The next city council could be asked to return fluoride to the city’s water supply. What is your position on this?

Fluoride in drinking water is necessary to keep healthy teeth and decrease cavities. PRESENTLY THE DRINKING WATER HAS TOO MUCH SEDIMENTATION AND NEEDS PROCESS OF PURIFICATION, TO PROTECT PEOPLES’ HEALTH. I am working on behalf of people’s well being for everybody, with no exceptions, applying human rights for every person in Calgary. I am asking to the public, neighbours and friends, to consider to vote for Esther Sutherland for city councillor on election day, on October 18, or in advance vote from October 4 to 10, 2021.

God bless. Sincerely, Esther Sutherland for city councillor Ward 10.

Occupation:

Former nurse

Political/volunteer experience:

Helping my community to solve social issues.

What is your motivation for seeking a seat on city council?

Social and economic issues that are affecting people of each community motivated me to be a candidate to work on behalf of people’s rights and to find good solutions for everyone’s well-being.

Applying human rights, equality of services and opportunities for everybody’s well-being to have safe neighbourhoods to live in. Inclusion in social programs for people who have been left behind, low-income people who do not qualify for welfare, and they do not have free medication in Calgary. Applying human rights to create a program at the city level, free medication for Canadians born in Canada under 65 and low income who do not qualify for welfare.

Social and economic issues need to be addressed to find good solutions for everyone’s well-being. Presently, we do philanthropic work, helping a Christian pastor distribute hampers to needy people in many areas. We notice in each community there are hundreds of Canadians surviving because of the food bank. Some people are looking and applying for jobs, but it is difficult for them to get a job. Too many talented, well-educated people are searching for jobs in any available position and it is difficult for them to be hired.

Describe your leadership style:

My style is direct, leading by example. I enjoy delegating tasks, taking the lead on projects to create programs that benefit people. Applying my talents and natural abilities and good skills developed through time help me be a good leader who works on behalf of my communities in many areas.

What do you consider the single most important issue facing Calgarians, and what should be done about it?

The single most important issue facing Calgarians is debts such as credit cards, lines of credit, mortgages and car loans that are a reflection of pandemic restrictions and loss of jobs. As a consequence, hundreds of people are surviving on food banks. Debt is a social economic issue that thousands of Calgarians are facing presently. What should be done about it? Control the city’s expenditures and better management of taxes. The city should set up a budget to help homeowners who are facing foreclosure.

UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE JOBS WITH A DECENT SALARY to improve the standard of life of Calgarians and to pay living expenses, rent, mortgage and after paying utility bills to have enough money to buy fresh food to put on the table, to improve health.

Lack of money to buy medication to cure illnesses. Hundreds of people with health conditions are dying in hospitals and they are blaming it on COVID. Canadians born in Canada under 65 years old, low-income people who do not qualify for welfare, they do not have free medication in Alberta.

Ask yourself a question: What kind of people, what kind of leaders are governing Alberta and the city? Crooked politicians who are governing in alliance with some corrupt health-care leaders and researchers who orchestrated pandemic waves, to put restrictions on the public, are affecting peoples’ economy, health and lives. Crooked leaders are using the media to get what they want, forcing the government to put restrictions on people and business owners, and very badly affecting Canada’s economy. Those who imposed too many restrictions on others are walking free, with no masks and not keeping distance at all in their social gatherings, traveling wherever they want and contaminating others with no care at all.

What are the three most important issues in your ward, and how would you address them?

Social and economic issues are affecting the people and communities of Ward 10. We need better services and maintenance of streets, parks, and some areas in each community to remove garbage accumulated close to bus shelters, sidewalks, parks and highways. We need to have a clean environment and clean neighbourhoods for everybody’s well-being. My husband is volunteering to help the City clean and remove the garbage accumulated in 16 Ave. highway fences, so we can have a clean neighbourhood to live in.

The City should stop privatizing public assets and liabilities that belong to communities. Traffic congestion affects workers, and road blockage everywhere is affects everybody. Peoples’ petitions to have affordable housing, transportation and economic bus passes for low-income workers.

Do you support the city’s downtown revitalization strategy? Where should funding and programs be focused?

It will be nice if revitalization of the downtown core will create jobs to give Canadian builders and contractors the opportunity to have a contract with the city to be in charge of development.

It is necessary to develop the city core in many ways to supply peoples’ needs. To convert empty buildings in affordable housing, for low-income workers and for veterans who are in temporary lodge, people who have being left behind by society. Inclusion in affordable housing for homeless people, neglected by institutions. So homeless people will have the opportunity to have a secure place to call home.

Applying human rights, equality of services for everyone’s well being. Regarding the plan to develop the Green Line in the downtown core will affect business, buildings, and houses located in Calgary downtown core. It will affect peoples’ property very badly.

The direction of the Green Line should be modified to avoid damage peoples’ property, and business owners. It is much better to move the direction of the Green Line closer to the Elbow River. And if there is enough budget, extend the Green Line direction to the airport to facilitate peoples’ transportation.

Calgary council approved $200 million initial approved funds to redevelop vacated buildings in the downtown core. A strategy to find a long-term fix for the existing 30 per cent office vacancy problem in the core, to fix it and build amenities, streetscape improvements, and to change office to residential conversion projects.

Questions: The same builders will be the beneficiary of millions of dollars, using taxes for their plans and projects they have, to develop the city core? The response of this candidate questionnaire, who is going to receive it?

What innovative project or job creation measure can you propose to aid Calgary’s post-COVID economic recovery?

Business owners should facilitate the application to make easy for unemployed people to be hired, to get a job, to improve their economy, to reduce financial difficulties, misery and poverty. Innovative projects to decrease the monopoly of jobs, so everybody should have the same opportunity to have a job across Calgary, to have a decent salary to improve their standard of life.

Too much heath-care restrictions are affecting peoples’ lives and health, submitting to them to live in loneliness, affecting them morally, mentally, physically and financially. Healthcare restrictions affected some business owners very badly, those who entered in bankruptcy, closing their business and firing workers.

Diversify the economy to invest in Calgary, set up a budget to help Canadians who are unemployed, people who have talents and good skills to set up a business but they do not have money to do it. It is time to clean the system, for a better system for everybody’s well being, to live in peace, applying righteous human rights, equality of services and opportunities for everybody. To pursue peace, to have safe, strong, free, prospered communities for everyone’s well being.

What should city council do to keep young adults from leaving Calgary?

City council should agree to build more recreational centres and people from each community should consider creating programs for young adults, to help young people develop a healthy mind and body.

As well, training jobs and work placement for young adults who want to work, and help them search for a job.

We have to learn from our pioneers who established and developed the city for everybody’s benefit and well being.

Good advice for the new leaders.

Good leaders with morality and ethics will do a good job for everybody’s well being.

* All candidate Q&As have been edited for clarity and brevity.

*Original article online at https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/esther-sutherland-ward-10-calgary-council-candidate-questionnaire