CBC: May 1, 2025

Finance Minister Nate Horner tabled the 2025-26 provincial budget yesterday. I want to share some quick thoughts on what this means for Edmonton and why I believe we need a fundamental reset in how our city approaches provincial relations.

Navigating Uncertain Times

Let's be honest - this budget comes at a really challenging time for both Alberta and Edmonton. We're all watching the Trump tariff threats with concern, knowing they could hit our province's economy hard. Meanwhile, Edmonton is facing its own financial crunch. The provincial government has had to make difficult decisions, creating multiple budget scenarios to prepare for various outcomes.

Minister Horner called it a budget of "tough but measured choices." His team had to revise their revenue assumptions back in January just to account for all this uncertainty. As he put it, "There's so many things that are out of our control." That's exactly why I believe different orders of government need to be working together closer than ever - not picking fights with each other.

What's in it for Edmonton?

I'm glad to see some tax relief that will help Edmonton families, with that new eight percent income tax bracket for income up to $60,000. Every bit helps when household budgets are stretched thin.

I'm particularly happy about the commitment to build five new schools in Edmonton. Anyone with kids knows how desperately we need these new classrooms in our fast-growing communities.

I'm encouraged to see provincial funding for several key post-secondary projects: NorQuest College, the University of Alberta Biological Sciences Centre, ongoing support for MacEwan University's School of Business, and planning for NAIT's Advanced Skills Centre.

The budget includes a substantial $106 million investment in downtown Edmonton: $52 million for an event park east of Rogers Place, $37.5 million to demolish the old Coliseum, and $16.4 million to prepare land at the Ice District Village. These investments matter for our city's future and connect to important discussions about the Community Revitalization Levy happening next week. I'm looking forward to digging into how we can maximize the impact of these provincial investments.

We also continue to receive significant provincial funding for the Yellowhead Freeway Conversion, the 50th Street rail overpass, improvements to Anthony Henday Drive, and Phase 3 of Terwillegar Drive - not to mention two LRT extension projects. While these weren't new announcements in this budget, they represent ongoing provincial commitment to Edmonton's infrastructure.

Public Safety and Addiction Treatment: A Clear Provincial Priority

I commend the Province for its investment in recovery and addiction treatment centers and its ongoing commitment to public safety. The budget allocates $1.7 billion for implementing the compassionate intervention framework and Recovery Alberta Services, which is a significant investment to address the opioid crisis that has devastated families across our city.

The province has also bumped public safety funding by 3.7% to $1.3 billion and has requested alignment of community peace officers with police services. That's a pragmatic move that should improve how we coordinate our response to public safety concerns.

These aren't just budget line items - they're investments that will make a real difference in our communities if we work together to implement them effectively.

A Missed Opportunity for Constructive Engagement

While last year's budget included funding for some important Edmonton projects like the MacEwan School of Business building and Phase 3 of Terwillegar Drive, there was not nearly enough support for critical infrastructure investments. That should have been a moment for some serious soul-searching at City Council.

Instead, what happened? Mayor Sohi and his allies launched a campaign focused on recovering $15 million per year in unpaid property taxes from the province. Let me be straight with you - while a $15 million grant increase is welcome, when coupled with the increase in provincial education property taxes, the effect on your property tax bill will likely be net zero at best. Not exactly the major victory some will portray it to be.

Rather than picking public fights with the province - over the wrong thing - we NEED to collaborate with them for the good of our city. Our infrastructure needs, from transportation to affordable housing to our $1.7 billion deferred maintenance backlog, require provincial support in the hundreds of millions of dollars. We can't afford to damage that relationship over relatively minor disputes.

Forward Together

With all the economic uncertainty from potential U.S. tariffs, a partnership approach isn't just nice to have - it's essential. The province has set aside a $4 billion contingency for unexpected challenges.

The province has made significant progress with their red tape reduction initiatives, recently introducing an "automatic yes toolkit" and "shot clock" provisions on permit applications across government. These innovations could offer valuable lessons for improving our own municipal processes.

Similarly, the province has begun implementing artificial intelligence tools to "follow the money" in their bureaucracy, enhancing transparency and efficiency. We should explore whether similar technologies could benefit Edmonton's financial management systems.

There is so much to be gained from collaborative work that recognizes we all serve the same taxpayer, and that we have a shared responsibility to maximize the value of every dollar spent. Particularly during these profoundly uncertain economic times, Edmonton's leadership MUST BE at the table, working constructively to ensure our city's priorities are understood and addressed.

My Commitment to Edmonton

If you trust me with your vote for mayor, here's what I commit to:

1. I'll reset our relationship with the provincial government from day one, focusing on productive engagement instead of public disputes.
2. I'll make securing provincial funding for critical infrastructure projects a top priority.
3. I'll work collaboratively on our shared challenges, from economic development to public safety to efficient government services.
4. I'll fight to ensure Edmonton receives its fair share as the capital city while being realistic about provincial fiscal constraints.

Edmonton deserves leadership that understands how to build partnerships. Fighting with other levels of government might make for splashy headlines, but it doesn't help get roads built or services delivered.

In these uncertain economic times, all orders of government need to work together, not against each other. The potential impact of U.S. tariffs makes it more critical than ever to have a mayor who can work effectively with the province.

I look forward to continuing this conversation in the coming months. Together, we can build the partnership approach Edmonton needs to thrive.

On December 5, City Council approved significant property tax increases - 6.1% in 2025 and 6.8% in 2026. I voted against these increases, and here’s why.

Hello Neighbour,

I hope you're enjoying the beautiful fall colors in our ward! As your City Councillor, I always look forward to these monthly updates – they're my opportunity to share what's happening at City Hall and, more importantly, to invite you into the conversation about our community's future.

Happy Fall everyone! 

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. As we shift to the last few months of 2024, I would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on Council activities. 

No New Projects without a New Management Approach 

At the end of August I held a press conference and wrote a blog about the City of Edmonton’s long decade of over-cost and over-budget capital projects. 

City Administration recently informed City Council on significant cost escalations on another major capital project, the south extension to the LRT Capital Line. This adds to the list of delays that occurred for the Walterdale Bridge, the Southeast LRT and the Northwest Police Campus, to name just a few.

Councilors cannot keep their heads in the sand any longer. We need to step up and take control of this problem. I fear that we’ve become complacent and paralyzed by failure. It’s our time to act. 

How are we going to turn the page away from project mismanagement and failure? I am proposing the following and will bring forward these new approaches to Council this fall for debate: 

• Put the brakes on all new project spending and focus on projects already underway.
• Work with the current and the next City Manager to overhaul our Integrated Infrastructure Services Department.
• Create a permanent Infrastructure Standing Committee. Similar to Audit Committee, this Committee would include external third-party experts who give us sound professional advice with a fresh set of eyes.
• That third-party expertise on the Infrastructure Standing Committee needs to report directly to Council - NOT to Administration.

Again, more can be found on this matter by reading my blog post. 

Transit Safety

Transit safety continues to be a topic of conversation for many Edmontonians. We all deserve to feel safe when commuting in our communities. 

Specifically, it is very easy to get on the LRT system without paying, and the City is doing very little to ensure all LRT riders are paying a fare. I have heard from many that because they see so many others not paying, and because they see very little enforcement of any of the rules, they are not inclined to pay a fare or buy an ARC card.

News reports from Vancouver reinforce this point. Once fare gates were installed on the Sky Train, revenue went up by 10.5% and enforcement tickets went down by one-third. You can see that report here: 1 year in, how are TransLink’s fare gates working out?  

Feedback from Edmontonians and all all of the above information lead me to bringing the following motion to Council in December 2023: 

That Administration provide a report outlining a detailed plan for a two-year trial for the use of fare gates at two transit facilities, including one LRT station with an underground platform, including a cost-benefit analysis, recommendation, evaluation plan, and detailed costing for the trial.

The report that is in response to my motion is scheduled to come to Urban Planning Committee on Tuesday September 17th. Essentially, the report says funding is not available within the existing Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) budget. If Council chooses to move forward with the two-year pilot, Council will need to identify a funding source for the pilot program. Permanent funding would need to be identified if the program was to be expanded at the end of the pilot.

You can review the report by clicking here and selecting item “7.1: Infrastructure Enhancement for City transit Facilities - ETS Fare Gates Pilot.” If you would like to share your feedback with all of Council regarding this topic please email [email protected]. 

Unfortunately, I am not an active voting member of Urban Planning Committee and cannot vote or pass motions directly related to this item. However, I will be in attendance to engage in this conversation next Tuesday as I know this matter is very important. Please follow my social media channels to see the outcome of the conversation next week. 

Traffic Concerns in the Ward

My office has received a number of complaints regarding congestion due to construction. I share your frustration, and I have asked City Administration to find ways to reduce congestion as much as possible. 

City Administration also advises, however, that new traffic patterns develop every September and it can take three to six weeks for new patterns to emerge. 

Following are more details on certain projects:

• • Terwillegar Drive and Bulyea Rd: This intersection will continue to be slow and congested until December 2025, when the Rainbow Valley Bridge work is complete. Drivers are strongly encouraged to be patient and not engage in illegal turns and speeding.
  • Landscaping along Terwillegar Drive: Responsibility for maintenance of the planted material, weed cutting, etc. is with the construction contractor. I have asked that the contractor be advised of the high level of dissatisfaction of residents with the condition of this landscaping.
  • Rainbow Valley Bridges: This work is on schedule, and the intent is to move traffic onto the new westbound bridge by the end of 2024. That will allow work to commence on the eastbound bridge early next spring. It all depends on when the winter weather hits.
  • Bus Lane Construction from 53rd Ave to 40th Ave:  Retaining wall construction will be completed later this Fall, which should dramatically reduce the amount of noise and dust in this area. Construction of the new lane and the sound wall at the top of the bank will likely start next Spring.
  • Rabbit Hill Road north and south of 23rd Ave: EPCOR is completing electrical service upgrades along the east side of Rabbit Hill Road from Terwillegar Boulevard to Leger Boulevard. This work will be completed later this fall.
  • Terwillegar Drive from Keswick to Henday: Nothing has changed in this area. Current congestion is most likely due to a combination of back to school traffic and new traffic patterns
  • 23rd Ave between 119th St and Saddleback Rd: Two left turn lanes have been maintained from 23rd ave to 119 street, so congestion here is again due to a combination of back to school traffic and new traffic patterns. City Administration will be adjusting the length of the left turn advance light to adjust to the new patterns. A new multi-use trail is being constructed along the north side of 23rd ave between 111 st and 119 st. which will result in some westbound lane closures in non-peak hours. This work will be complete later this fall.
  • Towne Centre Boulevard: This project will see the existing road pavement ground up, pulverized and recompacted to act as a new layer of road base. There are also areas where the utilities are too high and are being lowered. The road will be repaved when this work is completed. Repaving is scheduled for the end of October - but again, this work is weather dependent.

Community League Day 

Community League Day is on Saturday September 21st! Thank you to all the Community Leagues that work to bring our community together. 

Please see the below list of the events occurring in the Ward. If you see myself or my team at one of these events, please stop by and say hello! 

🎥 Terwillegar Community League: Movie night - Inside Out 2!: Saturday September 21st, 7:30 pm, South Terwillegar Park 

🐕 Riverbend Community League: Pets in the Park: Saturday September 21st, 1pm - 4pm, Ramsay Park 

🎵 Riverbend Community League: Concert at the Cage, featuring Ben Sures: Saturday September 21st, 6:00 pm - 8:00pm, Brander Community Garden 

🎈 Brookview Community League: Bouncy Castles, outdoor movie, balloon animals and more!: Saturday, September 21st, 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm, 280 Bulyea Road NW 

🚒 Terwillegar Fire Station Open House (Not community league day related): Saturday September 21st, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Station 24 - 131 Haddow Close 

Thank you and please feel free to contact my office should you have any municipal questions or concerns.