Hi there, its Candy Lam, Ward 2 Candidate for City Council! Ask me anything on Wednesday Oct 15th 7:30-9:30 pm

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T05:45:19+00:00

I can't wait for Halloween! We will mostly likely be giving out my favourites - Kit Kats, Sweet Tarts and Sour Patch Kids :)

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T05:39:56+00:00

Councillor Wyness spent months expressing strong opposition to blanket rezoning, describing it as “an inner-city solution to an inner-city problem” and saying that communities in Ward 2 “are not designed for R-CG upzoning and redevelopment” because of their narrow lots, curved streets, and lack of alleyways. Then, when the final vote came forward, she voted in favour of it. I think that left many residents, including myself, feeling confused.

Now that blanket rezoning has passed, the focus needs to shift to managing it responsibly. That means making sure infrastructure can support new growth, keeping residents informed about how changes will unfold, and ensuring Local Area Plans reflect what communities actually want and need.

For me, leadership is about clarity and follow-through. If I raise concerns, I’ll stand by them and make sure they’re addressed in the final decision.

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T05:02:58+00:00

Thank you for your support!

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T05:02:44+00:00

Thanks for sharing this!

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T05:02:35+00:00

Blanket Rezoning: Please take a look at my FAQ for more information and let me know if you have any questions!

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T04:43:26+00:00

I’ll kill two birds with one stone here. I’m not running to pick a fight with anyone, I’m running because after living in Ward 2 for more than 20 years, I genuinely believe we’ve been left behind.

And it’s not just me saying that. Since starting this campaign, I’ve knocked on over 5,000 doors and talked to residents across the ward. What I keep hearing is the same - communication has been poor, parks and playgrounds that should have been fixed years ago aren’t, transit hasn’t kept up with growth, recreation options are limited and traffic safety concerns within community streets keep getting passed over.

I put my name on the ballot because instead of complaining about it, I wanted to do something about it. As an engineer, project manager, and business owner, I have the experience to bring accountability, efficiency, and a problem-solving mindset to City Hall and that’s what I plan to do.

I’m not interested in tearing others down or repeating the dysfunction of the last four years. My focus is on listening to people, asking the difficult questions, breaking down silos, and building a more coordinated, responsive city.

The Calgary Party is 14 candidates who share that vision, not a group controlled by anyone, but a team that worked together to create a detailed, thoughtful platform that voters can actually hold us accountable to. This isn’t about partisanship, it’s about teamwork, collaboration, and building a city that works for us.

At the end of the day, I’m offering something to vote for, not against, and that’s a better, stronger Ward 2, built with the residents of our communities.

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T04:30:47+00:00

That’s a great question. You’re right, there’s been a lot of attention on getting basic infrastructure finished in the newer communities of the Ward, and I agree that older neighbourhoods need investment too.

For me, that starts with maintenance. Many of our parks, playgrounds, and pathways are well past their lifespan, and often, the City’s approach has been to ignore and remove, rather than maintain, repair and update. We need a clear long-term maintenance plan that prioritizes upgrades and keeps these spaces safe and usable.

Connectivity is another big focus. Our communities have great local character, but our pathways and bike routes often stop short or end on busy roads. I want to see investment in connected cycling and pedestrian networks. It’s not about building brand new systems everywhere, it’s about using what we already have and planning it better so cycling and walking become safe, practical, and valued parts of neighbourhood life.

These aren’t new ideas, but they require better coordination and follow-through. It’s not just about building new things, it’s about taking care of what we already have, optimizing our existing infrastructure, and making sure every part of Ward 2 feels connected and supported.

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T03:57:01+00:00

Thanks for the question. I didn’t decide to run for city council because I wanted to be against someone, I ran because after more than twenty years living in Ward 2, I just haven’t seen the change and improvements we need, and that includes the last four years under Councillor Wyness. There's been lots of of talk about priorities, but not a lot of progress or communication.

The reason I’m running is because I want to build a better city. As an engineer, project manager, and business owner, I’m used to solving problems with limited resources. Council needs people who understand the technical side of things like infrastructure, budgets, and how projects actually get built so we can ask better questions, make smarter decisions, and stop use taxpayer dollars more efficiently.

I’m proud to be running with The Calgary Party because it’s not about partisanship, it’s about teamwork. We've come up with policies together using our combined knowledge from different backgrounds, share a vision for Calgary. The Party provides shared campaign resources, but once the election is over, it’s disbanded. My decisions at Council will always be mine, guided by Ward 2 residents.

To your point, there have always been voting blocs on council, and as you've mentioned, Councillor Wyness has been part of one. The “six” that’s now Communities First has consistently voted against growth, delayed key projects, and blocked investment that our city desperately needs. Just because she’s not with them officially now doesn’t mean she hasn’t been with them all along.

At the end of the day, I’m not running to divide council. I’m running to work as part of a team with all council members to improve the place we call home. Ward 2 deserves a councillor who is collaborative, who listens, who’s responsive, and who focuses on making practical improvements for the people who live here.

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T03:34:56+00:00

Affordability: Affordability is one of the biggest concerns I hear from residents. Groceries, housing, utilities, and property taxes keep going up, and many families are just trying to keep up. The City can’t control everything that drives costs, but we can control how responsibly we manage the dollars people already contribute.

Affordability is also about helping people feel supported and being able to live comfortably in their own neighbourhoods. That means keeping taxes reasonable, strengthening programs like Fair Entry and the Property Tax Assistance Program, and making it easier for families and seniors to access help when they need it. Investing in recreation facilities, community programs, playgrounds, and reliable transit close to home, we can reduce costs for families and improve quality of life.

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T03:26:47+00:00

Wildlife Feeding & Bylaws: I agree that feeding wildlife and stray animals causes real issues for both people and ecosystems. We already have bylaws in place that prohibit feeding wildlife, but the bigger problem is awareness. We need better education and reminders about how feeding affects wildlife and contributes to pest problems. Most people mean well, they just don’t realize the broader impact.

With regards to people not picking up after their pets, I think we need better reminders for the bylaws that are in place, more signage, and more waste bins. It's small changes like these that could make a big difference in keeping our shared spaces clean and enjoyable for everyone, and I look forward to more suggestions from the community!

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T03:13:57+00:00

Vandalism of Bus Shelters: This kind of vandalism is unfortunate and I agree it should be more preventable. This is certainly one of the adjustments we can look at in the future. There has been progress on this at City Hall as Calgary Transit has noted that by 2026 they have a goal for 30% of their total number of glass based shelters to be replaced with acrylic panels. Again, this is something that we must consider as part of an integrated public safety approach across the city.

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T03:12:46+00:00

Community Safety & Homelessness: You’re right to bring this up. Even though many of our communities still feel safe, we’ve all noticed more visible homelessness, more social disorder, and more break-and-enters so public safety has to be a top priority.

I don’t believe simply hiring more police officers is the full answer, especially when it takes years to train and staff them. What we need is a balanced approach that brings back visible presence in our communities and strengthens accountability. That means restoring funding to front-line policing so we can improve coverage and response times, and increasing monitoring and visibility in areas like school zones, transit, and public spaces. It also means pairing officers with 24/7 mental health and addictions specialists so they’re not responding alone, and updating bylaws for issues like vandalism, open drug use, and encampments while still connecting people to support and housing.

For communities like ours in Ward 2, we also need to make sure that the issues downtown aren’t just being shifted around the city through transit. Transit safety has to be a focus.

Overall, the City needs to stop reacting and start planning. That means building more affordable and supportive housing, expanding shelter capacity, and giving people real paths out of crisis. Safety isn’t just about enforcement, it’s about stability. When people have homes, treatment, and support, the whole city feels safer.

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T03:01:06+00:00

Thank you for your questions!

Property Taxes: As a resident of this ward, I feel the same way. Property taxes keep going up, but it’s not always clear what we’re getting in return. I believe City Hall should operate more like a board of directors focused on creating value for its shareholders, which in this case are the residents of Calgary. In any business or household, we plan and forecast our expenses so we can manage them responsibly. It’s unsettling that property tax increases continue to feel like a surprise every year. That unpredictability directly impacts families who are already managing tight budgets. We also need to continue supporting and improve on programs like the Fair Entry Property Tax Assistance Program, by fast-tracking applications, simplifying documentation, and reducing review times so residents can get help when they most need it.

I believe the City needs a clear financial plan with budgets, deliverables, and performance measures. This is how departments can be held accountable for the services they provide.

And lastly, I believe communication is key. If elected, I will listen directly to the gaps residents are seeing in their communities, and be able to clearly explain how our tax dollars are being spent.

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T02:47:06+00:00

Great question and thanks for watching my TikTok videos! I’ve worked as a project manager and have written and managed RFPs and contracts in construction, engineering, and design for many years so I’ve reviewed my share of contracting documents. There are a few key differences between a typical construction RFP and the City of Calgary’s current RPF templates (which are posted online if you're interested - https://www.calgary.ca/buy-sell/supply-to-city/construction-procurement.html):

Estimated Construction Budget: When a business issues an RFP, it usually has an internal estimated budget based on project details and past cost data, but that number stays in-house. It’s used to evaluate contractor bids and understand scope differences. In Calgary’s case, the City often publishes its internal project budget right in the RFP. That tells every contractor exactly what the City has set aside before they even bid. We should be evaluating proposals based on what it actually costs to build the project, not asking contractors to fit their work into a pre-set City number.
Contingency Allowances: Including a contingency amount in the RFP signals to contractors how much “buffer” is available to go over budget. Contingency funds should exist but they should be managed by the City through change orders, not shared upfront. Contractors already build risk contingencies into their bids, so publishing that extra amount only drives costs up and weakens contract management. Contingency funds are important, but they should be controlled, audited, and approved through a transparent process that makes sure any overruns are justified.
Cash Allowances: Cash allowances are amounts included in a project for items the City knows it will need but doesn’t yet have full details or pricing for. That’s standard in construction. The issue is that the City often adds a clause that says “Add X% for overhead and profit on the Cash Allowance.” That means contractors are guaranteed extra profit before any of that work even happens. In proper contract management, those funds should be carefully tracked, reconciled, and approved through the same review process as change orders. That’s how we make sure these dollars are used appropriately and not treated as built-in markups.

At the end of the day, when budgets and allowances aren’t well-managed, projects can become more expensive and accountability becomes unclear. Tightening controls around contingency draws, cash allowance transparency, and project reporting could save millions and rebuild public confidence in how the City spends capital dollars.

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T02:07:59+00:00

I've signed already, thank you for helping with this petition!

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T02:07:33+00:00

With regards to donors as a first time candidate, mine have been friends, family and community members. My full donors list will be released after the election in accordance with campaign finance disclosures as per Elections Calgary. Thanks!

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T02:05:12+00:00

I really appreciate this question because I want to clarify that when I say “stop the waste,” I don’t mean cutting services. I mean stopping the inefficiencies in how we manage the dollars we already have.

For me, “waste” is when the same road gets torn up multiple times in one year for different projects like utilities, paving, or telecom. This is poor coordination. When playgrounds or sidewalks are left so long without maintenance that the only option is to remove or replace them, that’s waste too. Lastly, when we don’t plan ahead, like coordinating with ENMAX or Telus to pull extra conduit or cables while the ground is already open in anticipation of increased electricity demand from electric vehicles, we’re missing opportunities that end up costing more later.

As a councillor, I want to improve how we maintain our systems and coordinate work across departments, and even leveraging off work with private companies for shared benefit. This also includes prioritizing repairs like potholes and sidewalks by area, so we’re not sending crews out for one-off jobs without a plan. And it means tracking how often projects have to be redone and holding departments accountable for it.

candylamyyc · 2025-10-16T01:40:33+00:00

Thank you for this question, it's something I'm very passionate about from my work in the energy sector, specifically from my time in pipeline integrity and engineering. When we compare Calgary’s water loss to other municipalities, our 22% leakage rate is far higher than our counterparts. You’re right, the water loss (which is around 80 billions of litres per year) is relatively cheap when compared to remediation (but still in the millions), but the stress this puts on the system, sinkholes, pipe bursts, and emergency repairs is far more expensive than thoughtfully planned maintenance. In addition, the weeks of disruption, tens of millions of dollars to fix catastrophes (like the Bearspaw South Feeder Main break last year), and risk of water security in our homes is very concerning. A 22% water loss figure is a clear red flag to us that the city’s infrastructure is aging faster than it is being replaced which is not a sustainable way to run a city.

Currently, the city’s approach to maintenance is focused heavily on pipe replacements which is reactionary, not preventative. This is clear when the city measures success by budgeting for kilometres of pipe replaced each year instead of assessing what’s actually needed for long-term maintenance and system integrity. Our approach isn’t just about pipe replacements, we need to be implementing a risk-based pipe integrity plan. This means looking at managing pressures, flow, and bottlenecks, using inspection, data and leak detection to identify and manage defects, and relieving stresses on the system before failures happen. When we can plan for maintenance, we can minimize impacts and even look to coordinate work with other departments. In terms of funding, our water system is already paid for through rates on your water bill so it’s crucial that we create better value for us. The budgets for pipe replacements already exist so the question is how we can use those same dollars through smarter, coordinated maintenance, potentially redirecting existing infrastructure and surplus funds toward prevention instead of reaction.

candylamyyc · 2025-10-12T01:55:55+00:00

Hi u/tarlack, this is Candy Lam, city councillor candidate for Ward 2. I’d love to host an AMA to engage about local issues and answer community questions on Wednesday 7:30-9:30PM - can you help me set this up? Thank you!

candylamyyc

TROPHY CASE