Councillor Spencer's Election Campaign: PAC Support and Endorsements
Cllr. Spencer was endorsed by PACS like Calgary’s Future, which was fully funded by AUPE and CUPE and before the 2021 municipal election had an account with $1.7 million. Cllr. Spencer was also endorsed by Responsible Representation Political Action Committee – a PAC that was created by his former Ward 12 boss…Cllr. Shane Keating.
Councillor Spencer's Reversal on Single-Use Plastics Ban
Cllr. Spencer supported the ban on single use plastics. The same ban that added costs onto you the consumer every single time you ordered food. If you recall, ordering a burger and it coming out of the window in a plastic bin and your fries spilt everywhere. Cllr. Spencer supported that.
Only after heavy pressure from businesses and citizens did he vote in favour of ending the ban that he supported.
Councillor Spencer Backs Controversial $87 Billion Climate Plan
Quickly after being elected Cllr. Spencer wrote an op-ed with the Mayor promoting Mayor Gondek’s climate emergency plan. This is an $87 billion dollar plan. This was not campaigned on in the 2021 election and was a slap in the face to Calgarians who work in the energy sector.
City administration said that taxpayers would not pay for this, just the other taxpayers – whoever they are.
Councillor Spencer's Record on Property Tax Hikes and Pay Increases
Cllr. Spencer voted with Mayor Gondek to increase your property taxes in 2024 by 7.8% and when given the opportunity to find further cuts by his colleagues – he voted against them. Cllr. Spencer has voted to increase your property taxes every single year since being elected in 2021. Property taxes are likely going to be 6.4% for 2025. I think we know how Cllr. Spencer will vote.
Reminder that Cllrs. receive cost of living increases that match the cost of living – you do not.
Blanket Rezoning Approval: Councillor Spencer votes yes
When the debate around blanket rezoning was happening in April 2024 and resulted in over 5,000 submissions to Council and 700 speakers with the majority being opposed, Cllr. Spencer did a poll of his own residents, and 71% said they are against the blanket zoning change. He then voted with the Mayor to approve it, even though his own residents said they do not want it.
Ward 12 residents along with the majority of Calgarians say did not matter. It was just for show.
Councillor Spencer Rejects Plebiscite on Blanket Rezoning Despite Public Opposition
When Council was debating giving Calgarians a say on blanket rezoning with a plebiscite given the massive amount of opposition, a vote could settle the matter once and for all…but…
Cllr. Spencer voted not to not give you a say in how your community grows. After then voted yes to the massive policy change. You get to pay taxes, but a say in your community? That is to much.
Voted yes to the green line plan that fails to reach ward 12
Before being elected Cllr. Spencer was adamant the Green Line must reach Ward 12. Flash forward to summer of 2024 and he votes YES to a new plan that costs more and ends at Lynwood/Millican – 5 stops from Ward 12. Then when the public anger boiled over, he blamed the province and calls it a ‘coup‘ that they stepped in to stop the plan from being a ‘boondoggle‘.
Ward 12 needs the Green Line, but given years of mismanagement by the city it will be a decade before it will serve residents as first planned – even if they start construction now.
Ten more years of driving on Deerfoot in winter on black ice. Enjoy!
Biggest offenses to Calgarians:
Voted Yes to Blanket Re-Zoning
Now you do not have a say in how your community grows.
Voted Yes to Green Line Plan
The cost is higher, and did not reach Ward 12 yet he voted yes.