Packed crowd attends chamber forum

It was standing room only at the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce's all-candidates forum Tuesday night at the St. Albert Inn and Suites.

Both mayoral candidates and all 16 council candidates attended the forum, which saw a panel of former chamber chairs consolidate questions submitted by the audience into questions tackling those topics suggested.

As part of their closing thoughts, mayoral contenders Nolan Crouse and Shelley Biermanski offered different pitches to St. Albert voters.

"I understand this business, I understand this community, I understand the corporation, I understand how to lead," Crouse said. He said he believes in everything he's done in the last six years, and asked voters, when picking a mayor to "please let that be me."

Biermanski told the crowd that her goal was to allow residents and businesses the freedoms they deserve - free time instead of protesting city decisions, freedom from excessive bylaws, taxation and fees and various other freedoms. She noted three years ago she heard Crouse asking for another chance to lead.

"Now it's my turn," she said. "I will be a strong, wise and caring leader."

Council candidates had the opportunity to answer two questions each, and those questions were dictated by the grouping they were assigned. Mayoral candidates got the opportunity to answer each question as well as a few questions specific to them.

Question topics ranged from how to be transparent to doctor attraction to regional partnerships and even the hot topic of the 100-year utility model.

Affordable housing was an oft-mentioned topic by candidates, as was an ongoing discussion of what constitutes core and essential services in St. Albert.

"Affordable living should not be an afterthought," said Gilles Prefontaine, a council candidate.

The downtown area redevelopment plan, library space and the location of tourism information services all got some candidate responses as well.

Disagreement over taxation policies and continuing calls from some candidates to reinstate the municipal planning commission were also heard.