Website

www.nenshi.ca

Bio

Since taking office, Mayor Nenshi has worked hard to steer Calgary through periods of unprecedented growth and economic downturn. He has championed major projects and programs that have kept Calgarians moving, built better communities in which to live and work, and created a more efficient and citizen-focused City Hall.

Prior to being elected, Mayor Nenshi was with McKinsey and Company, later forming his own business to help public, private and non-profit organizations grow. He then entered academia, where he was Canada's first tenured professor in the field of nonprofit management, at Mount Royal University's Bissett School of Business.

During his time as Mayor he has received numerous honours, including the 2014 World Mayor Prize.

Mayor Nenshi holds a Bachelor of Commerce (with distinction) from the University of Calgary, where he was President of the Students' Union, and a Master in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Candidate Video

Survey

1. The City of Calgary could be more business friendly in tone and action.

   Yes

   How?

   I think we have come a long way in this regard, but we should always look at ways to make things better. Calgary is one of the best places in the world to start and grow a business, and I don’t think we should let the uncertainty created by the economic downturn overshadow that fact.
   
   The City has been able to get projects going in near-record time. Food trucks are a great example. We were a national finalist for the CFIB’s Golden Scissors Award in 2012 for that project.
   
   When approached by the business community we have tried to be responsive. I recently introduced a Notice of Motion to fix the current appeals and assessment process for non-residential property owners. And we worked with the Chamber to phase out the business tax.

2. City government could be more efficient in program delivery and spending.

   Yes

   How?

   We have made great strides, but there is always more we can do.
   
   One of the first things I did as Mayor back in 2010 was institute the Cut Red Tape project. We partnered with the business community and over time identified 45 process improvements and generated $14,675,000 in savings. We received an honourable mention in the Golden Scissors Award from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in 2015 for this.
   
   We also implemented Zero-based Reviews, where independent third parties work with business units to identify areas for efficiencies and savings. Over time we have generated more than $50 million in annual, recurring savings.
   
   But I am not content with these successes. The Chamber's suggestions are worth a closer look.

3. City Council needs a plan in place for managing the loss of revenue, that resulted from the drop in downtown business property values.

   Yes

   How?

   This is the biggest problem facing the city budget in the medium term. An enormous amount of our commercial tax revenues were lost as a result of the downtown office vacancy. While we mitigated that with the $45 million fund and property tax cap, we need a longer-term solution.
   
   I will, if re-elected, propose to Council that we maintain the non-residential property tax cap for 2018, while we work on a long-term solution, which must include a plan to refill the downtown. Through our work with Calgary Economic Development, we've attracted, retained, and supported over 90 businesses since 2016.
   
   We also need to work within our legislative constraints to figure out ways to ensure a more equitable tax shift when there is vacancy downtown.

4. City government could be more open and welcoming to new innovative ideas or business models.

   Yes

   How?

   Although I believe we have been open to innovative business ideas (i.e. Food Trucks), we still have to ensure they all meet basic consumer safety requirements.
   
   Take Uber. Cities around the world had experienced safety issues, so I wanted those addressed from the get-go. We now have a deal in place that should allow Uber to stay, unlike London or Quebec where their license has been revoked. So we need to be open to innovative ideas and business models, but we have to be thoughtful in our approach.
   
   There is more we can do to help incubate and foster innovative businesses that are being created right here in Calgary, through partnerships with the universities and SAIT, and work being done by CED to encourage innovation in key sectors.

5. Regulatory barriers should be reduced and regulatory timelines shortened to allow businesses to create jobs faster.

   Yes

   How?

   Regulations are there to keep consumers safe and ensure a level of certainty. Where we can reduce regulatory barriers and reduce timelines, we should. Through Cut Red Tape and our Development Industry Work Plan, we are trying to address exactly that.
   
   However, though we must always strive to be efficient, we do not want to create a work culture where volume triumphs over quality, where safety is compromised in order to meet a deadline.
   
   I’m pleased that we have massively reduced the amount of time it takes to get a development permit this year, for example, but it's a constant battle to remove bureaucracy. The creation of the new Calgary Approvals Coordination business unit has helped a lot, but we have work to do.

6. What is your top idea or policy for developing jobs, business, and the economy?

   My detailed plan for a Better Economy can be found at www.nenshi.ca. In it, I set out a vision for moving Calgary and its business community through this fragile economic recovery and developing an economy that will be much more resilient to fluctuations in world commodity prices.
   
   But my top idea is to keep working hard to recruit companies and businesses to fill our downtown office towers. Over the past seven years, we have developed an international profile for our city, one that is attractive to investors from around the world. They appreciate our talented workforce and excellent quality of life. We also need to keep selling Calgary to Calgarians and encourage the entrepreneurial spirit inherent in our culture.