2021 Federal Election

Voters will be heading to the polls on September 20th to decide who will win the 2021 federal election.

Platform Guide.png — Platform Guide

What are the parties saying about food issues? The Bow Valley Food Alliance (BVFA) has put together this platform guide to breakdown the commitments of the federal parties that relate to the Bow Valley Food Charter.
The eight pillars of the Charter are vibrant regional economies, the earth and the environment, knowledge and education, collaboration and diversity, accessibility, health, local food systems, and social justice.
Please note that the BVFA does not endorse any party's commitment and that the commitments outlined in the Platform Guide relate to but do not necessarily strengthen the associated pillar of the Food Charter.

Read the Guide

Candidate Q&A

The BVFA team sent the following questions to all the candidates running in the Banff-Airdrie electoral district:

98.5% of participants from a recent survey (June/July 2020) ranked the cost of food as a key issue in the Bow Valley. How does your party plan to help address the high cost of food in these communities?
Black, Indigenous and racialized people experience food insecurity at much higher rates than white people in Canada. What will your party do to address the food insecurity issues among equity-seeking populations?
A study by national real estate company Zoocasa in 2018 found Canmore to be the least affordable community in Alberta. With high rental costs and house prices across the Bow Valley, what will your party do to ensure those in the Bow Valley can afford safe housing?
Statistics Canada reported the Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House region showed a rate of 9.9% unemployment in January 2021, compared to 6.6% in January 2020. What will you do to support people throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?

Candidates were contacted on September 2nd and had until the end of day on September 12th to respond. See the responses below:

+ Green Party: Aidan Blum

Question 1: "One key way I plan to address food insecurity in the Bow Valley, and across the country, is by putting the climate emergency as a top priority and bring war-time urgency to the House of Commons around our need to rapidly reduce emissions. Food insecurity is going to go hand-in-hand with climate change and will require a complete transformation in how our society operates, in order to ensure that people are not burning out just to put food on the table. Affordable housing for all will help alleviate the pressures of food insecurity as well, as those who are rent poor are far more likely to feel the burden of the rising costs of food and other goods and services. Prioritizing local food sources wherever possible and subsidizing programs and services to reach people facing food insecurity will be paramount in tackling this problem."

Question 2: "There is no question that marginalized people in the region face a more difficult road to sustainability than non-marginalized people. That is why I support the Green Party's effort to put forward such a diverse, more representative slate of candidates on ballots across the country. Molding society to lift up our most vulnerable is going to be key in creating a more equitable system that leaves no one behind. Including indigenous leaders and community members and giving more seats at the table to minorities will build a healthier, more balanced discussion that has a more balanced perspective into the needs of the communities that make up our riding of Banff-Airdrie."

Question 3: "With the housing crisis ballooning out of control, and an inexcusable lack of leadership at all levels of government, systemic change surrounding housing is an urgent necessity. The Bow Valley has become a microcosm of the national, and growing international crisis. Housing needs to be a human right, and we cannot be afraid to crack down on those abusing the market and exploiting people in the process. That is why I would propose legislation to target investors abusing the system with a wealth tax, capital gains tax, and luxury tax, in order to create needed revenue to build affordable housing and decentivize investors from monopolizing the market. I would also subsidize all municipal efforts to develop housing projects to ensure that a minimum of 50% of all new homes are affordable to the lowest bracket of renters and home buyers. I would ban foreign home ownership in Canada, as I believe a significant problem is that we have a housing market with countless empty homes, set at ridiculously expensive prices, and people needing homes, who cannot afford to live in them. In order to own more than one home in Canada, I would propose that it be a requirement to permanently reside in the country. Much more nuance and discussion will be needed, but these are my preliminary ideas surrounding the crisis."

Question 4: "Unemployment is a systemic choice, and one that can be transformed with some major changes in how our economy, and society operates at its most fundamental levels. War level urgency in tackling the climate crisis would immediately transform work in the region. Alberta is fortunate to have one of the best skilled labour forces on the continent, and it is inexcusable that only band aids can be offered by establishment parties rather than a true reliable employment future. From growing renewable industries, retrofitting homes, building more reliable public transit, and green infrastructure projects, decades of work is ready, and only requires a government willing to shift our priorities to be in line with these opportunities. Subsidizing and ensuring every worker has access to the training and skills needed to work in the new economy will be a must as well. We can build a more reliable, sustainable future for everyone. It does not have to be a pipe dream. We need ambitious, bold people who understand what it feels like to feel the pressures of today leading our country towards a better vision that truly leaves no one behind."