: Applying my Project Management expertise to ensure all city projects and services are delivered efficiently, on time, and on budget, eliminating waste. Diversifying Revenue: Advocating for policy changes and economic development initiatives that broaden our non-residential tax base. The City must be more aggressive in attracting investment to ensure residential property owners are not subsidizing the entire tax structure. We need to provide high-quality services without penalizing residents, and I am committed to finding and implementing the efficiencies required to stabilize, and eventually reduce, our residential tax rate.

Michael Ouellette: The city is growing and are taxes are too high, we need to look at other revenue streams and more businesses locating in the city .But what services do we cut to lower our taxes. I would like to see a budget breakdown with a 0 percent increase.

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: I think they are too high because seniors, young families and small business are struggling big time.

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: Property taxes are too high in Grande Prairie. However, keeping taxes from increasing unnecessary is one issue; the other is cutting expenses, eliminating waste and over-spending.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: Taxes can never be low enough. The current tax rate was determined in order to service operations and answer to the requirements of the budget. I think everyone in the city wants better roads and services, and better snow plowing… this all costs money.

Rob Wasylciw: No response.

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: Taxes will continue to go up as more houses are built, more businesses start up and more industry comes to the city .. City has to provide the services to all new start ups, New home, Neighborhoods, Regardless of inflation , services are required to meet the needs of old and new taxpayers

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: The wages and benefits negotiated by unionized employees makes it fairly unlikely the City can spend less in absolute terms unless there are quite significant cuts to service levels. However, we are seeing growth in our population, which offers some offset. My goal, if re-elected, is to keep any tax increases at the most minimal possible, as councils have done for a number of years.

Dylan Bressey: On a per-capita basis, we spend about what other cities in Alberta spend. We should always be working hard to be the most efficient, best managed City in Alberta. But at the end of the day, we don’t get to pay less to purchase a fire truck, hire a lifeguard, or procure asphalt than other communities pay. And I don’t think our residents want to have a lower level of service here than they would receive elsewhere. So I am ok with spending growing with inflation and population. However, I want us to be doing everything possible to maximize those dollars so that residents and businesses get more out of what the City spends. And to be growing both non-tax revenue and new taxbase so that our existing taxpayers don’t need to shoulder all of those costs.

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: i'd like to keep on the spending side if gp is growing which it is. but do it responsibly and save for a bigger legacy project in 4 or 8 years from now.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: In order to maintain a level of service that residents expect and deserve, I believe you at least have to keep up with inflation. If a pattern of spending less than inflation continues for several consecutive years, it eventually means we have to eventually reduce service levels, leaving residents wondering why they pay the tax they do without reciprocally benefitting from service.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: I am a proponent of lowering taxes, and I would advocate for the most disciplined fiscal choice over the next four years: Spend less in absolute terms.This "Deflationary Budgeting" approach is the only option that immediately and unequivocally achieves the goal of lowering the tax burden on residents and businesses, thus maximizing household affordability. Here are the key benefits. Maximizes Affordability: Leaves more money in the private sector for consumption and investment. Forces Efficiency: Compels the City to eliminate all low-value programs and focus resources exclusively on essential, mandated services (e.g., core public safety and utilities).

Michael Ouellette: The city should spend no more than the cost of living expenses

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: We need to do what ever it takes to make life more affordable for seniors, young families and small business.

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: The city should spend less overall, but keep essential services appropriately funded. This can be achieved by finding savings in addressing waste, reducing inefficiencies & overspending, reducing staffing levels through attrition/job-sharing, etc., overhauling the snow-removal system, increasing transit ridership and service efficiencies, etc.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: Grande Prairie is a growing city. Just like growing a business, growth costs money, plain and simple. The challenge, is determining where and how much money to spend in different sectors of the city. Over the next four years, I think all of your examples could apply in different areas of the budgets. Yes, we want to spend as little as possible, but in order to support sustainable growth, we will need to spend money.

Rob Wasylciw: No response.

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: Reserve accounts are needed to ensure that to offset unbudgeted expenses as to emergency repairs to sewer systems, Water line, Utilities, damages to systems and other unknown expenses. Its better to have money left at end of year for this reason .Im OK with my Tax money supporting reserve accounts .

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: By putting money in reserves, the city is effectively returning it to tax payers. For example, last fall during budget, council chose to take $1m from reserves to keep the tax increase as low as possible. My argument for supporting this decision was that these funds were previously collected through taxes and therefore belonged to our residents. They are, in effect, pre-paid taxes.

Dylan Bressey: Adding a new rebate process would be costly. I don’t see the need for introducing a new expensive process. If there are surpluses that can go back to taxpayers, a much more cost effective way is to use them to reduce taxes in the following year. I favour this process instead.

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: rebate is a great idea maybe for people who don't use eastlink center and want to opt out. I think saving up for a upgrade on bonnets center as it is comming up to 35+ years old.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: If there are savings, I believe this money should be put in reserves for specific purposes. As an example, if we see a savings in snow removal in a year as a result of milder weather with less precipitation from average, the reduced spending should be set into a snow removal reserve specifically. This can then be applied to future years when we may receive higher than average snowfall without compromising service levels for residents in that year. I'm not in favour of rebates, as we can fall into a cycle of granting rebates, but then realize in future years we are short of revenue to deliver the services required, so we end up having to either reduce services or raise taxes by the same margin as the rebates. This really does nobody any good, as you're essentially just collecting those rebates later anyways. Putting money in reserves provides for a more predictable and stable financial system for residents.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: As an advocate for lowering taxes, the ideal policy for year-end savings is the Taxpayer Rebate. The primary purpose of a municipal government is to take only the necessary taxes to fund approved services. If a surplus exists, it means the City over-taxed, and the excess money should be automatically returned to the taxpayers. This forces the City to budget accurately and prevents the accumulation of public funds that could be spent on discretionary projects without voter approval. City administration usually prefers to put savings into Reserve Funds (a "rainy day fund"). They argue these reserves are crucial for protecting the City's credit rating, covering unforeseen emergencies (like natural disasters), and smoothing out large capital purchases to avoid sudden, massive tax spikes in the future. While a rebate enforces discipline, most municipalities require a small, clearly defined reserve (e.g., 15-30% of the operating budget) for essential cash flow and true emergencies. Any funds exceeding that specified minimum should be returned to the taxpayers.

Michael Ouellette: Would love to see a rebate to the tax payer. Could u imagine being a municipal government that offered a rebate to its citizens. Canadian wide media attention.

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: It should be saved and used to upgrade aging infrastructure. There will be major upgrades required in the next 10-20 years

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: Monies should be returned as a taxpayer rebate. This was already supposed to be happening with savings realized through Aquatera, but I don't believe taxpayers have seen any rebates come back.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: Most often, discretionary funds come in from provincial or federal programs. If there is a surplus, it cant be given back to the people, it has to be given back to the government. If there was an instance that a surplus COULD be given back to the people, it should be considered.

Rob Wasylciw: No response.

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: affordable housing is providing homes to lower income families that can pay the down payment and Mortgage payments. The homes im talking about should be in the range from 100,000 to 250, 000 . Many families , even with 2 incomes cannot afford the 300,000 to 500,000 Homes that are currently / usually being built in the city today . Affordable housing also applies to rental, where rental rates are pretty high and again , low income people cannot afford some of the rentals City and some organizations are already subsidizing some homes and rentals .

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: I believe that any building projects which are able to capitalize on city grants or tax deferrals should ensure a portion of their units be offered at affordable rates. This requirement is supported through CMHC financing.

Dylan Bressey: For me, the standard definition of "affordable housing" isn’t perfect but it works: a household shouldn't have to spend more than 30% of its income on housing. Just as importantly, that housing needs to be in decent condition and large enough for all family members to have reasonable privacy. While every situation is different, this is a benchmark that generally works. I believe the City’s best approach is a combination of strategies. Our primary focus should be on keeping the cost of all housing from getting out of control and seeing a variety of housing forms get built. The most effective way to do this is to work hard to attract new market housing of all types. A healthy and growing supply is the best long-term solution to ensure residents at all income levels can find a suitable home they can afford. When it comes to directly supporting projects for lower-income residents, the City should act as a strategic partner using the resources we already have. This means we should be open to donating suitable city-owned land, especially if the resulting project will contribute to our tax base in the future. We can also provide smart incentives, like waiving inspection fees or deferring property taxes during construction. But I am very skeptical of donating actual municipal cash. The City also has a crucial advocacy role. When the provincial and federal governments invest in affordable housing, we need to work hard to ensure Grande Prairie gets its fair share of that funding spent right here in our community.

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: subsidize for the lower income. rent control and taking a look at the rental arbitrage within the city see if that helps. I think rent control is provincial issue so maybe team up with them for a solution.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: The City has only so much control of housing and pricing in the market. Housing prices are largely generated by market conditions. Having said that, the City can designate some particular zones specifically for lower-income housing by working with developers to this end and providing some financial incentives for the developers, which may include breaks on development fees, as one example.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: For me, affordable housing means that 30% or less of a household's income is spent on shelter costs . The City should use a Combination Strategy that prioritizes market-wide affordability first, while maintaining a safety net: The City must aggressively focus on keeping the cost of all housing from getting out of control by reducing regulatory friction, fast-tracking permits, and easing zoning restrictions to increase the overall supply of homes. This is the most fiscally responsible way to lower prices for the middle class. The City should maintain targeted subsidies by partnering with non-profits to ensure there is specific, income-geared housing available for the most vulnerable residents (seniors, the disabled, the working poor) who cannot afford even cheaper market-rate homes.

Michael Ouellette: I think we need the province and the federal government should be stepping up to take care of our most vulnerable citizens.

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: Affordable housing should mean people living on minimum wage and basic pensions should be able to live with dignity while paying all their bills and putting food on their table. There are ways to make housing affordable while allowing people to live in dignity without the city subsidizing the housing.

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: I support a combination of the two. The City should be investigating existing subsidy programs through the Province or Federal. Sliding scale tax rebates for builders can offer incentive to build affordable housing. Ultimately, all housing costs need to be controlled, and all levels of government should be petitioning Ottawa to remove the barrier of the carbon and other punitive taxes.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: Builders always want to build to the “best” of their skillset. They are proud of the work they do and what they build. I believe the city should provide incentives for the builders to build lower cost houses ($300-$400k). There are also other options to combine with that program like subsidies.

Rob Wasylciw: No response.

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: Union systems are in place in the city .. the city has to abide to all that is in the collective agreement. Unions can go on strike for more pay , better benefits and YEs it may be added expense to the expenditures of the city .. and YES they may compromise fiscal responsibility. The collective agreement is a CONTRACT with the city and the unions !

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: Union negotiations are outside the mandate of council. We have only one employee, the City Manager, and wage negotiations are up to him to manage. If those negotiations result in wages outside the city's ability to support, staff positions would necessarily be cut. We control the budget, and service levels, and unsupportable wage hikes would be managed through those tools.

Dylan Bressey: City employees are critical to our success even while salaries and benefits are a huge part of our budget. This makes union negotiations very important. Taxpayers need to be respected and treated fairly. But so do employees. Collective bargaining requires good faith and hard work from both sides. While public conversations often focus on salaries, I believe it's more productive to look at the total compensation package, which includes benefits and long-term sustainability. Just as important are the agreements on working conditions. Any contract must allow the City to pursue innovation and find new efficiencies while always respecting the rights and contributions of our employees.

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: that is mostly provincial. I would gather as much info as I could and make as informed decision as possible.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: I believe unions have their place and that they serve a valuable function for the people they represent. I also believe that it is possible to work with union negotiators from a place of compromise and equitability. After all, unions are made up of the people they serve and the goal of any negotiation should be one of fairness and balance where each party can claim a benefit.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: I recognize public sector unions as essential partners in city operations. They play a critical role in ensuring fair treatment, worker safety, and reliable delivery of vital municipal services . However, because personnel costs represent the largest expense for the City, managing union contracts is the single biggest factor in controlling the tax rate. To ensure union negotiations do not compromise long-term fiscal responsibility, I would take the following three steps: Establish Clear Fiscal Mandates: Before negotiations begin, the City Council must define a strict, publicly communicated maximum budget increase for total compensation, tying it to realistic revenue forecasts and the target tax rate. The negotiating team must operate within this pre-approved fiscal envelope. Focus on Total Compensation (Not Just Wages): Negotiations must assess the entire cost of the package, including wages, pensions (unfunded liabilities), benefits, and work-rule changes. It is crucial to prevent "hidden costs" that inflate the budget in future years. Benchmarking and Comparability: Require all compensation proposals to be rigorously benchmarked against the average rates of comparable cities in the region and province. The City should aim for fair and competitive compensation without being a market leader that drives up costs unnecessarily.

Michael Ouellette: I support the employees of the city of Grande Prairie and responsible negotiators between the unions and administrators.

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: For that, I’d consult with industry and experienced leaders that deal with similar issues in their company.

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: City employees perform vital work and unions play a role in representing them. However, it’s essential that collective agreements align with the city’s financial capacity and long-term sustainability. I'd approach negotiations with transparency and a data-driven focus — ensuring wage and benefit increases are balanced against budget realities, inflation pressures, and service delivery priorities. Protecting taxpayers and maintaining essential services are top priority.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: Unions have both pros and cons. Typically, pros for the employees, and cons for everyone else. The danger with unions is that they can become very powerful and challenge the fiscal responsibility of the city.

Rob Wasylciw: No response.

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: Can only encourage all business to buy and shop local. Encourage shoppers to buy local and Canadian Goods etc. I'm Not sure what else council can do

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: As much as is legally possible, City purchases support local business. The municipal government act restricts our purchasing process, which often can seem like we don't support local business, and that's unfortunate. Lowering cost of living would be helpful, such as changes to electricity costs.

Dylan Bressey: I have outlined a number of ideas to help our business community in the Economy portion of my platform found at bressey.ca/platform2025/economy However, when it comes to rising costs, the most important action by the City is continued strong advocacy for equitable electricity transmission and distribution costs. These are 2-3 times higher in Grande Prairie than in Alberta’s large cities, and much higher than companies in BC pay. This is a cost that impacts every business. Getting them down would be a tremendous help to our local economy. Municipalities and businesses throughout Northern Alberta have been advocating hard for change. This effort has been led by the City of Grande Prairie. And recently, the Premier has said she recognizes the problem and plans to make changes this fall. We must keep this advocacy pressure up to ensure that our businesses (and residents) start getting a fair deal. This could save a tremendous amount of money in our area.

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: source canadian or non american. unfortunate this is the hand the orange overlord of the south handed us.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: Council has little control over the free market, especially one that encompasses national issues. The opposite would suggest that taxpayers provide assistance to business with taxpayers dollars. This contradicts the term free market and lies outside of the realm of municipal council responsibilities.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: Council cannot control international tariffs, but it must act locally to support businesses by focusing on friction reduction and resilience building . Reduce Local Costs: Fast-track all business permits and licencing to reduce administrative overhead and delays. Council should commit to stable tax rates to prevent adding municipal financial pressure. Advocacy & Information: Use the City’s platform to lobby federal and provincial governments for tariff relief programs. The Economic Development Office must act as a central hub, connecting businesses directly to existing government funding and trade advisory services. Promote Diversification: Update City procurement to strongly prioritize local and Canadian suppliers and run "Buy Local" campaigns to strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on tariff-sensitive imports.

Michael Ouellette: The province and the federal government need to help not just the large corporations but also the small companies

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: U.S. tariffs only increase costs on American goods forcing American manufacturers to find alternatives suppliers rather than Canadian. Therefore we will need to seek alternative sources. If Canada retaliates with tariffs, that directly increases costs to Canadians.

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: Cutting taxes, reviewing fees and permitting processes, capping expenses, reducing unnecessary red tape, promoting "shop local", improving inter-provincial trade agreements/finding new markets, keeping the pressure on the Province for equalization of ATCO's electricity costs across the province, are a few of the strategies Council can employ.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: The city needs to represent our local businesses and address our concerns to the Federal government. Council can also provide enhanced local and regional options for some supply issues. Build it/Grow it in Canada and Alberta, and support our own local businesses. .

Rob Wasylciw: No response.

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: Reduce red tape in the many aspects of Permits etc ,

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: The City has worked hard to reduce red tape, and has the quickest turn around time issuing permits in the province. It is regulatory bodies outside municipal control, such as building codes or environment, that cause bottlenecks. Often those organizations seem to view their jobs as saying no rather than finding solutions. And interpreting code can be very challenging. Upper levels of government must take control back from these organizations.

Dylan Bressey: An Open City hall which has strong engagement is one of my top priorities. When it comes to regulator burdens for small businesses, this is so important. We need to be regularly meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholder groups to hear what challenges their members are facing. Council also needs to make it easy for individual businesses to talk to us. As we hear about problems, we need to be shaping a responsive organisation that is eager to streamline processes wherever possible.

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: get some benefits somehow or help the little guy out! costco and walmart are somewhat good for drawing people to gp but also awful.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: Council can streamline municipal regulations for small business. This includes ensuring that inspection and development services are adequately staffed to reduce the wait time for licenses and permits issued.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: The City Council should adopt a Red Tape Reduction Strategy focused on three pillars: Streamline Permitting: Launch a single digital "One-Stop Shop" for all municipal permits (zoning, health, fire). Implement fast-track review standards with defined deadlines for minor applications (e.g., 5-10 days). Offer proactive compliance consultations to help businesses avoid errors before submission. Modernize Bylaws: Enforce a "One-In, One-Out" rule for new regulations to prevent complexity creep. Apply a 5-year sunset clause on non-essential new bylaws, requiring mandatory review to keep them active. Adjust Fees and Fines: Waive initial business license fees for start-ups in their first year. Prioritize education and warnings over fines for first-time, non-safety-related bylaw infractions.

Michael Ouellette: Reduce red tape and this is something that this council has done and I congratulate them.

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: Council needs to consult with industry and developers and business to see what can be done to make operating and growth more efficient and sustainable

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: Red tape is burdensome and a hindrance to business growth and development. Council must take immediate to cut red tape /eliminate where possible, streamline processes (EG: move application processes online), and make it easier & quicker to do business here.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: Council has very little effect on Federal or provincial regulations, but we can be the voice of our local businesses and advocate for them.

Rob Wasylciw: No response.

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: I think all aspects of how Climate change impacts all of us here in the city It should be a regular check item for any changes that are proposed, purchases of equipment or building infrasture.. Ensuring that the Environment is considered in everything we do

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: The city should be aware of, and take advantage of, any climate saving measures such as electric busses, methane and carbon capture as can save money. Outside of these measures, climate change is not within our mandate.

Dylan Bressey: Caring about our environment is important. But so is caring for our people, infrastructure, and budget. I love when we can find initiatives that can fulfill multiple priorities. For example, planting trees is a great way to trap carbon and clean the air, but it also helps with stormwater and makes our community more attractive: we should plant more of them. Or the Combined Heat Power unit at the Eastlink Centre reduced emissions, but it also generated a net financial savings to the City by reducing power and gas bills. When it comes to climate issues, I am in favour of finding pragmatic projects that also help make our community better or more cost effective, not making more aspirational commitments like “net zero by 2050.”

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: ill stick to municipal issues. When the growers almanac is moving growing zone further north climate change is undeniable. I'd stick to affordability, public safety, or infrastructure.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: It's very difficult for any one municipality to set "net zero" targets on their own, as no one municipality lives in a vacuum. In saying that, however, I do believe that more attention can and should be paid to the effects of climate by starting with our own infrastructure, such as ensuring city facilities have a focus on reducing GHG levels through the type of equipment employed (i.e., efficient HVAC systems). I believe we should be working with our municipal counterparts throughout the province and even western Canada in learning about and developing best practices. We all have to do our part if we have any hopes of making meaningful gains in this area.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: The City should commit to long-term municipal emissions reduction goals (such as carbon neutrality for City operations, but must frame these as economic and risk management tools, not exclusively environmental mandates. Establishing a measurable target is necessary for fiscal planning and for accessing billions in federal infrastructure funding, but it must be realistic and controllable by the municipality. The Council’s highest priorities remain affordability, public safety, and infrastructure. Climate strategy must serve these core functions directly: 1. Affordability & Energy Security (Highest Priority): Focus on deep energy efficiency retrofits in municipal and residential buildings to directly and immediately lower utility costs for citizens and the City. 2. Infrastructure & Risk Management: Prioritize resilience by integrating climate projections (heat, flooding, freeze-thaw cycles) into all capital project design. This ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent on infrastructure (roads, water systems) that will last its intended lifespan and protect core services from severe weather damage. 3. Economic Diversification: Use municipal procurement and permitting to quietly support the adoption of Alberta-based clean technology (e.g., carbon capture, geothermal, solar).This encourages the province's transition while leveraging the City's power to attract diversified private sector investment.

Michael Ouellette: Climate change is something we need to pay attention to. Is 2050 the right timeline? I would have to further investigate.

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: No the city shouldn’t. We are such an insignificant factor and all it’s doing is making life unaffordable for small business, young families and seniors

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: No, the city should not be making commitments in these areas. The municipality needs to stay in its lane and focus on our priorities, of which climate change is not a core issue.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: Climate commitments are set primarily by the federal government and provincial government. City council has very little, if any, say in this matter. City council must focus on municipal topics like public safety, infrastructure, and affordability.

Rob Wasylciw: No response.

Councillor

8 To Be Elected

Leonard (Len) Auger: Im NOT affiliated with any Party .i used to be a PC supporter and do not support Danille Smith and her party .. Not that it matters.. city council has to work with whichever party is in Government

Grant Berg: No response.

Juanito (Jun) Bibangco: No response.

Gladys Blackmore: I usually hold a membership with the UCP party, although it is currently lapsed. I feel in Alberta, this makes sense when UCP is the party in government. Of course, I have run for the nomination in the Grande Prairie riding, but am too centralist to succeed at that, as it turns out. I have no other political affiliation.

Dylan Bressey: I am not affiliated with a provincial or federal party. I work hard to maintain strong relationships with elected officials of all parties so that I can effectively advocate for our community no matter who wins the next election.

Josh Cercel: No response.

J. Patrick Croken: I am canvassing for forever canada.ca as a non partisan. but if you know I guess you know.

Jena Flach: No response.

Lionel Frey: I am not affiliated with any political party, paid or otherwise, on the provincial or federal levels. In fact, I believe partisanship does more to divide and impede our progress in working to resolve issues in a practical manner. This is one of the reasons I am choosing to run on a municipal level where there are no concerns about toeing the party line, and can be left to directly represent residents.

Glyn Gruner: No response.

Lynn Hoddinott: No response.

Waqar Khan: No response.

Yad Minhas: No response.

Mike O'Connor: No response.

Kevin O'Toole: No response.

Solomon Okhifoh: My political affiliation is with the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) federally and the United Conservative Party (UCP) provincially. However, I am seeking a non-partisan seat on City Council. My commitment is exclusively to the well-being of Grande Prairie citizens. My policy approach is guided by principles of fiscal responsibility and local accountability. This means: Affordability First: Demanding lean budgets, minimizing property tax increases, and prioritizing core services like roads, public safety, and water. Independent Action: My decisions on Council will be based on local facts and the best financial outcome for Grande Prairie, not on federal or provincial party platforms. Strong Advocacy: I will use my established affiliations to effectively advocate to the provincial and federal governments for fair funding and local interests.

Michael Ouellette: Not affiliated with any party. I would say I’m a Social Conservative. Need to take care of people and also be financially responsible.

Wade Pilat: No response.

Charles John Poole: No response.

Craig Reid: I’m affiliated with the UCP. Not that I think they are doing a fantastic job but just like my goal is to work for affordability for young families, seniors and small businesses in the city, I’m also trying to do the same on a provincial level as well.

Garry Singh: No response.

Kendra Sledding: I am not currently aligned with any parties. I am both fiscally and socially conservative, in that I support the smallest level of government necessary to provide for the needs of residents, as typically businesses are better at being profitable than governments. Should I be elected to council, my role is to advocate for the best interests of all our residents. Partisanship has no place at the Council table. I'll work hard and collaborate effectively to support families, protect our kids, & provide efficient essential services to keep this a great community to live and work. Thank you.

Chris Thiessen: No response.

Phil Troyer: I pramrily vote conservative, but I strongly believe that in order for any council (or team) to be effective, we need diversity. Otherwise, the views of the city may become too extreme one way or the other.

Rob Wasylciw: No response.