Council

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: In my Career with Kiewit, I managed over 2.2 Billion $ of work. I have managed large budget where we either finished on time or before deadline and always within budget.

Mark Cassidy: I bring over 32 years of experience in real estate, during which I have honed my skills in community development, project management, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders. My work has involved successfully building seamless infill duplexes that not only enhance neighborhoods but also complement the existing community fabric. I know and desire to maintain St. Albert's needs, and I am well aware of Edmonton's current issues related to infill community concerns. This understanding equips me to navigate similar challenges in our area effectively. I vow to protect St. Albert's family demographics while advocating for all housing needs in respect to the public. Additionally, I spent six years managing all aspects of a golf course, which provided me with direct experience in customer service. This role has equipped me with excellent communication skills, enabling me to engage effectively with the public and understand the importance of being approachable and responsive to community concerns. My real estate background, coupled with my experience in customer service and collaboration, positions me well for effective governance. I am excited to bring this perspective to the council, advocating for sustainable growth and fostering a strong sense of community in St. Albert.

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: First, I have spent two terms on City Council 2001-2007. I feel I demonstrated my ability to listen to residents, listen to admin, listen to experts, analyze all the information, read technical documents and make the best decisions for the City. I proud of having navigated the approvals for the West Regional Road (Ray Gibbon Drive) and completed a contentious annexation with Sturgeon County, built firehall #3, all the while keeping the City's debt amongst the lowest in the province. I also own a small business and am President of a large non-for-profit Science organization and so I'm adept at reading and analyzing budgets. Lastly, I've been teaching for 21 years and consider communication a strength. I value input from all perspectives and think that I'm pretty good at customer service as well. I enjoy helping residents navigate the difficulties that can be associated with City Hall.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: I have been in a management position with the RCMP and sat at many Provincial and federal-level planning meetings for the implementation of Information Technology and Record Retention systems. In St. Albert and the surrounding area, I have been active in volunteer service and understand the need to give of oneself. I was and continue to be the organizer and driving force behind the Poliwings event concept in St. Albert, where gatherings are organized where politically minded residents can meet face to face and discuss politics with respect and understanding, thereby not being caught by the heat that online discussion causes through the lack of understanding emotions. I have sat on one ad hoc committee of council -- The Smart City Steering Committee, which worked with all departments in the City of St. Albert. This was eye-opening, seeing how one department often relies on one or more other departments. I am also currently on the Assessment Review Board and have spent considerable time learning and understanding how the assessment process works and what is done to ensure property assessments are equal and fair.

Heather McQuillan: I am the executive Director of a non profit working to address the lack of adequate childcare infrastructure for families who work shift work and non standard hours in Canada. We worked with Federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as employers and unions to identify barriers and needs and shift policy to support community needs. I have 15 years experience working for Large companies such as Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. where my work included managing multimillion dollar annual budgets, acquisitions and logistics. I also have a background in analytics for the housing industry.

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: As a Chartered Professional Accountant with both public and private sector experience, including internal and external audit, I bring strong financial skills and a focus on transparency. I was elected to the Board of Trustees for St. Albert Public Schools in 2021 and have served as Vice Chair, as well as Audit and Advocacy Committee Chair, making governance level decisions that reflect community priorities. And through serving on local boards and charities, I’ve gained a deep understanding of our community’s needs. Together, that experience will help me make balanced, responsible decisions for the City.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: I have spent the last decade working in professional regulation - that is, holding professionals working on behalf of the public, accountable to the public. As an investigator, I based my findings on facts, not feelings. I am able to remain impartial. I also work on several regulatory boards, including the City of Edmonton Community Standards, as a volunteer appointed public member, as I believe in being involved in our community. My understanding of the Municipal Government Act, my ability to remain impartial, and to make decisions based on facts, could be a significant asset to City Council.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: Our taxes are high because we subcontract a lot of work and Council likes to spend a lot of money on many things that are not part of usual maintenance and non-essential.

Mark Cassidy: Transit spending 9.5 million on new buses in 2026 which is because council wanted to be the first China EV purchasers in Canada they turned out to be lemons,gridlock in traffic and infrastructure delays along over spending on ideological oppose to core essentials

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: Affordability is number one. I want to make sure that spending is aligned with the priorities of residents and that we are getting value for tax dollars. To that end, I've knocked on over 1400 doors so far and plan on getting to at least another thousand before the end of the campaign. What people value is a matter of opinion and I want to make sure i have my finger on the pulse of what residents want. We need to avoid taking on debt that future generations will pay for, and we need to limit tax increases to at or below inflation as much as possible. Growth is also an issue, and directly linked to affordability. We have to manage our growth and make sure that it is done in a responsible way and in a way that maintains the character of our community. Much more about that on my website as well. Other issues that I've heard at the door include traffic, state of the Sturgeon River, and community safety and I have specific comments / plans about all of those issues on my website.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: The biggest issue currently is how to effectively and responsibly handle front-ending and maintaining services as the community grows. A sewer pipe that was correctly sized when Mission and Lacombe were originally serviced will not be large enough to handle the sewage when the same pipe is also used to service Northridge, Deer Ridge, Lakeview Business Park, etc. Building for the future can only encompass so much as oversizing also has additional costs. ( Fiscal responsibility.) This is where multi-year planning is important, understanding when to initiate a borrowing bylaw and how big to make it. St. Albert doesn't have a mattress stuffed full of money for size of investment needed here. Borrowning is a necessity.

Heather McQuillan: I think there is a lack of adequate infrastructure in place for the housing growth we're implementing. This includes a lack of economic development. I believe my background in logisitics and data analytics would be of service in this area. We need to tailor our services to the specific needs of the community so we can be fiscally laser focused keep the things that make St. Albert so special.

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: The biggest issues are responsible growth, financial accountability, and protecting our community’s character. My approach is to listen to residents, spend tax dollars wisely, and plan long-term so St. Albert stays affordable, vibrant, and true to what makes it special.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: St. Albert needs to diversify its tax base to reduce the burden on residents by expanding our industrial/commercial tax base and partnering with Villeneuve Airport to facilitate this in a mutually beneficial relationship. St. Albert also needs at least two new schools, particularly a K-9 in the NE, as soon as possible. I want to start focusing on decisions that are less about "putting out fires", and instead are more forward-thinking. This includes decisions about urban sprawl and development, and ensuring that adequate infrastructure is in place before allowing more residential development.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: I think we represent the citizen and we should always act in the best interest of all citizen. Council works for the taxpayers not the other way around.

Mark Cassidy: Way to many pet projects and lack focus leadership and a common business sense

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: I think for the most part its just right. That said, there are some areas that I think Municipal government should stay out of. Subsidized housing is one that comes to mind. That should strictly be a government responsibility. The City simply doesn't have the fiscal capacity to be taking on additional responsibilities. With our only source of revenue essentially property taxes, we need to push back on the provincial government when they try to download this kind of stuff. I get there is only one taxpayer, but cities just don't have the same fiscal capacity.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: City Council has the responsibility of setting policies for the running of our City. Unfortunately, the provincial government continually imposes upon the municipalities and complicates this. For instance, the provincial government had restricted the municipalities in Alberta from working directly with the federal government for funding of projects. Those funds must now be sent to the provincial government, and the provincial government then decides if you should receive them. Taking the above into consideration and so much more, the question about too many, not enough, or just right is not something I can answer. There are things the City is doing that the City should, things the City is doing that it shouldn't, and things the City is not doing that it should be doing.

Heather McQuillan: The city is incredible. I want to keep things moving foreward in the same direction with more efficiency

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: Municipal government should focus on listening to residents, managing tax dollars wisely, and protecting the character of our community. The City needs to focus on needs over wants so people see real value for their tax dollars.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: City Council has a very specific role, and that is to manage the needs of its Citizens, including (very importantly) decisions on how tax money is spent. Maintenance of existing infrastructure, how to accomodate residential growth in a responsible manner, garbage and waste disposal, community services, etc. all fall under the purview of municipal government. The City is mandated to meet those needs.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: We pay a lot of taxes and get a lot of services for it but I see some possible saving in the maintenance and Construction going on around the City.

Mark Cassidy: Too high for sure lots of waste and to many consultation fees that set up for biased ideology ideas rather than the grass of the public’s input.

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: I mean, they could always be lower right? But I think anyone that tells you they can lower them is lying or is out of touch with the public. The public wants a swimming pool, another arena, more bylaw enforcement etc and while there might be savings here and there, it's pretty hard to provide more with less. That is why developing our non-residential tax base is critical. That is why appropriate infill development outside of mature neighbourhoods is critical. That is why looking for creative solutions like finding partners for recreation services is critical.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: Property taxes are higher in St. Albert, and the demands of residents are also high, as one of the highest per-capita income earners on average in St. Albert. We will never lower taxes, the reality of this must be accepted, however we do need to continually look for more ways to be fiscally conservative and keep our tax increases as low as possible.

Heather McQuillan: The property taxes are high because we have a high standard of community services. I believe they are the right level for the level of services

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: Taxes are part of sustaining the services residents rely on and they deserve value for every dollar.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: Property taxes will always be deemed as "too high"; however, St. Albert prides itself on tree-lined boulevards and beautiful, expansive parks and trails, as well as well-maintained and accessible community services. I do believe St. Albert should be looking at other ways to shift the tax burden from residents to other avenues, such as industrial or commercial growth.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: I would like to see a tax freeze for few years.

Mark Cassidy: I intend to bring in initiatives that embrace AI technology to reduce waste in every line of the budget so it will be like a fine tuned lean machine operationally .

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: I'll strive to do everything I can to achieve #2 while not affecting the quality of life people have come to love about St. Albert, but #3 is most realistic and what I've committed to in my platform. Cutting costs despite population growth pushes problems down the road and probably isn't sustainable.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: Ideally, if cost savings can be found, the City will spend more money but at a rate less than that of inflation and population growth. The unfortunate reality that all municipalities have been observing over the past few years is that funding from the Provincial Government has been continually reduced. One huge example we are seeing right now is that the removal of electronic tabulators will triple the costs of the election for St. Albert. This is a result of the number of additional staff, security requirements, and time to count the ballots manually. This transfer of expenses and increased responsibilities makes it very difficult to keep taxes from rising.

Heather McQuillan: We should continue to increase spending by the rate of inflation and population growth, not by raising taxes but by appreciation in economic investments and increase in number of households

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: I would generally strive for spending not to exceed the rate of inflation and population growth.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: The City needs to make financial decisions with a "forward thinking" approach. We should not be doing the bare minimum to simply "maintain", because this creates a vicious cycle of constantly putting out fires, rather than staying on top of maintenance and growth. St. Albert has seen a lot of growth, and we need to evaluate what is a reasonable ask of residents through property taxes. Maintaining a tax increase of less than 5% should be a priority. Residential taxes, along with all other "taxes" and "services" rarely, if ever, go trend downward, but we cannot continue to increase residential taxes at unsustainable levels.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: I think the surplus left she be kept to apply a tax freeze the following year.

Mark Cassidy: Absolutely provide ample reserve by for seeing up and coming unforeseen expenses like the 9.5 million on buses in 2026 but once future needed overages should be passed down to reduce tax

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: Depends on the situation, how much it is, what the surplus is from etc. Hard question to answer as a hypothetical. Rebates might be expensive to administer. If you can use a surplus to offset an expenditure in the subsequent year - something that would have come out of taxes anyway, it might be more efficient than trying to send cheques?

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: This answer is not as simple as the question makes it sound. There are several reserve funds available to cover expenses that were not planned for when the budget was finalized. If you review multiple council meetings, you will often come across requests from administration to have a project approved and funding taken from the XYZ reserve. At the end of the fiscal year, financial prudence requires that any monies removed from a reserve fund be replaced by budget excesses when possible. It is also vital that inflation be taken into consideration when topping up the reserves. The reserves must grow so that their sizes are effective for emergencies.

Heather McQuillan: I'm a pretty firm believer in saving for a rainy day and would want to keep that practice.

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: My view would be that reserves at reasonable levels can and should be used to achieve strategic priorities.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: Reserve funds are intended to cover unexpected costs and maintenance for the City and is a great way to allocate leftover funds, as they are typically invested and earn income while sitting. I would prefer the City use these types of reserve for unexpected expenses, rather than take a loan for unexpected costs, and incur loan interest.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: Price of housing is dictate by the market, the City can't control that but they can offer affordable housing for low income earners by offering tax break to owners offering lower rent.

Mark Cassidy: No money spent on subsidized housing period it is not the role of municipalities and we should create affordable housing and maintain our family character that is what is famously known across Canada.People pay more to live in St.Alberts because it’s known as a great place to raise a family we can’t diminish that.The city is not focused enough on promoting St.Alberts sell our community and they will come

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: The city shoudl NOT be subsidizing housing. Unfortunately from what I understand, the Province has put the City in a position where if we want subsidized housing, we have to pony up. I don't like it. This should be a provincial responsibility. Affordability is a double edged sword. We want to protect people's investments in real estate, but also provide housing for people that work service industry jobs, or housing for our kids just starting out on their own. So, it's about housing mix, making sure we have apartments (I have a whole plan on how multifamily / high density should be designed on my website). We also need to provide for basement suites, garage suites etc that don't affect the character of established neighbourhoods.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: Affordable housing is technically not a responsibility of a municipal government. They have no control over interest rates, the rise or fall of house costs, or any of the costs of home building materials. Subsidized housing is done by council at a small level. In the last year St. Albert was working with the federal government, the provincial government stepped in and changed the laws such that the City cannot accept funds directly from the federal government. The provincial government made it their choice how this funding was to be delivered and used.

Heather McQuillan: Affordable housing is 30% of a household income. I believe that we need to be very specific about providing housing at this level. Not just at 30% of the median household income in St Albert but 30% of each household's income so we need to build both at 30% of the median and below that number. Before working in Film, my work was in analytics for the housing industry and I will bring that level of detailed analytics to my work in city council. We need to implement a bit of a lightening speed, targeted housing strategy to get our current community needs met. I would focus on very specifically building for our current community members who need housing not in simply creating more affordable housing as a blanket policy. My job in city council is to project the needs of a growing community but in terms of housing , this is not often effective, fast or an efficient use of funding; municipal or in partnership with provincial or federal funding- for example engaging with community members on AISH to build specifically what is needed for their projected income from AISH - we know what that is and we have a fairly reliable ability to predict both their accessibility needs for housing if there are any, along with their household income. I would encourage partnership with community organizations to leverage federal level housing funding to create a once in a lifetime, targeted response to the need for affordable housing in St Albert to catch up with the needs of community members. as a first goal to improve housig affordability.

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: “Affordable” is a relative description and dependent upon a number of factors, many of which are outside of a municipality’s control (i.e. market conditions, availability and cost of housing located to employment opportunities, etc.). A combination of the two can be achieved by focusing on what the City can control, like planning and development processes and relationships with the development community to achieve the mix of housing that is accessible and desirable at price points for various income levels.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: Affordable housing is more provincial than it is municipal; though the municipality will partner with the provincial government (or federal) and typically receive funding. If the Federal or Provincial government is interested in partnering for these types of initiatives, the City should be open to these types of investments, but not solely be responsible for them. Affordable housing for seniors is extremely important to me and I would be interested in partnering with the province or other municipalities in ensuring there are more rent-to-income facilities built or converted for this purpose. As for the price of housing, again, this is more provincially driven than it is municipally.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: Their role is pretty important as they have to be flexible in offering conditions close to private market, this way less outside contracting can be done to get more work in house to the unions workers. it is a win win situation where workers can get more if the City just subcontracting less, but initial investment would have to be done in equipment to save on the long run.

Mark Cassidy: I will address this in every way possible with the latest AI technology.We can start cutting costs immediately through attrition and implement AI to manage the transition is smooth

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: First, sometimes public employees make sense. Other times, contracting out makes more sense. Each situation is different. Having your own employees can create a level of expertise not found in contractors and can be more responsive. However contracing out can be cheaper or more efficient if there is more expertise there. For example, last time I was on council we chose to continue to contract out bus drivers as it was cheaper than bringing them "in house." More directly to your questionk I believe employees should receive fair wages. That invovles comparing to other comprable jobs, looking at rates of inflation etc. As the employer, the city has to protect the financial interest of ratepayers while also maintaining a motivated and competent workforce.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: Inflation exists; every employed person deserves wage increases to keep up with (at a minimum) the levels of inflation. This includes City staff. All staff deserve to make a livable wage. The minimum wage in Alberta is embarrassing. Unions do have a purpose, but negotiating with each employee is unfair and impossible. Comparison of job roles across the municipal area and Alberta should give us an idea of where the wage level should be. I do not support "bending the knee" to union negotiations, but fair and open discussion should take place during negotiations.

Heather McQuillan: I don't see the two as competing priorities. We really need to step back and look at the bigger picture and see the cost of not trying to negotiate fair wages and comeptitive contracts; poor recruiting for important city services, staff that is less trained, and less efficient use of tax dollars. Collective bargaining should be something council is anticipating in our budgets through ongoing communication and adjustment. I am a big fan of an ounce of preparation rather than a pound of afterthough.

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: Relationships with staff groups must always be balanced with fiscal realities and the premise that wages are funded by tax dollars.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: I believe that unions are an integral part of our City operations; however, when at the bargaining table, its important the City outlines its economic reality while understanding its important to remain competitive. St. Albert has always been known to be "above average" in terms of the services it provides to its residents, and this is reflected in our higher taxes. if we want to continue to be "above average", our union dealings should also reflect this.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: The City itself can look at his own environmental impact and try to reduce it to be a good citizen of the planet but the City itself can't make much of a difference over a world stage problem. We can do our share but we will not fix that problem within St.Albert. We have to be realistic.

Mark Cassidy: Net zero is just a desire to tax and squeeze subsidies and invest in China we can reduce carbon with implementing natural gas instead of diesel and electric buses reduce our carbon and for the fraction of the EV costs and support our local Alberta industry

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: No, not really. We all have a role to play in tackling climate change starting in our own homes going up to city facilities and city infrastructure. But leading through actions is more important than making statements. I kind of felt like Calgary's mayor declaring a climate emergency was performative and virtue signalling. Just do the things that move the needle at the right price and let your actions speak louder than your words on this front.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: Yes, we need to make these types of commitments. We also need to accept that these dates and reasons can change. As our science community continues to learn, their opinions and suggestions also change. This is what science is, understanding and acting with the best knowledge we currently have. We need to do what we can, when we can. This however needs to be controlled by not spending money because it can be spent, and not also making cuts just for the sake of making cuts. We need to ensure public safety and our infrastucture is maintained and protected.

Heather McQuillan: I had the privilege of being involved with a program that worked to reduce waste and the carbon footprint of the Film industry. Most of the initiatives were cost-neutral and incredibly effective. We worked with some of the largest corporations in the world and it was largely seen as a cost positive element of working in Canada. I believe in smarter systems rather than big costs when it comes to climate commitments, especially at a municipal level. Public safety and infrastructure are closely tied together and are always the core of my focus as is how to use tax dollars more efficiently.

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: Setting goals that are actionable and achievable is important no matter the issue, as is decisions driven by public input.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: As previously stated, if St. Albert wants to sustain its "above average" reputation, we should be investing in future forward, climate friendly initiatives. The federal government has been providing incentives for this, and we should take advantage of any grants, loans or other funding available to make St. Albert a climate-friendly City. Affordability should be our number one priority; however, many climate initiatives have an initial investment that ensures we aren't just reaching targets "today", but for the future. Net zero by 2050 is a hard target to meet, but I believe there are some reasonable targets we could meet.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: It is not the City jobs to offer relief to companies. It is a provincial or federal government problem.

Mark Cassidy: Set up a committee to address this issue in a timely matter and keep local residents on it with no outside special interest groups

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: Good question. I'm not entirely sure to be honest. Encourage more local purchasing - support local business by removing barriers locally.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: This is not the responsibility of a local municipal government. The council can lobby the provincial and federal governments for assistance/support, but it does not fall into the purvue of a municipal council.

Heather McQuillan: I would start by holding strategic business events that help bridge the gap for training on solutions and to hear the concerns of local businesses for example bringing in trade commissions to connect with new trade partners. Hosting a training session for implementation of Ai

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: Examine and support opportunities to conduct business and procurement locally when possible and practical.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: If we partnered with Villeneuve Airport, the taxes and fees are substantially less than the Edmonton airport fees, and of course, are more conveniently located. While we have no control over tariffs, the relief from expensive airport taxes at the YEG, as well as transportation costs, could help mitigate some of those expenses.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: In the new business park they could give tax break to attract new business. The value of it should depend of the length of the commitment the business commit to stay in St.Albert.

Mark Cassidy: Make sure our Chamber of Commerce is truly represented by the local business community

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: Council should never stand in the way of business success. Fortunately having spoken with so many business owners while out knocking on doors, I think St. Albert does a pretty good job here. I've been told time and time again how easy the City is to work with compared to other municipalities which is good! Most importantly, council needs to have open lines of communication and LISTEN. Business owners will tell you when something isn't working and council has to be responsive.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: Red tape is a burden and a necessity. However, we do have a lot of unnecessary red tape that has existed for years. All processes, not just regulatory issues, for small businesses need to be reviewed. The phrase that annoys me the most in business is "We have always done it that way!" All processes require a regular review, and most need updating. Working with organizations like the Chamber of Commerce is going to be a critical need to identify what some of the biggest challenges are and determine what we can do to alleviate them.

Heather McQuillan: Council should be advocating for a streamlined and updated integrated technology that allows business owners to indicate their specific needs. For example if a business operates later than current public transportation in the area, there should be a very easy way for a business to indicate a need for that and an easy way for council to make changes to support business.

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: Engaging with the business and development community, as well as comparing processes and requirements of surrounding and similar sized municipalities to seek opportunities to streamline and find efficiencies.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: I am unsure of the regulatory burdens local business owners are currently facing, as regulations are typically in the provincial wheelhouse. Regulations need to be reviewed regularly to ensure that they are still applicable, and the City Council may advocate for changes with the regulator, when identified by business owners.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: Recognizing the bad done in the past is what was needed to be done in this case. Changing a name does none of that other then giving a lot of work to a lot of people.

Mark Cassidy: No I have been a long time resident and respect our rich historical culture and the process was a forgone conclusion but it also was not in the TRC calls to action 79 through to 83 they all advocate keeping all shared history whether good or bad also the process allowed up to 100 % of the 50 signatures to implement governance in changing the name which breaches the MGA (Municioal Government Act whereby governance should be from within the municipality.It was a complete sham and so is the new naming policy to which puts all our rich historic identity at risk we need change on council A.S.A.P

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: The process was flawed and the new name is lame. Once Council had all but made the decision, they should have taken more time to collect feedback from the residents of Grandin. That could have taken various forms but it felt rushed at the end.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: They made the correct decision to rename. The Gardens may not have been a good choice due to the delivery issues that have arisen. This is something that we learn from, though. The renaming, at worst, has resulted in some minor inconveniences for people, including the need to update addresses on insurance, registrations, possibly home business-related matters, and inform friends. These are only inconveniences, though. My question is, was any "harm" done in renaming Granding to The Gardens? I have asked this question of many residents of The Gardens, and no one has been able to say yes. I then asked if there would be any harm done if we hadn't renamed Grandin? The answer to this is yes. As residential schools still existed up until 1997 when the last one in Canada closed. There are many surviving indigenous peoples that have triggers of fear, anguish, and anger from the name Grandin. We have helped with these people. This is in no way a cancellation of history. Bishop Grandin's remains are interred in the Cemetery behind the Catholic Church above Seven Hills. The history books will always remain to explain who Bishop Vital Grandin was, both the good and the bad. We haven't rewritten history, we are understanding history, learning from it, and adapting. Those that do not learn from history and accept that knowledge are doomed to repeat.

Heather McQuillan: Under the circumstances, I do. Councils responsibility is to implement the changes that the community votes to support. That said, I do think the consultation process could have been more robust - and I believe we would have had a much clearer picture of community vision had we done so.

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: The Grandin renaming highlighted the importance of reconciliation in St. Albert and reminded us how meaningful community consultation is for residents.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: Yes; in fact, I believe we should cease the practice of naming buildings, communities and other public entities after humans, as we are inevitably flawed. "The Gardens" is consistent with the naming of other nature-minded communities such as Riverside, Forest Lawn and Heritage Lakes. When we know better, we do better, so if past leaders have created or were involved in matters that we know have caused irreparable harm to others, particularly children, it behooves us to take action. These actions (renaming) are consistent with actions taken across the country, and across the world, and is not unique to St. Albert.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: I would support multi year budgeting for the basic things that do not change from year to year. Example fire fighter budget once all proper caserns are built stays pretty much the same adjusted to inflation. No need to revisit every year.

Mark Cassidy: Sadly it’s just an excuse to push and spend more into next year after an election which Edmonton is doing and once the spenders on council get re-elected the public the public are duped and will be in for a rude awakening in 2026

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: I don't have a strong opinion. Multi-year budgeting can still be changed on an annual basis, so I'm not sure it accomplishes much.

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: Multi-year budgeting is complex, as we can only adjust the taxes for the upcoming year. However, Multi-year planning is something that can be done. In actuality, it is done already, and this is how each year's budget is built. The budget documents begin with multi-year planning and then expand from there. Sometimes an item is dropped or moved to a future year; sometimes an item from a future year gets moved up to the current year. Planning is a very fluid system, and this is one of the reasons that skilled and well-paid senior management is a requirement in our city.

Heather McQuillan: I would support multi year budgeting

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: Multi-year budgeting is beneficial for aligning with strategic plans, whereas an annual budget process offers the opportunity for sharper analysis and being more responsive, so like anything, there are tradeoffs.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: I would vote for multi-year budgeting; however, I understand the challenges given the unpredictable cost factors we are facing. With the tariffs and our current situation with our largest trading partner, infrastructure costs, costs of lumber, and other supplies can cause us to create budgets that will be wildly inaccurate two years from now. The City would not want to create a false sense of financial security that does not exist, and have citizens upset when those costs appear to skyrocket at a later time.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.

Councillor

6 To Be Elected

Shelley Biermanski: No response.

Gilbert Cantin: I am part of Michael Cooper's board and Dale Nally's board as I wanted to learn more about how to run campaigns. I ran for Councilor un-successfully in 2017 and 2021. I define myself as a fiscally conservative in the middle right but able to discuss with anyone of any allegiances. Matter of facts, my wife works often with Marie Renaud thru her non-profit organization. I met Dale Nally the first time thru her non profit organization where is the Director.

Mark Cassidy: I have had Christian and conservative ties since I’ve lived in St.Albert for the last 60 years I am affiliated with both and that’s just what St.Albert needs badly!

Sandy Clark: No response.

Crystal Gossmann: No response.

Billy Harquail: No response.

Sheena Hughes: No response.

Neil Korotash: I ran for the PC Nomination for Spruce Grove St. Albert in 2015 and the Alberta Party in 2019 and have no current Provincial or Federal political involvement. I was once "accused" by Michael Cooper of being a 'Red Tory' and I'd say that's exactly what I am. Somewhere in the middle ;-)

Demetrius Kuc: No response.

Alan Luck: No response.

Ken MacKay: No response.

Kevin Malinowski: I am not affiliated with any political party. I have purchased memberships in most parties at both the federal and provincial levels. I do this so I can have the option to vote in the selection of the leaders of each party and take part in leadership reviews that may happen. Some items fall under each of the parties. My ability to vote for the person running for leadership in the different parties that is the best fit for me is a right that we should all have. I believe my only non-expired membership is currently the UCP, which I purchased so I could vote in Danielle Smith's leadership review last year. As a council member, I will remain non-partisan so that I can work with any elected official regardless of affiliation. For St. Albert right now, this is Michael Cooper with the CPC, Dale Nally with the UPC, and Marie Renaud with the NDP.

Heather McQuillan: I am affiliated with the NDP. I am a second generation union worker, the daughter of a Nurse - that said, I was never political and didn't always vote NDP. I do go to picket lines to support fellow union members. I do a lot of work that involves making housing more affordable, making higher quality childcare more readily available when families need it. My mother has Parkinson's and we are often involved with advocacy for disability communities. I noticed who was there between elections working on these issues and I saw MLAs and MP's who were doing the same work, and often off the clock - and most of them were NDP. It was just simply the people who were helping people in my community in the way I help.

Amanda Patrick: No response.

Kristi Rouse: I consider myself to be quite centrist with aspects of political party values resonating with me depending on the issue.

Kery Samardzija: No response.

Jackie Sargent: No response.

Skye Vermeulen: I am not affiliated with any provincial or federal parties and believe municipal elections should remain unencumbered by these affiliations. In the past decade, politics has become incredibly divisive, with people making judgments on others, solely based on their political beliefs. I wish to lead with facts, not feelings.

Leonard Wilkins: No response.