Community
Your Ultimate Guide to City Council Candidates
Contributor Jock Mackenzie… With video supplied by CHBA CA.
Take a quick look or a real deep dive into the race for City Council right here. Watch this week’s forum hosted by the Canadian Home Builders Association.. look below to links to candidate websites, social media pages and news articles.
You need go no further… spend some time and be informed before you vote!
CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR
Number of Positions to be filled: 8
Sandra (Sam) Bergeron
Social Media Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/sandra.catharine
News
https://twitter.com/samvandergulik http://www.reddeerexpress.com/news/bergeron-to-bring-voice-to-north-end-and-low-income-red-deerians/
Council candidate wants to be the voice for those who are struggling
S.H. (Buck) Buchanan – Incumbent
News
Councillor Buck Buchanan looks to contour to create dialogue
https://twitter.com/buck_rd?lang=en http://rdnewsnow.com/election-2017/555093/meet-candidate-buck-buchanan
https://www.facebook.com/buck.buchanan.37 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFBWDNhnFPc
Valdene Callin
Website – https://www.callinforcouncil.com/
News
https://twitter.com/iamvaldene?lang=en http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/avid-volunteer-runs-for-red-deer-city-council/
https://www.facebook.com/VoteforValdene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgF0dFcfUXY
Matt Chapin
Social Media – Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pg/Matt-Chapin-for-Red-Deer-City-Council-156289251053155/posts/
News
http://rdnewsnow.com/election-2017/555080/meet-candidate-matt-chapin
https://twitter.com/matt_chapin http://www.reddeerexpress.com/news/matt-chapin-announces-city-council-run/
Homelessness, Canada Winter Games top priorities for Matt Chapin
Michael Dawe
Website – http://dawe4rdnorth.com/
News
https://www.facebook.com/michael.dawe.58 http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/michael-dawe-is-running-for-red-deer-city-council/
https://twitter.com/michaeldawe1?lang=en http://www.blackpress.tv/video.php?id=25646
Rob Friss
News
https://www.facebook.com/rob.friss http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/friss-wants-to-make-a-difference/
https://twitter.com/rob4council2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x7mmrPvbXg
Calvin Goulet-Jones
News
https://www.facebook.com/CalvinforCouncil/ http://rdnewsnow.com/election-2017/553886/meet-candidate-calvin-goulet-jones
https://twitter.com/calvin4council?lang=en http://www.reddeerexpress.com/news/goulet-jones-wants-to-bring-conservative-perspective-to-council/
Jason Habuza
News
https://www.facebook.com/jason.habuza https://www.reddeerexpress.com/news/jason-habuza-hopes-to-bring-change-for-red-deer-citizens/
https://twitter.com/habuzajason https://www.todayville.com/a-little-about-me/
Tanya Handley – Incumbent
News
https://www.facebook.com/tanyahandley4RD https://www.todayville.com/re-elect-tanya-handley-to-city-council-2017/
https://twitter.com/tanhandley?lang=en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53DFHDlmiB8
Vesna Higham
News
https://www.facebook.com/VoteVesna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqLQ_uRTDyA
https://twitter.com/VesnaHigham https://www.todayville.com/city-council-candidate-vesna-higham-unveils-crime-platform/
Ted Johnson
News
https://www.facebook.com/Ted-Johnson-for-Red-Deer-City-Council-2017-142310406378053/ http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/council-candidate-calls-for-municipal-police-force/
http://www.blackpress.tv/video.php?id=25644
Ken Johnston – Incumbent
News
https://www.facebook.com/Ken-Johnston-for-Red-Deer-Council-456303901121524/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh6jeL-vlhg
https://twitter.com/Ken4Council?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/johnston-hopes-red-deer-will-vote-for-him-again/
Cory Kingsfield
News
http://rdnewsnow.com/election-2017/553891/meet-candidate-cory-kingsfield
https://twitter.com/ck4500 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-01daee2ge8
Kingsfield wants to bring experience from Penhold town council to Red Deer
Jim Kristinson
News
Council Candidate Jim Kristinson – Crime and Policing in Red Deer
https://www.facebook.com/kristinsonforcouncil http://www.reddeerexpress.com/news/jim-kristinson-looks-to-represent-all-red-deerians-on-council/
Lawrence Lee – Incumbent
Website – http://llee.ca/
News
Red Deer City Council incumbent Lawrence Lee seeks re-election
https://www.facebook.com/reddeerlee/ https://blackpress.tv/video.php?id=25632
https://twitter.com/reddeerlee?lang=en http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/red-deer-will-grow-one-neighbourhood-at-a-time-says-lee/
Kris Maciborsky
News
https://www.facebook.com/krism4rdcouncil/ http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/mental-health-worker-runs-for-city-council/
https://blackpress.tv/video.php?id=25650
Doug Manderville
Website – http://www.dougm4rdcouncil.ca/
News
Doug Manderville hopes to bring unique perpective to City council
https://www.facebook.com/dougm4rdcouncil/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWlOTwfC4YE
https://twitter.com/mandervillex2?lang=en http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/manderville-wants-to-build-an-inclusive-red-deer/
Bobbi McCoy
News
https://www.facebook.com/Bobbi4citycouncil/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_U7afMu4Ec
Ian Miller
News
Council-hopeful Ian Miller looks to bring a youthful perspective
https://www.facebook.com/Ianmillerforcouncil/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WI-RREQJWQ
https://twitter.com/IanMiller1999 https://blackpress.tv/video.php?id=25638
Jeremy Moore
News
https://www.facebook.com/JeremyMoore4RD http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/jeremy-moore-taxes-aim-at-taxes-fiscal-accounability-is-council-run/
https://twitter.com/jeremymoore4rd?lang=en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpT8Xv4i73M
Rick More
News
https://www.facebook.com/rick.more.547 http://www.reddeerexpress.com/news/rick-more-in-the-running-for-city-council/
http://rdnewsnow.com/article/549811/rick-more-running-city-council
Lynne P Mulder – Incumbent
News
Incumbent Lynne Mulder set to run for council in this fall’s election
https://www.facebook.com/lynnemuldercommunitybuilder/ http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/mulder-calls-herself-a-community-builder/
https://twitter.com/lpmulder?lang=en https://blackpress.tv/video.php?id=25634
Bayo Nshombo Bayongwa
News
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Bayo+Nshombo+Bayongwa&init=public http://rdnewsnow.com/election-2017/553872/meet-candidate-bayo-nshombo-bayongwa
Matt Slubik
News
https://www.facebook.com/slubik4council/ http://www.reddeerexpress.com/news/council-hopeful-looks-to-provide-opportunities-for-red-deerians/
Jordy Smith
News
https://www.jordysmithreddeer.com/ http://www.reddeerexpress.com/news/born-and-raised-red-deerian-seeks-spot-on-city-council/
https://www.facebook.com/jordysmith.reddeer/ https://www.todayville.com/jordy-smith-for-red-deer-city-council/
https://twitter.com/jsmithreddeer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PHVoKkUg2w
Brice Unland
News
https://unland.ca/ http://www.reddeerexpress.com/news/educator-brice-unland-throws-name-into-city-council-race/
https://twitter.com/unland4rd?lang=en http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/teacher-with-a-young-family-brice-unland-seeking-seat-on-red-deer-city-council/
https://www.facebook.com/Unland4RD/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tLn3EtXc4w
Jonathan Wieler
Website – http://www.wieler4rd.ca/2017/07/jon-wieler-for-city-council-why.html
News
https://twitter.com/wieler4rd?lang=en https://www.todayville.com/a-safe-healthy-community/
https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.wieler.96 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht5jCN5kEBM
Frank Wong – Incumbent
News
https://twitter.com/foontong?lang=en http://rdnewsnow.com/election-2017/553866/meet-candidate-frank-wong
https://www.facebook.com/people/Frank-Wong/100006662589489 https://blackpress.tv/video.php?id=25625
Dianne Wyntjes – Incumbent
Website – www.DianneForRedDeer.ca
News
https://twitter.com/dianwyntjes?lang=en http://rdnewsnow.com/election-2017/553896/meet-candidate-dianne-wyntjes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn59nLLLXqo http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/watch-incumbent-dianne-wyntjes-believes-in-working-together/
Red Deer community let’s give a round of applause to the incredible adults shaping the future of our kids. Whether they’re a coach, neighbour, teacher, mentor, instructor, or someone special, we want to know about them!
Tell us the inspiring story of how your nominee is helping kids grow up great. We will honour the first 100 local nominees for their outstanding contributions to youth development. It’s time to highlight those who consistently go above and beyond!
To nominate, visit Events (sparcreddeer.ca)
From the Frontier Centre for Public Policy
B.C. recently decriminalized the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. The resulting explosion of addicts using drugs in public spaces, including parks and playgrounds, recently led the province’s NDP government to attempt to backtrack on this policy
Fuelled by the deadly manufactured opioid fentanyl, Canada’s national drug overdose rate stood at 19.3 people per 100,000 in 2022, a shockingly high number when compared to the European Union’s rate of just 1.8. But national statistics hide considerable geographic variation. British Columbia and Alberta together account for only a quarter of Canada’s population yet nearly half of all opioid deaths. B.C.’s 2022 death rate of 45.2/100,000 is more than double the national average, with Alberta close behind at 33.3/100,00.
In response to the drug crisis, Canada’s two western-most provinces have taken markedly divergent approaches, and in doing so have created a natural experiment with national implications.
B.C. has emphasized harm reduction, which seeks to eliminate the damaging effects of illicit drugs without actually removing them from the equation. The strategy focuses on creating access to clean drugs and includes such measures as “safe” injection sites, needle exchange programs, crack-pipe giveaways and even drug-dispensing vending machines. The approach goes so far as to distribute drugs like heroin and cocaine free of charge in the hope addicts will no longer be tempted by potentially tainted street drugs and may eventually seek help.
But safe-supply policies create many unexpected consequences. A National Post investigation found, for example, that government-supplied hydromorphone pills handed out to addicts in Vancouver are often re-sold on the street to other addicts. The sellers then use the money to purchase a street drug that provides a better high — namely, fentanyl.
Doubling down on safe supply, B.C. recently decriminalized the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. The resulting explosion of addicts using drugs in public spaces, including parks and playgrounds, recently led the province’s NDP government to attempt to backtrack on this policy — though for now that effort has been stymied by the courts.
According to Vancouver city councillor Brian Montague, “The stats tell us that harm reduction isn’t working.” In an interview, he calls decriminalization “a disaster” and proposes a policy shift that recognizes the connection between mental illness and addiction. The province, he says, needs “massive numbers of beds in treatment facilities that deal with both addictions and long-term mental health problems (plus) access to free counselling and housing.”
In fact, Montague’s wish is coming true — one province east, in Alberta. Since the United Conservative Party was elected in 2019, Alberta has been transforming its drug addiction policy away from harm reduction and towards publicly-funded treatment and recovery efforts.
Instead of offering safe-injection sites and free drugs, Alberta is building a network of 10 therapeutic communities across the province where patients can stay for up to a year, receiving therapy and medical treatment and developing skills that will enable them to build a life outside the drug culture. All for free. The province’s first two new recovery centres opened last year in Lethbridge and Red Deer. There are currently over 29,000 addiction treatment spaces in the province.
This treatment-based strategy is in large part the work of Marshall Smith, current chief of staff to Alberta’s premier and a former addict himself, whose life story is a testament to the importance of treatment and recovery.
The sharply contrasting policies of B.C. and Alberta allow a comparison of what works and what doesn’t. A first, tentative report card on this natural experiment was produced last year in a study from Stanford University’s network on addiction policy (SNAP). Noting “a lack of policy innovation in B.C.,” where harm reduction has become the dominant policy approach, the report argues that in fact “Alberta is currently experiencing a reduction in key addiction-related harms.” But it concludes that “Canada overall, and B.C. in particular, is not yet showing the progress that the public and those impacted by drug addiction deserve.”
The report is admittedly an early analysis of these two contrasting approaches. Most of Alberta’s recovery homes are still under construction, and B.C.’s decriminalization policy is only a year old. And since the report was published, opioid death rates have inched higher in both provinces.
Still, the early returns do seem to favour Alberta’s approach. That should be regarded as good news. Society certainly has an obligation to try to help drug users. But that duty must involve more than offering addicts free drugs. Addicted people need treatment so they can kick their potentially deadly habit and go on to live healthy, meaningful lives. Dignity comes from a life of purpose and self-control, not a government-funded fix.
Susan Martinuk is a senior fellow at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy and author of the 2021 book Patients at Risk: Exposing Canada’s Health Care Crisis. A longer version of this article recently appeared at C2CJournal.ca.
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