We have our first returning guest of season two, although last time she was going by her married name. In this episode on Your Neck of the Woods, we welcome back then-candidate now councillor Kourtney Penner of Ward 11. Kourtney, Jason, and I chat about what the first month and a half of Council’s been like, some takeaways from the budget adjustment process, police funding, and the work culture at City Hall.

After roughly a month and a half since being sworn in things become a little more routine for new councillors like Kourtney, between regular Monday Council meetings and the week filled with committee work things are settling into a more “normal” pattern where there are busy days and weeks and some slower days. And with the recently passed budget adjustments, it’s been a busy time but the homework done during the transition period helped ease the strain as the work begins for the next full year on the newest for your budget cycle where I think we may see the most change. During the budget adjustments councillor, Penner was one of four councillors to vote against an increase to the police budget of $6 million so we dive a little bit and what drove that decision, how it is to make these kinds of difficult decisions on behalf of not only your constituents but a city of almost 1.5 million people, especially when there will always be feedback both positive and negative on every decision.

Sharing the workload and fostering a more collegial work culture “at the horseshoe” was a major theme this week. Not surprising given almost everyone I talked to while running for Ward 1 wanted to see more collaborative Council and less backbiting and bickering, something that can’t always be easy when a cloud surrounds one of your colleagues but a little peek behind the scenes seems to show a younger, motivated, and friendly disposition between Council members that hopefully more of us will get to see as the pandemic abates.

With the holidays coming, the chat takes a turn for the festive as we take some time to go over our plans to spend time with our families, enjoy some local talent as performances return, and all in all get into the holiday spirit. Speaking of which, if you’re looking for something to do in Your Neck of the Woods for the holidays the Create Calgary Foundation will be holding a Christmas festival at the bonus community association December 21, from 4 to 8 PM this is a free family event with live music, food, crafts, hot chocolate, and photos with Santa. One of my favourite Christmas traditions is going to see a Christmas Carol as put on by Theatre Calgary every December. The show runs all the lintel Christmas Eve get out with your family and enjoy a holiday classic!

To get in touch with councillor Kourtney Penner you can email [email protected]

As always we want you to be part of the conversation at Your Neck of the Woods! You can follow the latest with the show, submit questions, suggest topics and more on social media @jmcgergoryyc! Use the hashtag #YNOTW.

To learn more about the Christmas festival email [email protected]

To get your tickets for a Christmas Carol visit: https://www.theatrecalgary.com/shows/a-christmas-carol

This week on Your Neck of the Woods we had the pleasure of sitting down with Christopher Brown the host of the Cross Border Interview Podcast. This was an episode a long time in the making after I appeared on his show and he moderated forums throughout the municipal election. Naturally, this led to the takeaways from the election, what it meant as well as early surprises from the new city council and there have been a few especially during budget week 

After some behind-the-scenes about organizing the election forums (and a coincidence with the Ward 1 forum in Your Neck of the Woods), we talk budget and campaign rhetoric. CPS funding took centre stage as a budget increase (that was definitely needed!), but contradicted some statements on the campaign trail was passed. The other interesting policy choice which should have you concerned despite where you stand on the issue is the vague policy regarding Calgary declaring a “Climate Emergency” when Administration doesn’t have a clear direction on how to execute concrete solutions what you end up with is empty calories.

When we inevitably discuss the controversy surrounding Councillor for Ward 4 Sean Chu we get to chatting about purity tests and past mistakes. This led to some deep heartfelt discussion starting with power dynamics, trust, and what it means to have the confidence of voters.

From this sprung some personal moments you have to hear firsthand. Please go take a listen to not only this episode but the episodes of CBIP referenced in the episode! All of us here at Your Neck of the Woods want to wish Chris well with his ongoing Cancer treatment and surgery the day after this episode drops. Looking forward to those milkshakes soon!

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It’s a new season here in Your Neck of the Woods and we couldn’t be more excited especially because to start off season two we had the honour and the pleasure of interviewing the Member of Parliament for Calgary Rocky Ridge Pat Kelly. This episode covered lots of ground between the recently past federal election, the wariness of Canadians towards the current Liberal government, and what a day in the life of an MP during a Covid session of Parliament was like, what the future looks like now that Parliament will finally be sitting again, and a little bit about conservatism in general because all too often conservatives now are painted; much of the time by political opponents as at the very least greedy and unfeeling and at the worst science deniers who are quietly paving the road for Neo-Fascism.

Pat, Jason, and I tackled the election first summarizing the motives behind it, what went right from a conservative perspective, and what can be improved on. The pandemic and the idiosyncrasies of a hybrid Parliament [some members participate in person and others virtually] were chief among the difficulties in front of the Conservative Party in Pat’s view and they tend to agree, it’s difficult for a party with a new leader to really take on the mantle of future government when many of the traditional pieces of opposition in Parliament are reduced out of necessity. That said, an election that delivered virtually the same results as the previous one isn’t necessarily a vote of confidence from the people so it’ll be interesting to see where things go.

This led us into a discussion of the nuts and bolts of some parliamentary functions which really was enlightening in terms of the different tools used by opposition parties to hold the government accountable as well as the various tactical tricks governments can use to slide past that accountability. A major theme of the conversation was doing all that you can’t serve your constituents. To my mind, Pat is a shining example of this; dedicating hours of office as well as email and phone time to hearing concerns of the people he serves and bringing those concerns to the floor wherever he can. At the end of the day, this is the part of the job he finds most fulfilling and I think that’s a sign of a great representative.

So, while Your Neck of the Woods so to speak is represented by a principled conservative why do we often see those sidelong glances or arguments from people who hear that we are conservative? Political bleed from other places and levels of government are definitely part of this but as you will learn here, the message is often skilfully clouded by political opponents and others to paint a caricature of conservatism not as an applied force for everyday folks but an unfeeling bogeyman. When you hear today’s episode, I hope you examine attitudes like that more carefully because this is what conservatism is supposed to be about.

If you want to bring something to Pat Kelly’s attention you can email [email protected] or you can phone his Calgary constituency office at 403-282-7980 and be more than happy to engage with you [I know from experience]. You can follow what’s going on in Parliament and how it will affect Your Neck of the Woods ourcommons.ca.

In light of the recent devastating flooding in British Columbia and providing the link for you to donate to flood relief. You can donate to those who desperately need it in BC through the Canadian Red Cross at this link https://donate.redcross.ca/page/94172/donate/1?locale=en-CA

Be part of the conversation by following me on social media @JMcGregoryyc and using the hashtag #YNotW

With the announcement of our first nine guests for season two of Your Neck of the Woods Jason and I decided to give you a little preview of the excitement that’s coming very soon! The first nine guests represent the expansion of Your Neck of the Woods to a wider audience, touching on political issues from all three levels of government, as well as business, the media, arts and creativity and community events and initiatives. The nine guests we talk about this episode are:

Pat Kelly MP for Calgary Rocky Ridge

Chris Brown host of the cross-border interview podcast

Kourtney Penner City Council member for Ward 11

Cory Morgan of the Western Standard

Jeremy Appel municipal affairs reporter for The Sprawl

Sonya Sharp City Council member for Ward 1

Shane Wenzel Pres. Shane Homes

Terry Rock CEO of Platform Calgary

Nathan my era founder and CEO of the Create Calgary Foundation and Calgary Magazine

Just a few of the discussions Jason and I are excited to have for example are expanding on your platform after the election as well as City Council news with Councillors Penner and Sharp, homeownership, development, and the business Outlook of Calgary with Shane Wenzel, media’s view of the municipal election and the role of independent media with both Cory Morgan and Jeremy Appel; a brief discussion of issues at other levels of government with Cory Morgan as well as a brief discussion of Alberta sovereignty and the recent the equalization referendum, and the emerging tech economy in Calgary with Terry rock as well as of view from the eyes of non-profit organizations in our conversations with Terry as well as Nathan.

Our premier episode November 24 with Pat Kelly will be a can’t miss conversation about our democracy, conservative politics, federal issues in Canada and the spillover effect of other levels of government on the Federal election. You absolutely won’t want to miss it, were just thrilled to be bringing this conversation to you and the fact that we’ve been able to put together this lineup of guests, as well as this particular premiere episode, is an absolute honour!

Our new website is in the works and we will hopefully have an announcement on that soon, in the meantime feel free to reach out with questions for any of our exciting guests on social media @JMcGregoryyc using the hashtag #YNotW we want to hear from you!

We recorded this episode the day after Remembrance Day so I wanted to remind everybody to think about the freedom we all enjoy and the cost of that freedom comes at mentally and physically. Take a second to think about those who have, are, and will sacrifice to keep us safe thank you to all of you! And see you on the 24th!

It’s not quite Season Two of Your Neck of the Woods yet but Calgarians Had Lots of Questions Posed to Them Aside from Council on Election Day. So, Jason and I Figured We Would Do a Show Breaking down the Results of the Equalization, and Daylight Savings Referendums As Well As the Fluoride Plebiscite in Calgary. Here Is a Breakdown of the Results:

Alberta Voted by a Margin of Roughly 62% to 38% That This Section of the Constitution Should Be Removed. Jason and I Discuss What the Result Means and the Different Paths for Ward It Could Mean for the Province. In Some Circles This Result Could Mean an Open Door for the Alberta Sovereignty Movement As It Shows an Appetite for Change That Is Unlikely to Come through Constitutional Change. This Constitutional Change Is Unlikely Because the Amending Formulae in the Constitution Act Requires Seven Provinces Representing 70% of the Population of Canada to Agree on the Amendment. That’s Why a Another Common Opinion Is That This Vote Is Merely Symbolic and Will Have Little Real World Consequence, but Momentum Could Be Gained If Other Provinces Ask Similar Questions and Get Similar Results. We Also Discuss the Factors of Low Voter Turnout, the Popularity of the Current Provincial Government, and the Difference in Political Landscape between Calgary and Edmonton As Well As the Rest of the Province

By Nearly the Narrowest of Margins, 50.2% to 49.8% We Voted to Continue Changing Our Clocks As We Currently Do. I Believe That This Result Could Have Drastically Changed If the Approach Taken Was a Switch Back to Standard Time and Then Permanent Standard Time. The Example Here Would Have Resulted in Greater Portions of the Year Many People Going to Work and Coming Home in Darkness. We Have a Great Discussion on Circadian Rhythms and Why We Do Change Our Clocks As Well As How the Result Here May Have Been Better Served If We Had Included Both Permanent Daylight Savings, and Permanent Standard Time Options As Well As Examples of What Both Options Would Mean. A Lack of Clarity and the Wrong Approach Jason and I Both Believe Skewed the Results Somewhat Here.

Arguably the Most Visible and Hotly Contested Campaign of the Three questions this was an issue many Council and mayoral candidates were asked about including myself. By a 62% to 38% margin similar to that of the equalization question Calgarians voted in favour of reintroducing fluoride into the water. This was a clear enough margin that Council is expected to act quickly to reintroduce the additive. Jason and I chat about the arguments for and against fluoridation which we discussed in season one as well as the campaigns run by each side, and how the format of the ballot and voting process may have affected the overall turnout on this question in particular since I know many people who were unable to give their opinion because the fluoride plebiscite question was talked at the bottom of the first page of a long ballot.

 To see a full breakdown of the equalization and daylight savings results visit these links, and I am also including a link to a great article global Calgary did on the fluoride result:

https://officialresults.elections.ab.ca/orResultsReferendum2021.cfm?EventId=68RQ1&QUESTIONNO=1 

https://officialresults.elections.ab.ca/orResultsReferendum2021.cfm?EventId=68RQ2&QUESTIONNO=2 

https://globalnews.ca/news/8275778/calgary-fluoride-back-drinking-water/

Hosting Your Neck of the Woods for the past year has been a major part of an incredible journey for me. When this episode comes out it will be election day here in Calgary. This is the day we’ve been talking about on the show for a long long time, and it seemed only fitting to have our election day show not only covering some of the recent events in the campaign but to reflect on what it’s been like to host the show for you. It also wouldn’t be proper to do this episode without our sometimes-absent cohost Jason. After we look back at some of the recent events in the campaign leading up to election day, we chat about how this past year has affected our lives.

I can tell you this process has given me an even greater respect for the people [even those who I might disagree with] that choose to dedicate their lives to serving their community. I am also certain that the same goes for Jason, between the fascinating guests and deeply engaging conversation on issues that matter to you I would not have traded this past year hosting the podcast for anything. It has been an absolutely amazing ride! I’m happy to say that that ride’s not coming to an end. After a much-needed break, Jason and I will be coming back and continuing Your Neck of the Woods! Depending on what happens the show will likely have a different flavour focusing more on community events and people than specific issues. Of course, politics will always be a part of Your Neck of the Woods and if I am successful in getting elected as your representative the podcast will be a major part of how I communicate with you.

So, one last time I remind you to go vote today, get vaccinated, be kind to others there’s hope and a bright future on the horizon regardless of what happens and thanks for letting me share what’s happening in Your Neck of the Woods!

PACs or the Third Party Advertisers in the jargon of the Local Authorities Elections Act have become a hot topic on the campaign trail in Your Neck of the Woods. These are groups that, while not affiliated with a specific campaign [directly] are known for advocating for specific policy outcomes. They’ve risen to fame as a mainstay in American politics where most advertising is funded at least partially by a political action committee. They’ve risen to prominence here as a result of the bleed of Americanization and polarization that we’ve seen in recent years but also as a result of deliberate reform to the legislation that governs municipal elections in Alberta.

In this episode, we discuss how PACs became prominent in municipal politics partially as a way to continue corporate donations, partially as a way to engage certain groups of people [such as the unions which dooms some very important things such as providing job protection and labour standards but have grown to have two significant and influence over the political choices of their members], and how while PACs serve a purpose there is truth to the idea that these groups can influence policy outcomes from their selected candidates, as we all know a political campaign is a money-driven process and even if PACs can’t be affiliated directly by making the process cheaper they often do hold sway over decisions made by a candidate and make it harder for non-pack affiliated campaigns such as the one run by yours truly to get their message out to effectively.

I also chat about the different impacts that are out there on this political campaign, what they’re looking to do, and what to look out for when interacting with a political advertisement. I hope all of you make your decision on October 18 based on researching your candidates and voting for the one that best represents your interests, not the one you’ve seen the most advertisement for. Don’t get pulled into the negativity either, well I may not agree with everything these groups do at a fundamental level they are groups of fellow Calgarians looking to move our city in a direction they feel is best because as we’ve talked about before the selection is one of the most important in the recent history of Your Neck of the Woods!

Things are heating up in Your Neck of the Woods, time is running out in the municipal election campaign and traditionally these campaigns include a debate. The pandemic means this isn’t exactly the easiest time to hold such an event though. Luckily Chris from the cross-border interview podcast was able to put on a debate for each of the awards including in Ward 1. Out of what turned out to be nine candidates eight of us participated, in this episode, I sit down and summarize my debate answers without the constraint of a 90 second time limit.

We covered topics ranging from economic opportunity, to affordable housing, to green spaces, and road safety. I’ll take you through all of these, connect them to previous episodes of the show and discuss the overarching theme of restoring hope to the city we call home. These of been tough times in our neck of the woods and I want to be part of the solution. With the election campaign winding down, win or lose have started thinking about the future of the show and what I would like it to be once the election is over. What I can tell you is more than likely the shows that have characterized this election year will be the first of hopefully many seasons. In the next few episodes, election day will come and go but there will always be more people, events, and issues to discuss in Your Neck of the Woods.

If I had one I hope it’s that re-watch/listen to this episode of Your Neck of the Woods a couple of times before Election Day. This may very well be the most important and useful episode of the podcast so far. Jason and I walk you through the ballot, the voting process, your voting options and when you can exercise them.

Whoever you plan to vote for we want to be your source to have your voice heard. That’s why not only are we talking about the what, how, and when of participating in our democratic process we now have a Ward 1 debate coming up in a matter of weeks! Learn when and how you can hear me and my fellow candidates share our visions for the future!

Remember whoever you vote for getting out and voting because this election will shape Your Neck of the Woods!

Some helpful links from Elections Calgary 

https://youtu.be/7zkHjZn3Jxw

https://youtu.be/KIbAmEjp2Bc

https://youtu.be/NrbyQsp_rfk

If there are 2 things I’ve emphasized on Your Neck of the Woods they are being a conduit for citizens and that if you vote for the same type of candidate you get the same results. My guest in this episode, Calgary mayoral candidate Brad Field would wholeheartedly agree! 

Jason and I chat with Brad about a wide range of 2021 election issues. For starters, the daunting task of running against what; at the time of recording, is a 26 candidate field (pun intended) featuring 3 current city Council members. Not only does he echo my sentiments about fresh blood but shares stories from his business experience to back them up. Field believes this business experience and a new approach to the city budget make him the man to lead our economic recovery.

Alongside show favourites like the Green Line and Event Centre, we also have a refreshing conversation on making it less expensive to park downtown since we’re in the process of revitalizing it. Supporting our traditional energy industry while at the same time attracting industries we’re well-positioned for, and making Calgary a destination instead of a stopover. The mayoral race will mean a great deal to Your Neck of the Woods!