Chris Turner - Calgary Centre
Chris Turner is one of Canada’s leading voices on urban sustainability and energy, as well as a prominent advocate for local and national political engagement.
In 2009, he co-founded CivicCamp, a civic engagement organization that has been instrumental in advocating for smart urban policy solutions in Calgary. Turner also served on the board of directors for Sustainable Calgary from 2008 to 2011. He has spoken on energy, climate change and the economy at university campuses, professional conferences and public events across the country. Chris was named one of Alberta’s “Next 10” Most Influential People by Alberta Venture and one of Calgary’s “Top 40 Under 40” by Avenue Magazine.
Chris is an award winning author whose most recent book, The Leap: How to Survive and Thrive in the Sustainable Economy, was published last fall; it was a finalist for the National Business Book Award. He is also the author of the bestsellers The Geography of Hope and Planet Simpson, and his writing has earned eight National Magazine Awards. He is a regular contributor to The Globe & Mail, The Walrus, Alberta Views and Canadian Geographic.
Smart Development of Canada’s Energy Resources
Calgary is ready to become a true energy capital.
It’s time for a new conversation about energy in Calgary Centre and across Canada. The Green Party will lead that conversation.
The 21st century belongs to those cities and countries that join the front ranks in the emerging global green economy. Canada’s vast natural resource wealth must be recognized as an engine to fuel its leap to the front ranks of that economy.
Chris Turner supports the creation of a new Canadian energy strategy that will move Canada beyond the divisive rhetoric of the Harper government and the official opposition. We want to facilitate a conversation to find solutions for all Canadians and secure the “social license” to operate that is vital to the industry’s long-term success.
Urban Sustainability & Infrastructure Upgrade
This is Calgary’s moment. It is a young, dynamic, optimistic city eager to embrace our brightest possible future. But we don’t have all the tools we need to grow and lead Canada in the 21st century.
Chris Turner will advocate for a National Transit Strategy, as the first pillar of a broader urban sustainability agenda. The National Transit Strategy is an urgent and essential initiative for Calgary to help manage its explosive growth and cope with its worsening traffic snarls before they get out of control.
Canadian cities suffer from an estimated $240-billion infrastructure deficit (source: Federation of Canadian Municipalities). The Green Party’s “Smart Communities” initiatives aim to give cities like Calgary a real partner in Ottawa and much more freedom to set their own priorities and find revenue streams to fund them. Chris Turner will be a powerful voice for Calgary’s priorities, not a party agenda.
Real Transparency and Accountability in Parliament
Calgary needs a real voice in Ottawa.
There is a tremendous energy in this city, a spirit of openness and collaboration. We don’t hear that voice in Ottawa today. The Conservatives promised accountability and have created the most secretive, centralized, divisive Parliament in Canadian history.
The Green Party promises real accountability, true independence from special interests and a re-commitment to Canada’s democratic tradition at home and abroad. We will advocate amending the Accountability Act to ensure those who monitor government are selected at arm’s length from those they monitor.
Chris Turner will defend Canada’s democratic tradition in Parliament. He will fight to maintain full funding for public healthcare and education and push to restore funding for vital scientific research and environmental monitoring.
We will work to restore Canada’s global reputation for peacekeeping, humanitarian aid and environmental stewardship. We will advocate for the reinstatement of funding for refugee health care and build a path to full citizenship for temporary foreign workers.
