Help for businesses and COVID-weary residents top priorities for new Ward 5 councillor

New Ward 5 Coun. RajDhaliwal says supporting northeast businesses and providing economic help for residents are amonghis top priorities as he begins his first week at city hall.

Dhaliwalwas sworn in at city hallon Monday, replacing George Chahal, who was elected as MP for Calgary-Skyviewin this summer's federal election.

"It's exciting. We're back to work and it's exciting and I'm pumped up to serve the residents of Ward 5," saidDhaliwal.

It's been a toughslog for Ward 5 residents in recent years.

A devastating hailstorm in 2020 caused an estimated $1.5billion in damage andbecamethe fourth costliest natural disaster in Canada's history. Many are still recovering from it.

Ward 5 residents have also been caught directlyin the eye of the pandemic. The area has someofthe highest rates of active COVID-19cases in the province and some of thelowestvaccination rates, made worse bya long list of barriers to accessing vaccines,information and education.

"They've had a double whammy, they had the pandemic and the hailstorm. Businesses need help, residents need help. They all need council to come up with a plan to help them move forward," said Dhaliwal.

Dhaliwal says Ward 5 is the most diverse ward in Calgary.He grewup thereas an immigrant from India, arriving with his parents and brother at a young age. Hesays he's been shoulder-to-shoulder with residents all his life, giving him a deep understanding of theissues that are important to thecommunity.

"Some of my friends, family,they went through some of the issues we've faced in Ward 5. Some of my friends are taxi drivers and saw the economic downturn in that industry. Some are truck drivers and they saw that, too. Knowing them and listening to them is important because it makes me their authentic voice oncity council."

"The ward is unique. Most of the people are hard-working people who came here with 50 or 100 dollars in their pocket from different countries. They adopted this ward as their place to live, they've worked hard and contributed to the city."

Dhaliwal says he sees residents asinvestors in the city and thatthey expect a return on theirinvestment.

"Sometimes they felt they were disconnected with council, they felt underserved, and sometimes they felt they were not given the services they deserved," he said.

Dhaliwal went from working in a convenience store as a teen attendingLester B. Pearson High Schoolto a careerin the oil and gas industry. He worked on big budget projects with a culture ofworking lean that he says isjust as applicable to his new working life atcity hall.

"Every dollar we spent we were expected to create the best value for our shareholders, and that's the approach I'm going to take here, that taxpayers deserve the best returns."

Dhaliwal says he's excited to be part of a diverse council, encompassing gender, race and age, including the first woman to become mayor in JyotiGondek.

"There's new blood, new fresh ideas, and they're eager to get going and collaborate. There's an opportunity to reset Calgary's future and do the great things we all want to do for the city," said Dhaliwal.

Dhaliwal says in the short term he'sbusy learning the ropes and getting his feet wet.

He says he has plans and ideas he'll be working on right away, focusing oneverything from truck drivers to front-line workers.