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Calgary plots bold future
City aims to become energy hub

Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald
Published: Wednesday, January 9, 2008

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- Making Calgary the global energy centre by providing more research and development support for the oil and gas industry.

The task force, which is also made up of representatives from Calgary Economic Development, will today present the full strategy to council's community and protective services committee.

Calgary Economic Development declined comment on the report Tuesday.

But aldermen on the committee, which is being asked to endorse the strategy and allow it to proceed to an implementation phase, said it's a good idea to have a plan to deal with the city's growth.

"If you don't have something down on paper, you are kind of just going out to the wilderness a little bit," said Ald. Joe Ceci, noting he looks forward to hearing more about the strategy.

Ald. Jim Stevenson said the city needs to do a better job of managing its growth.

"That's an area where we've fallen down," he said. "I think we have to do better planning in this area and look at the future more strategically."

Stevenson agreed with the report that the biggest issue facing Calgary is the inability for businesses to attract workers due to the lack of affordable housing for them to live in.

"That's holding us back to some degree," he said.

Bronconnier said it's important to focus on people and community as the No. 1 issue.

"This ties into what ordinary Calgarians -- whether they be involved in business or not -- said: 'Focus on my quality of life, make sure that Calgary is a neat place to keep attracting people,' " he said. "If we don't continue as a community to be an enviable city in which to locate, we're going to fall further and further behind.

"We have to remain globally competitive, but also make sure it's still a neat place to live and a nice place to work and a safe place and an affordable place."

Recent surveys have shown that the majority of Calgarians believe their quality of life is dropping, blaming overpopulation, the cost of living and soaring housing costs.

Plans for Growth

- To develop an urban campus and other centres of excellence to make Calgary the educational and intellectual centre of Canada;

- To build more affordable housing and creating new child-care and elder-care spaces to ensure Calgarians are active contributors to the economy;

- To provide more research and development support for the oil and gas industry to make Calgary a global energy centre.

© The Calgary Herald 2008

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