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The voter and candidate agree on 12 questions


Gino Akbari

Gino Akbari

Candidate for councillor in O-day'min



Economy

Agreement on 2 of 3 questions in this category

Disagree

How much should the city spend to help local business recover from the pandemic?

Voter:

Current support is sufficient

Akbari:

It should spend more

Agree

Is the city's current approach to encouraging economic diversification heading in the right direction?

Voter:

No, the city should put more resources behind nurturing homegrown businesses

Akbari:

No, the city should put more resources behind nurturing homegrown businesses

Agree

Do you support the Downtown Vibrancy Strategy released in June?

Voter:

Yes, and we should fully fund the plan

Akbari:

Yes, and we should fully fund the plan



Environment

Agreement on 1 of 3 questions in this category

Disagree

What do you think of the Community Energy Transition Strategy and action plan?

Voter:

It's a strong plan; we just need to follow it

Akbari:

It's a good start but we need to go farther to reach our goals

Disagree

Should effects on the climate be taken into account in every decision city council makes?

Voter:

Yes for some decisions but not all

Akbari:

Yes, every decision has climate implications

Agree

Do you think city council should have approved the Epcor's E.L. Smith Solar Farm?

Voter:

No, I support solar power but that's the wrong location

Akbari:

No, I support solar power but that's the wrong location



Finances

Agreement on 0 of 3 questions in this category

Disagree

What do you think the city's main fiscal challenge is?

Voter:

The city spends its resources inefficiently

Akbari:

The city has limited ability to raise revenues

Disagree

What do you think of the city's revenue split between residential and business taxes?

Voter:

The current mix is acceptable

Akbari:

Businesses should pay more

Disagree

What do you think of the size of the city's workforce?

Voter:

The city has about the right number of employees

Akbari:

The city has too few employees



Housing and homelessness

Agreement on 1 of 3 questions in this category

Disagree

How should the city approach the provision of affordable housing?

Voter:

The city should build more affordable housing, even if it can't get funding from other orders of government

Akbari:

The city cannot afford to build more affordable housing without financial support from other orders of government

Disagree

Should the city expand its Housing First programs?

Voter:

No, the existing programs are sufficient

Akbari:

Yes, Housing First is the right approach and we need more of it

Agree

How should the city address encampments?

Voter:

The current policy towards encampments is acceptable

Akbari:

The current policy towards encampments is acceptable



Planning

Agreement on 1 of 3 questions in this category

Disagree

Which statement best describes your opinion of city council's zoning decisions?

Voter:

Council has not been flexible enough to make way for development

Akbari:

Council has been too flexible under pressure from developers

Agree

Do you support the city's current approach to infill?

Voter:

Yes

Akbari:

Yes

Disagree

How should council bring the 15-minute districts described in the City Plan to life?

Voter:

Council should rely mostly on zoning decisions to support their creation

Akbari:

Council should use every tool at its disposal, including financial penalties and incentives



Police

Agreement on 0 of 3 questions in this category

Disagree

Which statement best captures your beliefs about racism and the Edmonton Police Service?

Voter:

The EPS is not racist on the whole, but there are some racist members

Akbari:

Systemic racism is apparent throughout the EPS

Disagree

What should be done about the police budget?

Voter:

Freeze it until it is in line with comparable cities

Akbari:

Decrease it somewhat

Disagree

When police request funding for capital projects, how should council respond?

Voter:

Council should trust the police to know what they need and generally approve their requests

Akbari:

Council should not approve any further funding requests from police



Politics and governance

Agreement on 1 of 3 questions in this category

Disagree

Should candidates disclose their donors?

Voter:

Yes, after the election

Akbari:

Yes, before the election

Disagree

Should city council continue to have a code of conduct?

Voter:

Yes, and the current one is working fine

Akbari:

Yes, but the current one is not doing the job

Agree

Do referendum questions and Senate votes belong on municipal ballots?

Voter:

No

Akbari:

No



Quality of life

Agreement on 2 of 3 questions in this category

Agree

How much should the city spend to help the arts sector recover from the pandemic?

Voter:

Current support is sufficient

Akbari:

Current support is sufficient

Disagree

Should the city have more permanent public washrooms?

Voter:

No, we shouldn't have any

Akbari:

Yes, we need more permanent public washrooms

Agree

Do you support the city's current approach to upholding the spirit and specifics of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action?

Voter:

Yes, I support the current approach

Akbari:

Yes, I support the current approach



Roads

Agreement on 2 of 3 questions in this category

Agree

What should the residential speed limit be?

Voter:

40 km/h

Akbari:

40 km/h

Agree

Where do you stand on accommodating active transportation?

Voter:

The city should make roads more accessible to active transportation

Akbari:

The city should make roads more accessible to active transportation

Disagree

Do you support the expansion of major roads?

Voter:

I support these expansions

Akbari:

I oppose these expansions, primarily on environmental grounds



Transit

Agreement on 2 of 3 questions in this category

Disagree

What should be done about transit fares?

Voter:

Fares should go up as planned

Akbari:

Fares should decrease

Agree

What is your position on the bus network redesign?

Voter:

It sacrificed too much coverage to provide more frequency

Akbari:

It sacrificed too much coverage to provide more frequency

Agree

What should be done about LRT expansion?

Voter:

Pause LRT construction and consider bus rapid transit instead

Akbari:

Pause LRT construction and consider bus rapid transit instead