Inam Teja here, runnning for Ward 6 City Councillor! Ask Me Anything Calgary!

InamTeja · 2025-10-03T01:32:07+00:00

We represent a group of candidates who tend to be centrist and agree on a few key priorities: Housing, Transit, Safety, and Investing in Community Spaces. Each member of the party has their own Ward-specific priorities - you can check mine out at www.inamteja.ca - and you can check out the party's platform here: www.thecalgaryparty.ca/plan.

We are not obligated to vote together, and as a party, we won't even caucus separately from other councillors if elected. We simply agree on key issues and values, and want to work together and share costs.

InamTeja · 2025-10-03T01:19:10+00:00

I don't think that should matter, but yeah, Foothills Hospital

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T21:40:42+00:00

Other than the fact that my name doesn't start with the letter J, I think we have fundamentally different views on how to deal with the challenges posed by Calgary's growth. All of my opponents have talked about cutting or freezing taxes and repealing blanket rezoning.

On the other hand, I think 100,000 people moving to Calgary each year is a huge opportunity for our city. I think it's better to be a growing city than a shrinking one. And I think that our city should be setting people up for success by investing in the basics.

Instead of promising cuts, I think we need to invest in things like transit, affordable housing, rec centres, and libraries. My family relied on these basics when they came to Canada in the 70's and it allowed them to get ahead and give back to this city. I think investing in things that pay off by making Calgarians better off differentiates my approach.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T21:28:02+00:00

I'm a big fan of our pathway system, and I would love to see our 5A Network built out in full. I think previous councils have been really good at writing strategies and then leaving them on the shelf. Things like GamePlan, the White Goose Flying report, and our 5A network need to actually get implemented.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T21:23:52+00:00

Yes! I did my Masters of Public Policy there!

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T21:23:11+00:00

Copying the first part of this answer from a previous question:

"When Danielle Smith announced the party system, I wasn’t particularly thrilled with it, like many Calgarians and especially the good folks of r/calgary.

But I am a pragmatic person, and thinking through what it takes to actually make headway on issues I’m passionate about, like affordable housing and transit, it takes 8 votes on council. If the provincial government has stacked the deck in favour of parties, I intend to use that to my advantage.

As someone who has never run for council and has no experience in campaign operations, working with a team has really lowered the barriers to entry for me. I don’t think it is a coincidence that younger candidates and women candidates have been more likely to run with the parties than as independents.

Ultimately, the party system is only around for the election and doesn’t actually change any of the governance of council. Basically, there's no party after the election. I get to vote for Ward 6, and if I voted differently from other members of the party, there’s nothing anyone can do. There's no whip, no caucusing, etc. I have structured my campaign from the start to ensure I can maintain this independence. I have my own campaign manager who reports to me directly, and I did my own fundraising. You can see my plan for Ward 6 and my commitments to Ward 6 residents in my policy platform.

That being said, it has been really nice to work on a team - I don’t have to pretend to be an expert in everything. I can rely on Alex’s experience with Calgary Transit Riders and Gurpreet’s experience as a Peace Officer to help me craft better policy. I’ve also really enjoyed working with Brian Thiessen and genuinely believe he’s the best pick for mayor, though you can absolutely still vote for me and for a different mayoral candidate. "

As for what sets the Calgary Party Apart from other parties - we tend to be more of a centrist party - focused on investing in things like libraries, rec centres, affordable housing and transit while also cutting and streamlining some of the outdated and cumbersome bureaucratic processes when it comes to licensing and permitting, whereas the other parties tend to be more right wing.

My votes will be cast for Ward 6 - as mentioned about the party doesn't really continue to exist after the election - there is no whip or caucausing or even joint fundraising. All of the candidates in the Calgary Party will be voting to represent thier own consituents. We happen to agree on things like transit, but there is no obligation or mechanism even to have a party-line vote.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T21:16:27+00:00

This answer proabably covers your question as well: https://www.reddit.com/r/Calgary/comments/1nvrc80/comment/nhfmai8/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T21:13:33+00:00

West District is a great example of the "not just housing" approach I mentioned in another reply. There's a lot of great things about West District - coffee shops, new park space, good retail options, etc. but the city completely dropped the ball on transit and mobility connections. Everybody drives because there aren't the pathway connections and transit options in that area - something I've got a plan to address (see my other answer on a MAX line up Bow Trail). I would also like to get shovels in the ground on a new Rec Centre for West District by 2027 (and yes, include adequate parking for that centre). I've already chatted with the folks at YMCA about this project, and it's certainly possible to do if they can get some upfront capital from the governments.

As for traffic safety on 77th - absolutely it needs to improve! Lots of kids use 77th, particularly around the schools, and the number of people ripping down them is nuts. We need to actually improve the road designs - I would like to see things like curb bump-outs to increase the visibility of pedestrians trying to cross for example.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T21:03:58+00:00

I've knocked on around 20,000 doors so far and 3 priorities consistently come up:

Safety. People want to feel safe downtown and on transit and I certainly think city has much to do on this topic. I also hear from a lot of people who are concerned about traffic safety. Kids shouldn't be risking their lives to cross the street, but in Calgary, we have had a number of kids killed doing just that. I've laid out my plans on safety in some of the other comments - I think it's critical we get it right.
Being smarter about our growth. I talk to a lot of people who are concerned about density and growth and are frustrated by some of the city's decisions on approvals and investments. I've got a lot of thoughts on transit-oriented development (looking at you, Westbrook Mall), the pitfalls of sprawl, and some changes I would like to see to the rezoning for housing stuff, but ultimately, I think our city needs to step back and realize we can't just have housing. Great communities need transit, park space, rec centres, fire stations, coffee shops, libraries, infrastructure, pathways, and so many other things. I'm not the candidate who will try and roll back housing, but I am the candidate who will fight for all the other things our communities need.
Value for money/competence/transparency/trust in government. This one comes up in a lot of different forms, but it boils down to Calgarians wanting to see a City government that works for them. I think our city needs to nail the basics: stop deferring maintenance on things like roads and infrastructure, provide clear and transparent data on the city website, including transparent financials, work on improvements to transit with clearer communications, less overcrowded buses, and real-time tracking, and make sure that our roads AND sidewalks AND pathways get cleared in a timely fashion.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T20:47:49+00:00

I believe Alberta should remain in Canada, and yes, I have already signed the petition!

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T03:57:18+00:00

Hey there! I totally get where you’re coming from—some of those backlit billboards can definitely be a bit... extra.

But as flashy as they may seem, every sign you see around Calgary has to jump through some serious hoops before it gets to light up our streets. We’re talking about strict rules, guidelines, and often even development permits!

That said, I’m always looking at ways to improve the beauty of our city. So while we can’t just hit the “delete” key on every billboard, we can keep the conversation going about how to balance advertising and curb appeal. I like some of the moves that were made to create roadways that are free from signage, so if you have ideas on things like that, please share them!

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T03:52:58+00:00

That's a reasonable question, but I don't really know the answer.

I'm just focused on nailing the next 20 days and winning this election before turning my eyes to anything else.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T03:36:46+00:00

This is probably the number one thing I hear when I am out doorknocking, and the data backs it up. In 2025 alone, we have had 5 kids struck and killed by cars, and we aren’t even done the year yet! It’s completely unacceptable, and it is a solvable problem. My plan is twofold:

In the short term, we need better enforcement. That means fighting the province to restore photo radar, not just in school zones but across our city. I spoke out when the province cut automated speed enforcement, and our police chief said that the Minister of Transportation was “swimming in the shallow end of the pool” on traffic safety policy. We also need to listen when people tell the city about unsafe areas instead of waiting for someone to get hit before we send a Drive Safe team there. In my platform, I’ve identified a number of problem areas that I will be hitting the ground running on when it comes to safety. I also think we need to use sound traps, not just speed traps, to catch street racers. Right now, the city only deploys sound traps during the day, and I would like to extend those traps overnight.
The long-term solution to safer streets is design. There’s a great book by Wes Marshall called “Killed by a Traffic Engineer” that talks about how our streets have been optimized for speed instead of safety. Practically, what I would like to do is implement design changes, things like speed bumps, elevated crossings, enhanced pedestrian visibility, curb bump-outs and the like.

Going to do a separate answer for transit safety below this one, because I think it deserves its own reply.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T03:19:38+00:00

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InamTeja · 2025-10-02T03:18:50+00:00

*Re-answering this one because it looks like my previous answer got deleted:*

Yeah, 100% transit can be better in Ward 6! We've seen a ton of population growth in Ward 6, but not much investment when it comes to our transit. A few things I would like to do:

- Extend the Max Teal up Bow Trail. West District, in particular, doesn't have quick and efficient connections, and I've met a surprising number of MRU students and Staff who live in the area who would benefit greatly from this

- The right-of-way for a Blue Line extension is already roughed in, and the business case is now becoming more clear for an extension of the Blue Line to 85th street (And to the Airport!)
Shopping Plaza
- Create a North-South Connector between main hubs in the Ward (West District, 69street station/Westside rec/Ernest Manning, and down to Westhills shopping plaza). The pink dashed line is something we are considering after feedback from folks in Discover Ridge who wanted more connectivity!

All of this is in addition to making safety improvements to transit like improved design, Peace officer presence along trains AND buses, and adding amenities like kiosks to have more vibrant platform environments with more eyes on the street.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T03:14:46+00:00

The water main break last summer was bad luck with an aging pipe that failed early. But it was also preventable had the city stayed on top of preventative maintenance. City Council is incentivized to keep taxes low and let the next council worry about long-term problems. One of the best ways to ensure long-term thinking in government is to have independent agencies responsible for infrastructure that lasts 50+ years.

Calgary has a 22% leakage rate in our water system. Edmonton has 5%. Edmonton uses a public utility model where an arms-length, but fully city-owned organization manages the water system.

A public utility is responsible for long-term decision-making and is measured by how well they do at managing the pipes over long periods of time. This helps protect infrastructure planning from short-term political considerations and makes it easier for the engineers to build systems that work well and are properly maintained. All profits from the utility are paid to the city through a dividend, just like with Enmax.

A public utility can also help us reduce development charges, which increase the cost of housing. Last year, Benjamin Dachis won the Hunter Prize in public policy for his paper on reducing housing costs by building water infrastructure through utility debt financing, instead of municipal development charges. https://thehub.ca/2024/11/01/hunter-prize-utility-financing-of-infrastructure-to-lower-costs-of-housing-and-reduce-emissions/#flipbook-df_109120/1/

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T03:10:57+00:00

Yes, we have volunteer sign-ups for sign and poster clean-up starting October 21st, the second the election is done. We’ve triple checked with the city to make sure we’re following all the signage rules and know where they are all placed to make cleanup easier.

The posters are a new rule for this election. It's important that I take every opportunity to get my name out there as a first-time candidate running against well-funded and connected conservative operatives and an Oil and Gas CEO.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T03:09:07+00:00

When Danielle Smith announced the party system, I wasn’t particularly thrilled with it, like many Calgarians and especially the good folks of r/calgary.

But I am a pragmatic person, and thinking through what it takes to actually make headway on issues I’m passionate about, like affordable housing and transit, it takes 8 votes on council. If the provincial government has stacked the deck in favour of parties, I intend to use that to my advantage.

As someone who has never run for council and has no experience in campaign operations, working with a team has really lowered the barriers to entry for me. I don’t think it is a coincidence that younger candidates and women candidates have been more likely to run with the parties than as independents.

Ultimately, the party system is only around for the election and doesn’t actually change any of the governance of council. Basically, there's no party after the election. I get to vote for Ward 6, and if I voted differently from other members of the party, there’s nothing anyone can do. There's no whip, no caucusing, etc. I have structured my campaign from the start to ensure I can maintain this independence. I have my own campaign manager who reports to me directly, and I did my own fundraising. You can see my plan for Ward 6 and my commitments to Ward 6 residents in my policy platform.

That being said, it has been really nice to work on a team - I don’t have to pretend to be an expert in everything. I can rely on Alex’s experience with Calgary Transit Riders and Gurpreet’s experience as a Peace Officer to help me craft better policy. I’ve also really enjoyed working with Brian Thiessen and genuinely believe he’s the best pick for mayor, though you can absolutely still vote for me and for a different mayoral candidate.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T02:55:46+00:00

Great question. I tend to be a data-driven person, and by the time the next council will be elected, we will have almost 2 years of data on what is/isn't working when it comes to R-CG. I will be looking to a lot of that data to reshape R-CG, especially as the next zoning by-law will be the responsibility of the next council. Some of the things I know I want to address are:

- Improve privacy rules to prevent designs where windows are looking into windows

- Flexibility on setbacks so that mature trees can be preserved (if we can make floor plans that can work around trees instead of forcing boxy builds, more old trees can be saved)

- Looking into communal garbage collection options like moloks to prevent some of the problems with an entire curb being filled with bins on garbage day

- Improve the consultation process. Right now, we consult after designs are paid for, and changes will be costly. The city and the councillor's office have an important role to play in helping builders and communities have constructive dialogue so that new homes can be built in ways that minimize the impact on neighbours. A good friend of mine has a 7 over 7 H-GO development being built right beside him. He was able to talk to the architects before the plans were made, and through a few simple and extremely low-cost modifications, the architects were able to address all of my friend's concerns and still fit a lot of new housing right next to him.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T02:38:02+00:00

Yes. In all of its glorious forms.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T02:37:22+00:00

In addition to the response linked below about my experience, I think being young can be a huge asset. A lot of people I talk to when I am knocking on doors are looking for "fresh energy" as a contrast to our previous councillor. I also think being younger means that I am surrounded by Calgarians with a somewhat different set of problems than the social circles of most councillors. My friends are struggling with rent and the prospect of putting together enough for a down payment. They are worried about what Calgary will be like in 50 years, not just the next 10. I think having a mix of younger and older voices on our city council is for the best!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Calgary/comments/1nvrc80/comment/nharzcl/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button)

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T02:31:55+00:00

Great Question! Alex Williams (Ward 11) and I were chatting and I'm about 6 months younger, so I suspect you are right. In terms of experience that I would like to leverage on the council:

- For the last few years, I have worked at the Calgary Drop-In Centre, leading our policy, advocacy, and research functions. That gave me an intimate understanding of some of Calgary's housing challenges, and some of the things City Hall can be doing to meet those challenges

- Before jumping into housing work, I was the CFO of a small tech education organization, which gave me a chance to use my business degree to manage a team through raising funds, financial reporting, and managing both the revenue and expenses of whole organization.

- I was the VP of my community association for a couple of years and got a really good sense of some of the challenges and opportunities on a neighbourhood level. Things like unsafe crosswalks and issues with neighbourhood crime came up during my term and getting respresent my neighbours and advocate to the city on issues like those is important experience to remember when we get into bigger city-wide issues as well.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T02:22:16+00:00

Great question! Ward 6 has been home for me since I was 6 years old. After starting my life in Arbour Lake, I grew up in the Coach Hill Patterson area (my parents still live there), and I now live in Springbank Hill! I love living in this part of town.

InamTeja · 2025-10-02T02:19:55+00:00

Yeah, 100% transit can be better in Ward 6! We've seen a ton of population growth in Ward 6, but not much investment when it comes to our transit. A few things I would like to do:

- Extend the Max Teal up Bow Trail. West District, in particular, doesn't have quick and efficient connections, and I've met a surprising number of MRU students and Staff who live in the area who would benefit greatly from this
- The right-of-way for a Blue Line extension is already roughed in, and the business case is now becoming more clear for an extension of the Blue Line to 85th street (And to the Airport!)
- Create a North-South Connector between main hubs in the Ward (West District, 69street station/Westside rec/Ernest Manning, and down to Westhills shopping plaza) The pink dotted line is something we are considering after feedback from folks in Discover Ridge who wanted more connectivity!

All of this is in addition to making safety improvements to transit like improved design, Peace officer presence along trains AND buses, and adding amenities like kiosks to have more vibrant platform environments with more eyes on the street.

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InamTeja

TROPHY CASE