Fall 2026 Newsletter - Monday, November 2
Updated: 3 hours ago
It has been a busy few months at Council, and I wanted to take some time to share several updates and key pieces of information. You can explore various topics and updates below.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns or inquiries, and our office will do our best to support you.
Gearing Up for Winter: Improving Snow & Ice Clearing This Season
Last winter was a tough one and raised important considerations about how we approach our snow and ice policies. Between sudden freeze-thaw cycles, frequent freezing rain, and a historic December that dumped nearly four times the normal monthly snowfall (almost 60 cm!), our crews and equipment were stretched thin. Back-to-back storms forced plows to reset on major routes again and again.
City Council spent significant time this past September digging into what worked, where we struggled, and how we can do better. Based on front-line insights from our equipment operators, 311 calls, and community feedback, the City is rolling out key updates to deliver safer, more reliable service this season.
You can read the full report presented to Council at the City of Edmonton Snow and Ice Control Update.
What’s Changing This Winter
Less Equipment Downtime: We have overhauled our equipment sourcing and parts inventory so snow-clearing machines spend less time in the shop waiting for parts and more time clearing streets when it matters most.
Partnering with Front-Line Crews: City leaders sat down directly with our winter operators to understand the real-world obstacles they face on the road, improving support and safety protocols for unpredictable storms.
Smarter Weather & Ice Tech: Teaming up with the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering, the City is tapping into advanced climate modelling and live road-condition forecasting to predict icy trouble spots before they become hazards.
Clearer Surge & Emergency Protocols: We’ve set firm triggers for calling in contractor backups and specialized emergency equipment when major winter storms hit.
Active Pathway Review: A city-wide review is underway to standardize clearing across bike lanes, shared pathways, and pedestrian walkways, with an emphasis on accessibility and safety ahead of the 2027–2028 season.
Understanding the Priorities: How Routes Are Cleared
Because crews cannot be everywhere at once, clearing follows a clear hierarchy to keep emergency routes and essential transit moving first:
Level | Roadway Priorities | Active Pathway Priorities |
Priority 1 | Freeways, major arterials, River Valley hills, Downtown business district | City facilities, LRT stations, transit centres, Winter Priority Loop bike routes |
Priority 2 | Secondary arterials, collector routes, transit park-and-rides, steep problem slopes | City sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, pedestrian bridges, stairs, shared paths & bike lanes |
Priority 3 | Industrial areas and rural roads | Manually cleared paths, bus stop benches and boarding pads |
Priority 4 | Residential roads (maintained to a 5 cm snowpack during Phase 2 parking bans) | Community sandboxes & traction material access |
Parking Bans & Snow Tracking
When plows roll into neighbourhoods, parked cars make safe, curb-to-curb clearing nearly impossible. Moving your vehicle during declared parking bans makes a huge difference in how quickly your street gets cleared.
Track Clearing Live: Check clearing progress across roads and shared pathways on the City of Edmonton Live Snow Clearing Map.
Sign Up for Alerts: Register for text or email notifications here: City Service Notifications.
Need Traction for Your Sidewalk? Visit a Sand Location
Free sand remains a vital resource for keeping neighbourhood sidewalks safe during icy freeze-thaw snaps.
The City maintains 100 sandbox locations across Edmonton. While smaller neighbourhood boxes are restocked as Priority 4 resources allow, the City has prioritized 11 large, centralized sand hubs throughout Edmonton.
These hubs are refilled much more frequently and reliably, ensuring folks have a dependable place to pick up sand for their walkways.
Rethinking Our Residential Parking Program
Parking across Edmonton is a big operation, managing over 6,000 paid stalls, 130,000 users, and millions of transactions every year. Within that system, our Residential Parking Program (RPP) currently spans 19 zones city-wide, issuing thousands of resident and temporary permits.
However, as our city grows and transit habits change, our residential parking rules need an update. Right now, the program lacks the flexibility to adapt to changing neighbourhood needs, and manual enforcement makes consistent coverage tough.
What does this mean for Ward Métis?
Two of the city’s 19 RPP zones are located right here in our ward, heavily impacting local street access during events and peak hours:
Northlands Zone (including areas along 112–121 Aves, Fort Rd, and 67–81 Sts): 2-hour parking limit from 8 AM–1 PM, Monday through Sunday, except for residents with permits. (No annual visitor permits; temporary permits allowed).
Commonwealth Stadium Zone (including areas around Jasper Ave to 118 Ave, 75A St to 97 St): No parking permitted at all, except for residents with permits. (No annual visitor permits; temporary permits allowed).
Why the City is redesigning the program
Curb space is limited, and everyone, including residents, visitors, delivery drivers, caregivers, and local shoppers, competes for the same spots. The City is reviewing the RPP to better balance modern neighbourhood conditions.
Along with this redesign, near-term updates being prepared for 2027 include modernizing enforcement technology, updating parking rate frameworks, and trialling paid parking at select City facilities.
How you can get involved
Public engagement for updating RPP is officially open! The City wants to hear how parking works (or doesn't work) in your daily life.
Share your feedback (Oct 15 – Nov 15): Visit the newly launched engagement site at engaged.edmonton.ca/ResidentialParking to take the survey and share your ideas.
Stay updated: You can also sign up for direct email updates via the Residential Parking Update Page.
What comes next?
Nov 2026 – Early 2027: City staff will combine public feedback with technical and financial data to release a What We Heard report.
Spring 2027: The final proposed RPP redesign will be presented to the Urban Planning Committee. (Meeting agendas and dates will be posted at edmonton.ca/meetings).
Your voice is vital in shaping how your communities manage street space, so please take a few minutes to complete the survey before the November 15 deadline.
Protecting Our Urban Tree Canopy from Dutch Elm Disease
For residents in Ward Métis, we know that our boulevard elm trees define the character of our streets. Edmonton is home to approximately 90,000 boulevard and open-space elms, one of the largest intact populations of healthy American elms left anywhere in North America.
Right now, our elm canopy is under an unprecedented threat. This requires coordinated, collaborative, and proactive action.
What is Dutch Elm Disease (DED)?
Dutch elm disease is a deadly fungal pathogen (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) that clogs a tree’s vascular system, blocking water and nutrients until the tree wilts and dies.
The fungus spreads in two ways:
Elm Bark Beetles: Specifically the banded elm bark beetle and the smaller European elm bark beetle, which breed under dead elm bark, pick up fungal spores, and carry them to healthy trees.
Root Grafting: Underground root connections between closely planted elms can pass the infection from tree to tree beneath the soil.
Why This Matters
Elm trees make up 22% of Edmonton’s entire open space and boulevard tree inventory and represent up to 46% of all our boulevard trees. Together with ash trees, these two species comprise nearly 78% of our managed urban forest, leaving our city vulnerable to monoculture tree loss.
Our urban forest is a critical climate and community defence:
Natural Climate Resilience: Mature elms shade our streets during summer heat waves, mitigate localized flooding through stormwater absorption, and sequester carbon.
Urban Heat Islands: Mature trees are essential in combating the urban heat island effect, keeping sidewalks walkable and cooling homes that lack central air conditioning.
Irreplaceable Value: Losing this canopy would cost hundreds of millions of dollars in removal, replacement, and lost ecosystem benefits, a loss that would take generations to regrow.
Prevalence & This Year’s Numbers
First detected in Edmonton in August 2024, DED has required an aggressive municipal containment response:
18 total confirmed cases have been detected in Edmonton since August 2024.
11 positive cases were identified in 2026, with the most recent confirmed in the Calder neighbourhood in late September.
192,319 visual inspections have been conducted across the city by forestry crews year-to-date.
Over 369 trees have been proactively removed since the first detection, including both infected trees and adjacent healthy elms connected by root systems within a 20-metre radius to prevent the rapid spread of the disease.
How the City is Responding
The City activated its integrated DED Management Plan alongside the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, and the Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED):
Targeted Testing & Removals: Visual survey teams inspect trees across all protocol zones monthly. Any symptomatic trees are sampled and tested at the provincial lab. Confirmed positive trees are removed immediately and disposed of safely.
Protective Treatments: Eligible trees in protocol zones receive direct micro-injections of TreeAzin (a systemic bio-insecticide derived from neem seed that protects against pest stress) and Arbotect 20-S (a preventative fungicide for select high-value elms). Both treatments are injected directly into tree trunks and are completely safe for humans, pets, and wildlife.
Pheromone Trapping: Monitoring traps across Edmonton track beetle flight timing and population density to deploy ground inspection teams where activity is highest.
What Edmontonians Can Do Right Now
Because bark beetles do not respect property lines, protecting Edmonton’s canopy is a shared responsibility between the City and private property owners:
Prune Now (October to March): The seasonal provincial pruning ban was lifted on October 1st. Late fall and winter are the only legal times to prune elms, as open wounds during the spring/summer attract fungus-carrying beetles. By law, property owners must prune dead or dying elm branches to eliminate beetle habitat.
Sterilize Your Tools: Disinfect pruning shears and saws before moving between trees using rubbing alcohol (70%), methyl hydrate, or a 25% bleach-water solution to avoid spreading spores.
Dispose of Elm Wood Immediately & For Free: Never keep elm firewood, stack it in backyards, or bring uninspected firewood in from outside Edmonton ("burn it where you buy it"). Elm wood can be dropped off for free at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre (250 Aurum Road). Note: Do not take elm wood to Eco Stations, and do not place it in curbside compost/waste bins.
Watch for Symptoms & Call 311: If you notice sudden branch wilting, yellowing or curled brown leaves that stay attached, or sapwood staining, report it immediately to 311 so City arborists can inspect and sample the tree.
For more details on identification tips and City resources, visit edmonton.ca/DutchElm.
Upcoming Reports to Council
At the May 21, 2025, City Council meeting, I moved the following motion to develop further strategies to support a sustainable urban forest:
That Administration provide a report to Committee that outlines:
Current strategies and work related to tree species and age class diversification within existing tree-lined boulevards.
Future enhanced strategies related to different boulevard replacement planting strategies that could be implemented to increase urban forest resiliency to pest, disease and climate impacts, such as:
Options to scale up succession planting efforts in areas with ageing or at-risk tree populations such as mature elms and ash trees to diversify the age and species structure;
Increasing biodiversity;
Tree care enhancements or changes; and
Soil volume and drainage improvement options.
Planting, establishment, maintenance and replacement cost implications for any future enhanced planting strategies
This report will be coming back to Council in early 2027, and will be an important check in point to ensure we have all of the necessary policies and resources in place to protect and grow our urban forest.
Streetlight Outages From Copper Wire Theft
Over recent months, many residents have reached out about dark streets and extended streetlight outages across our community.
The primary cause behind these widespread outages is a significant, city-wide surge in copper wire theft and vandalism. In addition to streetlights, other municipal assets, including park lighting, decorative tree lighting, and parking lot power plugs, have been targeted, frequently knocking out lighting across entire residential blocks in a single incident.
Why Are Repairs Taking Longer Than Usual?
When streetlights go dark under normal circumstances, fixing them requires a quick bulb or component swap. Wire theft is fundamentally different.
When copper wire is extracted, access panels are forced open, and the pole’s internal electrical framework is damaged. Restoring power requires City crews and specialized electrical contractors to conduct thorough damage assessments, pull entirely new wiring, and often rebuild damaged internal systems from scratch.
Because each site requires substantial infrastructure replacement and the volume of incidents has risen, overall restoration timelines across Edmonton have been stretched. Additionally, repair crews must prioritize immediate emergency hazards (such as exposed live wires) and high-density pedestrian corridors or major arterials before moving to standard neighbourhood repairs in the order they are identified.
How the City is Responding
To protect public property and keep lights on, the City is actively implementing preventative measures:
Installing Anti-Theft Locks: Crews are retrofitting light poles in vulnerable, high-frequency theft areas with engineered security locks and tamper-resistant hardware.
Switching from Copper to Aluminum: Where feasible, the City is replacing stolen copper wire with aluminum wiring, which has little to no salvage resale value, removing the incentive for theft.
Data-Driven Dispatch: Mapping reports helps the City identify theft hot spots and coordinate directly with law enforcement.
How You Can Help
Community collaboration plays a critical role in addressing this challenge:
Stay Safe & Keep Your Distance: Damaged light poles with exposed wires or breached panels pose serious electrocution and safety hazards. Never approach or touch a damaged pole, and keep children and pets at a safe distance.
Report Outages to 311: If you notice a dark street or an open access panel, report it as soon as possible through 311 or the Edmonton 311 mobile app. Supplying the exact address, intersection, or specific pole number helps dispatch crews respond accurately.
Report Suspicious Tampering to Police: If you see unauthorized individuals tampering with light poles, access boxes, or city wiring, please report it immediately to EPS.
Infill in Edmonton: Construction Accountability
Infill is a vital part of building a more affordable, efficient, and sustainable Edmonton. It plays an important role in helping us to respond to population growth and meet the diverse housing needs of both current and future residents.
As our city grows, infill helps revitalize mature neighbourhoods by adding housing choices that support local schools, nearby businesses and existing city services. Between 1971 and 2021, many neighbourhoods in Ward Metis lost 30-40% of their population. This resulted in more school closures than any other ward. We lost grocery stores, local shops, and other cherished amenities.
Growing up and in rather than outward helps curb costly urban sprawl, lower property taxes over time, keep neighbourhood schools open, and breathe life into local main streets by making better use of existing roads, utility infrastructure, and transit networks.
Edmonton is currently the most affordable major city in Canada to rent or own. That is in large part because of how we have allowed housing to be built. Building new housing supply is fundamentally required in the face of high demand to moderate prices.
Despite adding nearly 100,000 people to our city over the last two years, we have managed to keep rents and home prices in reach for everyday people. The gap between a comparable home in Calgary and Edmonton has grown from tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands. This has been a major advantage for attracting new people and businesses from across Canada, and retaining those who are here.
Accommodating this rapid growth has meant more change happening in our communities. I know this has created concerns for some community members as new and different forms of housing have been going up, and more construction activity has been underway in our neighbourhoods. This section talks about a number of the improvements the City is making to infill in response to community feedback as well as work underway to take a stronger approach to construction accountability.
Updates to the RS Zone to Date
Since Edmonton’s updated zoning bylaw was passed, the primary concerns that have been raised about the RS zone centred on the size, scale, and massing of multi-unit buildings.
In early Council conversations, the focus had been on unit count; however, through more in-depth conversations with community members and discussion and public hearings, it was made clear that regardless of the number of units a building contains, the footprint and the space it is allowed to occupy on the lot remain identical.
This is why Council’s focus has been on refining and improving the physical constraints of the building itself to ensure a better fit and overall compatibility.
To address this, to date, Council has responded by moving forward with the following changes:
Reduced Length: Reducing the maximum building length for mid-block homes so that they can’t take up as much of the lot.
Reduced Height: On April 7, 2026, the City made amendments to reduce the height from 10.5 metres to 9.5 metres.
Increased Setbacks: Requiring more space at the sides of buildings to improve accessibility and better integrate with neighbouring properties.
Limited Side Doors: Limiting side-door activity and requiring more windows and doors to face the street, ensuring the design feels like a natural part of the block and respects your privacy.
Tree Protection: A new Private Tree Bylaw is being implemented to improve tree retention during the development process. This is being developed for approval in the near term.
Parking: In areas where communities are experiencing additional parking pressure, Council is looking at better parking management strategies and tools, including permitting programs to support access for residents. You can share your thoughts on parking here.
Waste Management: The city is moving to a bin sharing system for multi-unit properties to reduce the need to have so many individual bins, as this can create operational and access issues.
Lodging Houses: On September 22, 2026, the City made amendments to improve how lodging houses are defined, regulated, and enforced, including prohibiting lodging houses in row houses, multi-unit housing, and secondary suites in small scale zones.
Density Near Transit: Further work is coming forward to incentivize development along nodes and corridors and near mass transit, where we want to see higher density projects.
Compliance and Accountability
While the vast majority of projects adhere to good construction practices, a small percentage of builders create the majority of construction complaints and issues. In a mature, central area like Ward Métis, our neighbourhoods have experienced a significant share of this new growth.
It is essential that we take action against bad construction practices, site neglect, and bad builders. While stronger rules are important, ensuring there is enough resourcing behind the teams enforcing those rules is essential to ensure they have a real effect. That is why I moved to provide additional funding to enforcement and the infill liaison team at last fall’s budget adjustment.
Since my first term on Council, I have consistently pushed for more strict accountability. What we’ve done in the past wasn’t working well enough, and it is important that we are taking concerns about construction accountability seriously in our communities.
To fix this, we need to address two core issues: clarifying how the rules actually work, and holding irresponsible builders accountable.
1. Project Implementation Plan (PIP) — Compliance Before Ground is Broken
Launched in December 2024, the Project Implementation Plan is a strict compliance measure. Before a builder can receive permits, they must submit formalized documentation demonstrating how their site meets legal standards and safety requirements. It acts as a mandatory pass/fail gate before construction begins.
2. Construction Accountability Program (CAP) — The Rules of the Road
CAP is the overarching accountability framework used by Development Compliance Officers. It sets clear, binding expectations for:
Public safety and daily site upkeep
Mitigating damage to adjacent private properties and public trees
Checkpoints at critical construction milestones
Escalating oversight and financial fee penalties for non-compliant builders
Status: A formal CAP progress report is coming before Council in Q1 2027 to review its real-world effectiveness. This will be an important checkpoint where I will be looking for opportunities to strengthen our set of tools.
3. Coordinated Compliance Action Team (CCAT) — Navigating Complex Issues
Phase 1 of CCAT launched in Q2 2026. This team, though a part of the compliance process, acts as a communication liaison, rather than an arm of enforcement.
What they do: When a development issue spans multiple areas such as Safety Codes, Lot Grading, Landscaping, Problem Properties, and Community Standards, CCAT acts as the central coordinator. They align the different City teams to develop and maintain active, consistent communication with the resident who reported the issue.
What they do not do: CCAT staff are not bylaw or compliance officers. They do not issue approvals, make site compliance decisions, or levy fines. Their focus is breaking down bureaucratic silos so the right departments resolve complex complaints together.
Boosting Enforcement & Compliance
Tools like PIP, CAP, and CCAT are steps in the right direction. While CAP and CCAT are still newer tools, this means that they can be continually shaped to fit the needs and the challenges of the Edmonton context when it comes to development practices. That being said, I know there are still pieces of our compliance and accountability processes that need further attention.
Bylaw and compliance departments currently have limited capacity, and reduced capacity takes a toll on response times. Further, our compliance model remains overly complex, and communication back to affected neighbours needs to be faster, clearer, and more transparent. I am committed to looking for ways to address these issues as we move into our next budget cycle.
On October 20th, Urban Planning Committee requested options to update Edmonton’s enforcement guidelines to move from “engagement, education, and encouragement toward enhanced deterrence and accountability”. I look forward to this information and will continue to support the strengthening of our regulatory environment for construction in Edmonton.
What’s Next
Additional steps that have been taken to strengthen oversight include:
Restoring the Infill Compliance Dashboard: Bringing back this public-facing tool provides real-time, transparent compliance data to help drive evidence-based decisions.
Revamping the "Infill in Your Neighbourhood" Portal: Updated resources are now available online to help both residents and builders clearly navigate regulations and expectations.
Joint Inspections with Provincial OHS: City teams are conducting joint site visits with Alberta Occupational Health and Safety, focusing on worker and public safety.
Edmonton is continuing to grow and evolve, and I want to see us do more than just adjust to it. I want to see us lead the way. Infill is an essential part of that evolution so that our communities remain vibrant and sustainable for generations to come.
If you see active safety hazards, unmaintained sites, or bylaw violations on your block, reporting them via 311 creates the formal record needed for enforcement. If you are running into systemic roadblocks, please contact my office and include any file or reference numbers associated with the issues you are experiencing.
Regulating and Restricting AI Data Centres
Globally, we are witnessing an unprecedented expansion of artificial intelligence and large-scale data centres. That trend is playing out in real time across Canada and particularly here in Alberta, which is currently slated for over 90% of proposed projects nationwide.
Large-scale data centres represent a completely new, evolving land use at a physical scale and resource intensity our existing zoning and regulatory frameworks were never designed to handle. From massive power demands and potential impacts on household utility bills to heavy water consumption, noise, air emissions, and localized drainage, these facilities carry significant implications for our local environment, infrastructure, and climate goals.
Polling shows strong public concern regarding these developments, and I hear those exact worries echoed across our communities. Municipalities all over North America are already adjusting their bylaws to safeguard residents and resources. We cannot rely on an outdated land-use regime while questions about grid reliability, local water supply, and affordability remain unanswered. By acting proactively, we can establish clear rules before unmitigated impacts become irreversible.
Council Approves My Motion
On October 28, 2026, City Council passed a motion I brought forward with a 9–2 vote to ensure the City takes decisive action.
This motion directs City Administration to:
Deliver a Comprehensive Impact & Options Report: Analyze the full scope of land use and environmental impacts (water consumption, wastewater, noise, pollution, and land footprint), jurisdictional authority, property taxation, and the cumulative effects on regional power generation, grid reliability, utility rates, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Explore Regulatory & Zoning Restrictions: Provide options to regulate, restrict, or separate data centres from standard industrial zones, including distinct use definitions, size thresholds, buffer distances, alignment with our Industrial Action Plan, and the implications of potentially prohibiting large-scale facilities within Edmonton.
Actively Monitor Regional Activity: Track all proposed and approved large-scale data centre applications, consultations, and regulatory proceedings across Edmonton and the broader capital region.
Safeguard Edmonton’s Interests: Flag any proposal with significant economic, utility, fiscal, or environmental ramifications to Council early on, ensuring Edmonton preserves its legal and regulatory standing to intervene in approvals.
While managing data centre growth requires attention from provincial and federal regulators as well, I remain firmly committed to using every municipal lever, power, and planning tool at our disposal.
Protecting Edmonton’s land, safeguarding community liveability, and ensuring our residents are not left footing the bill for unchecked resource consumption will remain a top priority for me as this work moves forward.
Tackling Downtown’s Unpermitted Parking Lots
For decades, huge sections of Edmonton’s Centre City have sat as gravel parking lots, dating back to the economic downturn of the 1980s. While the 2010 Capital City Downtown Plan (CCDP) and surrounding statutory plans banned the creation of new surface lots, they left an unresolved loophole: existing, unpermitted lots were frozen out of regular approval paths, leaving the City with a complex enforcement challenge and no mechanism to mandate site upgrades. Unfortunately, this loophole was heavily exploited by downtown land owners.
Only 16 distinct lots held the legal development rights to operate downtown. Meanwhile, approximately 90% of surface parking lots operated without valid development permits for decades.
Operating without permits means these sites often bypass basic standards for lighting, drainage, accessibility, and landscaping, detracting from the safety, walkability, and vibrancy of our Downtown. This wouldn’t fly for any other business in Edmonton, and it shouldn’t for these either.
As of June 2026, enforcement action has begun.
The Regulatory Path
By law, a business licence requires verified zoning compliance first. Bypassing that prerequisite for surface parking lots would give one commercial sector an unfair exemption that no other business receives. I have been advancing action on this long-standing issue since 2022, which is now coming into force.
To resolve this, City Administration designed a structured, two-phase framework providing operators a temporary path into compliance in exchange for tangible site improvements:
Phase 1: Zoning Bylaw Amendments (Targeted for Q3 2024)
Establish a specific, temporary land-use definition allowing existing non-compliant standalone surface lots in Centre City to temporarily operate legally.
Incorporate explicit development regulations mandating basic upgrades that include paving, pedestrian access, setback landscaping, lighting, and drainage.
Phase 2: Outreach, Education, and Escalating Enforcement (24-Month Rollout)
Compliance officers follow an escalating model: Engage, Educate, Encourage, and Enforce. This gives owners clear timelines and requirements to participate.
Operators who are non-responsive will face escalating fines.
For operators refusing to comply, the City can enact stop orders, tow parked vehicles, and physically barricade lots to halt commercial use.
Unpaid costs incurred from City enforcement and barricading will be added directly to the property’s municipal tax roll.
Protecting Downtown’s Future
Our downtown core is Edmonton’s primary cultural, institutional, and economic anchor. While parking is important to support amenities, unpermitted, substandard surface lots run counter to building safe, welcoming, and walkable streets. Unmaintained and low quality spaces like these detract from the attractiveness of our city. These property owners have been sitting on some of the most valuable land in our city, pulling in parking revenue while the rest of us pay the price in safety, vibrancy, and foregone tax revenue. It is past time for this practice to end.
As of the final application date, about half of illegal lots applied for and received temporary permits. This approach provided a pathway for operators to achieve compliance, phased out bad actors, and will ensure our core works for Edmonton’s long-term vibrancy and financial health.
Derelict Properties and Revitalizing the Core
When Council introduced the Problem Property Initiative and established Edmonton’s Derelict Residential Tax Subclass, we set a clear precedent: neglectful property owners can no longer leave hazardous, poorly maintained properties to decay at the expense of our neighbourhoods.
I have been proud to work alongside community members push for a suite of programs that have now been introduced to address problem properties. This includes Canada's first derelict tax subclass, which has been an immense success, spurring owners to remediate, redevelop, or demolish long-standing problem homes, reducing calls for emergency services, and restoring safety to mature communities across the city. I am hearing from residents throughout the neighbourhoods I represent how well this program is serving to make their neighbourhoods more vibrant and safe.
Now, we are taking that proven model and expanding it to commercial properties.
Just like abandoned residential properties, neglected commercial buildings drain public resources, strain fire and bylaw enforcement, invite vandalism, and drag down the vitality of local business corridors. It is time commercial property owners face the same accountability.
The Cost of Neglect: Administration's initial review identified an inventory of roughly 20 persistent derelict commercial properties across Edmonton, representing approximately $29 million in assessment value. I believe there are many more properties that were not identified in this initial assessment.
A Strong Incentive for Action: Under current provincial rules, the City has the ability to increase property taxes on these derelict commercial properties by up to 57% above standard non-residential rates. This delivers a strong financial incentive for owners to clean up their sites, sell to active developers, or return them to productive commercial use.
Rewarding Remediation: Owners who take action to actively renovate, remediate, or demolish hazardous structures will be eligible for prorated tax relief, ensuring our policy rewards revitalization.
Two-Stage Rollout: Administration recommends establishing the subclass legally in bylaw by 2027 to begin classifying and monitoring properties, issuing formal warning notices to owners, and upgrading our assessment systems before applying elevated tax rates.
Pushing the Province for Stronger Tools
While this strategy is a significant step forward, provincial legislation under the Municipal Government Act (MGA) and City Charter currently imposes hurdles that make tackling commercial dereliction harder than residential, specifically a requirement that a commercial building sit fully unoccupied for 12 consecutive months, as well as a 5:1 non-residential tax ratio ceiling.
On September 24th at Alberta Municipalities, I brought a resolution forward on behalf of City Council to ask the Government of Alberta to eliminate these restrictions.
I will continue advocating alongside Council for the Province to modernize these rules, remove unnecessary loopholes, and give municipalities full autonomy to crack down on problem properties swiftly.
Our mature neighbourhoods and commercial main streets are the backbone of a thriving Edmonton. Expanding our derelict property tools to include commercial sites ensures every property owner contributes to the safety, vibrancy, and economic health of our city.
Transit Update: Route 522 Cancellation and School Special Route 632
This past summer brought a lot of changes for Ward Métis, including the cancellation of ETS Bus Route 522 (Capilano/Bonnie Doon). I share the disappointment of many community members who highlighted concerns about travel times, transfers, and access to local schools.
Following community feedback, our office continued to work with ETS to provide solutions to support students and families.
Starting this September, ETS launched Route 632, a new School Special connecting Capilano Transit Centre to Vimy Ridge Academy along a path similar to the former Route 522.
ETS will monitor and evaluate the performance of this school special route during the upcoming school year. If the route meets ridership targets, it will continue operating in subsequent years. If performance targets are not met, the route will be evaluated and could be discontinued for the 2027/28 school year.
In addition, ETS is adding a new sign at the Capilano Transit Centre to help riders locate the dedicated On Demand Transit booking phone more easily.
On Demand Transit will continue to serve the Capilano and Gold Bar neighbourhoods by connecting riders directly to the Capilano Mall Transit Centre or perimeter stops on 106 Avenue (connecting to Routes 1A and 53). Trips can be booked using the Edmonton On Demand Transit app, online at edmonton.ca/OnDemandTransit, or by calling 780-496-2400.
While not a perfect solution, this will provide interim support for students until ridership can be evaluated again next year. I strongly encourage families and riders to use the new school special route so ridership targets can be met and this service can be maintained long-term.
Fast, frequent, and reliable public transit is an essential part of building connected, thriving, and sustainable communities. I continue to be a strong advocate for increased service and investments into renewing and expanding our bus fleet to ensure we are meeting the needs of our communities.
Bringing the Valley Line LRT Operations In-House
Earlier this year, City Council directed Administration to begin transitioning the operations and maintenance of the Valley Line LRT from its private operator, TransEd, directly to Edmonton Transit Service (ETS).
Moving the Valley Line into public hands will give the City greater flexibility in how transit service is delivered and ensure better long-term value for Edmontonians.
I know our communities have felt the frustrations of delayed signal timings at key intersections along the Valley Line LRT. While my office has worked hard alongside city staff to smooth out these issues, it has been an ongoing challenge.
Bringing operations in house should help give ETS the flexibility it needs to better align signalization to support safe movement of all modes of transportation along the line.
What goes into a change like this?
Switching an active LRT line from a private company to a city-run service is a significant undertaking with very few precedents in North America. To make sure the transition is smooth, safe, and reliable for riders, the City is setting up a dedicated, temporary Transition Management Office.
This specialized team will oversee all the behind-the-scenes moving parts between now and the end of 2027, including:
City Staff: Supporting staff through change management and assessing team needs.
Infrastructure and Fleet: Purchasing necessary maintenance equipment and conducting thorough condition checks on tracks, trains, and facilities.
Systems and Safety: Seamlessly integrating technology, communications, and safety protocols directly into ETS networks.
The City’s goal is a completed handover by the end of 2027 without disruption to resident’s daily commute.
Underground Cell Service on the Capital Line is Connected!
If you take the LRT Capital Line through our downtown tunnels, you’ve probably noticed a welcome change recently: your phone actually works!
Over the past 18 months, the City’s technology team and ETS have been working closely with TELUS to build a brand-new underground cellular network. This project was designed directly with resident feedback to make transit more convenient whether you’re checking transit schedules, catching up on emails, or letting a loved one know you’re on your way.
The rollout for this is now officially live for all major carriers. TELUS and Bell customers (along with Koodo, Virgin Plus, and their sub-brands) were brought online late this summer (August), and as of October 1st, Rogers and Fido users are fully connected as well.
With all major providers now up and running, keep an eye out for in-person ETS events and extra details across transit digital screens and social media over the coming weeks. A big thank you to our City teams and external collaborators for upgrading our transit experience!
79 Street Active Transportation Route Coming this Spring
As Edmonton continues to grow, providing protected pathways that allow residents to safely get to work, school, and meet their daily needs is essential. Protected active transportation routes are a critical part of building a safer, more connected city that gives people options and the freedom to move around in ways that work for them. These networks keep everyone safer on our streets, help reduce traffic and emissions, improve affordability, and support healthier, more vibrant communities.
Building on a decade of evolving planning practices and public feedback, Edmonton’s Bike Plan sets out to create routes that are safe, accessible, and predictable for riders of all experience levels. A key part of this network is advancing in Ward Métis with the planned north-south connection along 79 Street, from 76 Avenue to 101 Avenue. In this case, the plan is to introduce separated bike infrastructure onto 79 St, which has been identified as a bike route for more than a decade.
Over two elections and 5 years representing this area I have consistently heard concerns about unsafe driver behaviour and speeding along 79 Street. Not only will protected active transportation infrastructure support people who are walking, biking, and rolling, it will help with traffic calming along this stretch of roadway so that everyone is able to move around our communities safely.
Earlier this year, I moved a motion reaffirming that this route and others in the area proceed according to plan and that they not be delayed. Construction is planned for the Spring.
Given the amount of feedback our office has been receiving about this route, this post consolidates information about 79 Street in one place.
Why 79 Street is a Critical Part of the Network
For those with questions about whether this specific corridor is the right choice, the answer comes down to how pieces of the network fit together.
From a high-level perspective, 79 Street serves as a vital central connector for the city’s east-central area, linking several distinct east-west pathways into a continuous, usable network rather than a series of dead ends.
To the north (94 Avenue to 101 Avenue): This integrates with the existing 95 Avenue shared roadway heading east, providing direct access to key neighbourhood destinations including Holyrood School, SEESA, and local shopping amenities.
In the central stretch (90 Avenue to 94 Avenue): It ties directly into the new east-west route along 94 Avenue.
To the south: It connects directly with the existing 90 Avenue shared pathway while establishing the foundation for future connections to the planned 84 Avenue route going west.
I have heard clearly from some community members that the lived experience of this change feels far more challenging on the ground. Residents have asked whether bike lanes could be split across different streets or if the City could cut into boulevard right-of-ways to create off-street paths.
City engineers have advised that splitting bike routes across multiple streets is not in line with our Complete Streets safety standards. Furthermore, constructing off-street paths on the boulevard along 79 Street would require removing mature neighbourhood tree canopies or disturbing major underground utilities.
Upgrading 79 Street to have protected active transportation infrastructure leverages an existing corridor to bridge gaps between isolated paths. By serving as this central connector, it maximizes the reach and safety of the surrounding network without requiring riders to navigate disjointed, higher-conflict routes that bring cyclists in contact with heavier traffic and put everyone on the road at risk.
What Will It Look Like?
The design for 79 Street is tailored to fit into the existing streetscape using two primary features:
Two-Way Protected Bike Lanes (76 Ave to 94 Ave & 95 Ave to 101 Ave): These are on-street lanes separated from traffic and parked cars by physical barriers. When people who are biking, using scooters, or mobility devices have their own dedicated space, we reduce conflict points and provide a predictable flow for the street. During initial implementation, semi-temporary Tuff curbs will be installed.
Shared Pathway (94 Ave to 95 Ave): Right in front of the east-facing entrance of Holyrood School, the plan shifts off the street. The existing sidewalk on the west side of 79 Street will be replaced with a wider, shared-use path. This creates a comfortable, multi-use buffer zone designed to handle students, parents walking, and cyclists without crowding the road. An example of a similar integrated shared-use path can be seen in front of Clara Tyner Elementary School in Ottewell.
Accommodating Different Modes
To safely integrate active transportation while maintaining smooth road use, several adjustments are required to keep traffic moving predictably and prevent high-risk turning conflicts:
Streamlined Vehicle Flow (76 Ave to 90 Ave): To prevent narrow squeezes and maintain traffic flow, 79 Street will shift to a one-way southbound route for motor vehicles along this specific stretch. Active mode users will travel in both directions within their dedicated lane, while two-way motor vehicle traffic remains unchanged everywhere else, from 90 Avenue up to 101 Avenue. I have heard numerous concerns about the one-way change from constituents, including being able to safely access one's neighbourhood with the busy 75 Street on one side and the constrained 83 Street on the other side. This feedback has been shared directly with the Active Transportation Team. Given the width of this section of 79 Street and the minimum standards required for lane widths, maintaining two way traffic flow was not possible.
Service Road Realignment: To eliminate awkward merge points, direct access to the south service road along Whyte Avenue from 79 Street will be closed. Drivers can access the service road directly from Whyte Avenue.
Turn Restrictions: Northbound left turns will no longer be permitted at 91 Avenue, 92 Avenue, 93A Avenue, and 97 Avenue. This was identified as an important safety measure, removing blind-spot turning risks for everyone using the road.
Transit Accommodations: 79 Street remains an active ETS bus route. Project teams collaborated directly with ETS planners to refine stop locations using modern island platforms. This keeps buses running seamlessly alongside bike lanes without sacrificing route efficiency.
ETS Route 522 & School Special: Independent of this infrastructure project, some of you may know that Route 522 was cancelled in June due to low ridership. I know this was a significant disappointment for riders. Importantly, the physical bus stops for this route are being fully preserved within the new street design. This was done with the express reasoning that the service could then be easily reintroduced back into these neighbourhoods down the line. In the meantime, I have successfully advocated for a dedicated School Special route to support the many students who relied on the 522 for their daily commute. I strongly encourage neighbourhood families to make use of this service to help demonstrate its continued demand and necessity in our community.
Accessibility for Essential Services: Some residents have raised questions about how essential services such as DATS, Home Care, and Meals on Wheels will access homes. The project team has connected directly with existing disabled placard holders along the route to ensure their curbside access needs are fully maintained.
School Zones and Bike Lanes
School zones along 79th Street require tailored solutions to handle pick-up and drop-off traffic safely. We know these areas are already experiencing congestion and safety challenges, which will require careful monitoring and ongoing refinement:
Managing School Traffic & Drop-Offs: Because Vimy Ridge Academy attracts students city-wide, car commutes are high, creating peak-hour congestion for both personal vehicles and school buses. We are also looking into how the new shared-use pathway will integrate with the drop-off and pick-up areas around Holyrood School, particularly given that unsafe loading and unloading has already been identified as an issue in the area.
Winter Road Conditions: Winter weather inevitably narrows available road space. To help maintain safe widths through school zones, the City is re-evaluating snow removal practices that created large, obstructing windrows, shifting back toward a managed snowpack approach.
LRT Diversion & Local Routing: The opening of the Valley Line LRT has pushed additional vehicle traffic into adjacent neighbourhood streets. In response to concerns raised during our meeting with the school principal, our office is actively investigating the east-west connection, specifically looking at traffic movements along 94th Avenue, across and down 82nd Street, turning onto 93rd Avenue, and connecting to 85th Street by the LRT station.
Changes to Parking
Historically, Edmontonians have enjoyed greater access to curbside space than residents in many other Canadian urban centers. However, as our city grows toward two million people, a proactive approach is needed to manage curbside space safely and equitably.
Decisions impacting parking are never taken lightly. Because road widths on mature residential streets are fixed, accommodating protected infrastructure requires reallocating some curbside space. As such, the following adjustments are being made along 79 Street:
Spirit of Hope United Church: On the west side of 79 Street (south of Whyte Avenue), existing angle parking will shift to parallel parking. To offset this reduction and preserve accessibility for church patrons, additional angle parking spots will be added to the south side of the service road along Whyte Avenue directly in front of the building.
Preserving Accessible Zones: All actively used, designated curbside accessible parking spaces along the route will be fully maintained.
24/7 Parking Restrictions: New 24-hour parking restrictions will be introduced to ensure clear sightlines and space for moving traffic. On-street parking will be removed at these specific segments:
Both sides of 79 Street from 76 Avenue to the alley south of 82 Avenue.
The east side of 79 Street from the alley south of 82 Avenue to 89 Avenue.
Both sides of 79 Street from 91 Avenue to 94 Avenue, and from 95 Avenue to 101 Avenue.
While these changes represent a noticeable shift in how we share public curbside space, rear-alley access and parking on adjacent residential side streets remain available.
Furthermore, the City is launching public engagement for its broader Curbside Parking Program in mid-October, which will give residents additional tools and frameworks to manage parking demands across our communities.
Tree Removal
Ward Métis is home to some of the most robust and mature parts of the city’s urban tree canopy. Not only is it beautiful, but it provides a wide range of benefits for those who live here, including keeping the air clean, mitigating stormwater runoff, supporting local wildlife, and preventing Urban Heat Island Effect.
I make it a priority in my work on Council to advocate for our urban forest and preserve tree coverage and old growth wherever possible.
That is why the designs for the 79 Street corridor were crafted specifically to minimize impacts on our neighbourhood trees. Removals are treated as a last resort and will only happen when site constraints leave no other viable preservation option:
Holyrood School Site: Some tree removal is anticipated on the school grounds immediately adjacent to Holyrood School to make room for the new off-street shared pathway, creating a safer space for students and families.
Boulevard Tree Protection: Along the broader 79 Street corridor, boulevard tree removals will be strictly restricted to areas with insurmountable physical constraints, specifically where necessary to accommodate dedicated accessible parking stalls or to execute critical intersection modifications required for route safety.
Supporting Our Canopy: Whenever a tree must be removed, new trees will be planted to replace them through the City’s Greener as We Grow initiative, helping to maintain and diversify our urban forest for the future.
By holding a high standard for tree preservation, we are ensuring that expanding our active transportation options doesn't come at the cost of the green spaces that make our community so special to live in.
I want to thank everyone who has provided feedback on this route and on the Active Transportation Network Expansion project in general. My office will be sharing more detailed design maps ahead of spring construction as they become available.
Additional Resources
Active Transportation Network Expansion
WebpageOverall Context Map - 79th St Bike Lane
PDFEdmonton Bike Plan | Webpage
WebpageThe City Plan | Youtube Video
Frequently Asked Questions
Were there alternatives to 79th St? Were other designs considered?
In early stages of project development City administration always conducts a thorough review of viable designs. Based on these mock ups, possible alternatives are looked at and the final outcome balances several priorities including safety, accessibility, integration into the overall active transportation network, and cost.
How much of the transportation budget is spent on bike lanes?
The vast majority of Edmonton’s transportation budget continues to fund roads and bridges for motor vehicles. Active transportation infrastructure accounts for less than 2% of the City’s roughly $5-billion capital transportation budget, reflecting the ~2% of Edmontonians who currently commute by bike as their main mode of transportation.
The collected data from 2020 is out of date. High-density infill has changed the area, how can you proceed without re-evaluation?
Increased density reinforces the need for a safe north-south active transportation link rather than diminishes it. The Bike Plan establishes core network corridors to connect neighbourhoods efficiently regardless of local population growth, and the Active Transportation team validates these alignments during project-level design.
I live on this route, why was I not notified?
Directly affected residents along the corridor will receive notification letters by mail this spring prior to construction.
Won’t these traffic restrictions cause more congestion and, as a result, reduce safety? How does adding these bike lanes make things safer?
Physically separating bike lanes from motor vehicle traffic reduces conflict points and collisions, making the corridor safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. Providing viable travel alternatives also shifts trips away from single-occupancy vehicles, which helps mitigate traffic congestion over time.
Infill has exacerbated parking issues. Won’t this make it worse?
Curb space is managed as a shared public asset. City parking utilization studies along this route show consistently low demand, indicating that existing nearby capacity can absorb local parking needs.
What justification is there for the one way southbound conversion?
Roadway width through Idylwylde is constrained. Under Edmonton's Complete Streets Design and Construction Standards, there is insufficient physical right-of-way to fit two-way vehicle traffic alongside a protected, bi-directional bike lane. A one-way conversion was required to deliver a safe facility within existing curb lines.
Have you spoken to the schools about this? What about their access?
Yes, I did meet with school principals from Vimy Ridge and Holyrood School to discuss the route, design, and the importance of safety for kids at pick-up and drop-off.
Why not pause this project and open things back up to the community for consultation? Why push this through?
Given the constraints of the roadway and limited width and right of way, the current design is the only viable option. Further engagement will not meaningfully change the outcome or design.
We are a winter city, how can we justify cycling infrastructure that will only be used in the warmer months?
Cycling in Edmonton is a year-round activity for thousands of residents. Just like winter running, walking, or cross-country skiing, people continue to cycle through the colder months when routes are maintained and clear of snow.
What about accessibility? What about my accessible parking stall?
The Active Transportation team has directly contacted all residents with designated on-street accessible parking stalls along the corridor to ensure their specific mobility needs are accommodated. If you maintain an accessible parking stall and were not contacted, please reach out to my office and we will connect you with the appropriate team to ensure it is accounted for.
Emergency vehicle access?
Accommodating emergency services is a key factor in how the City of Edmonton designs its roads, including those with active transportation infrastructure. Emergency services, such as Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, are part of the design review process to ensure accommodation of emergency vehicles is prioritized. In all cases, the designs ensure an uncompromised route for emergency vehicles that meets local design standards.
Why was rapid implementation chosen for this? Shouldn’t a project like this require more community input?
Council advanced this work as part of the 2023-2026 budget cycle. As part of this work, easier routes were completed sooner with more challenging routes rolling out later in the cycle. This allowed more time for the Active Transportation Team to assess options and determine the most viable design for implementation. Given the constrained nature of the roadway, further engagement would not change the recommended installation as this is based on Complete Streets Design and Construction Standards, safety, and engineering standards.
How will snow clearing work?
The Active Transportation Team works together with the Snow and Ice Team to ensure that winter clearing concerns are addressed.
Why should we continue with this if the province might remove it?
We do not know exactly what the provincial government may or may not do. Building this route is in line with the continued implementation of Edmonton’s Bike Plan.
Why are cyclists being prioritized over drivers?
While this segment of roadway is being reallocated to accommodate all modes, Edmonton continues to maintain over 12,000km for personal vehicles, and just 39km of protected on-street bike-lanes. Everyone deserves to move around our communities safely, regardless of mode. While Edmonton has invested significantly in our roadway network and integrated infrastructure for personal vehicles into the design of our neighbourhoods, gaps remain for people who walk, bike, and roll. Continuing to build out a complete and comprehensive transportation network means more people will be able to safely get around in ways that work for them.
According to YEG Cycle Counter, there are not enough cyclists to justify this. What is your rationale based on data?
The cycle counters show that substantially more people are cycling every year. Importantly, without safe infrastructure, many people don’t feel comfortable riding. When we provide safe options for cyclists, it means more people can choose this option, which increases ridership. We do not justify building bridges on the basis of how many people swim across a river.
I am worried about losing a reliable space in front of my home to park in, especially in the winter months. How will this be mitigated?
The city works to mitigate parking loss when possible, however, in constrained circumstances and roadways, parking may be removed. In the case of 79th, alley access to garage space is also available and driveway accesses will be maintained.
Transforming Exhibition Lands
One of the projects I have been excited to see gain momentum is the redevelopment of Exhibition Lands. We are laying the groundwork for a thriving, sustainable, transit-oriented urban community with homes, green space, local businesses, and public amenities.
I have been championing this vision since my first term on Council and throughout our budget cycles, and I am pleased to share some updates on what this project means for our community and our city.
Laying the Groundwork
Transforming nearly 200 acres of underutilized land requires substantial upfront investment before construction can begin. Back in 2022, Council secured funding to prepare the southern portion of the site for market development and land sales:
$53.1 Million in Site Servicing & Prep: Dedicated to planning, engineering, environmental monitoring, underground utilities, roads, and staged teardowns of obsolete Northlands facilities ($9.1M for initial facility demolitions, $7.6M for design/engineering, $33M for civil construction, and $3.4M for post-development activities).
$35 Million for Coliseum Demolition: Funding the complex, structural decommissioning of the former Northlands Coliseum, which is actively being dismantled.
Where We Are Today
A master-planned redevelopment of this scale happens in coordinated waves to ensure infrastructure, transit, and community spaces align properly.
Short-Term
Demolition Milestones:
The demolition of the former Racetrack and Spectrum building is now complete, marking a major structural milestone for the site.
Dismantling and demolition of the Coliseum remains actively underway.
Phase 1 Site Servicing: City crews are actively finishing all critical underground utility work to have the southern parcels fully prepped and serviced for home construction to begin this coming spring.
Urban Farm Relocation: Last term, I moved a motion to ensure Edmonton’s Urban Farm had a future home at Exhibition Lands. Relocation to the parcel just north or the Borden Park tennis courts is officially complete and ready to go for the upcoming growing season.
Modernizing Transit & Safety:
Planning is underway for the redesign of the Coliseum LRT Station, with a strong focus on community safety improvements and eliminating the outdated underground concourse in favour of a safer design.
Planning continues for the new LRT station at 115th Avenue.
Medium-Term
Completion of staged Northlands facility removals while supporting ongoing interim community programming and event rentals on remaining grounds.
Expanding mixed-use collectors and active pathway networks, including extending 73rd Street from 112th Avenue up to 115/116th Avenue.
For those interested in reading the technical documents, you can review the full Planning Framework and the detailed Implementation Strategy.
This is what building in and up looks like at its best, creating an inclusive, connected destination that we can be proud of for generations to come.
To explore the overarching master vision, conceptual maps, and project updates, you can visit the official project website at exhibitionlands.ca.
The 2027–2030 Budget Process
A city’s values, priorities, and aspirations are found in its budget. As we prepare to begin deliberations for the upcoming 2027–2030 four-year budget cycle, City Council faces both significant opportunities and critical choices about how we invest in Edmonton’s future.
How It Works
Over the coming weeks, budget deliberations will follow a clear structure:
Administration Presents the Proposed Budget: City Administration brings forward the initial draft budget for Council and public review.
Public Hearings (2 Days): Council will spend two dedicated days asking clarifying questions and listening directly to residents, community partners, and local organizations sharing their priorities for our city's future.
Amendments, Debate, and Final Decisions: Council will then spend roughly three weeks bringing forward motions and amendments, thoroughly debating each item, and voting before reaching a final, approved budget.
Council’s Identified Priorities
At the beginning of the term, Council came together and identified several priorities, meant to support our budget process and decisions this term. These strategic priorities help set our focus for the years ahead:
Economic Development: Supporting business start-ups and growth, attracting industrial and commercial investment, leveraging arts, culture, and sports as major tourism drivers, and boosting downtown vibrancy.
Growth Management: Increasing residential and employment density along major nodes and corridors, enhancing mobility networks, focusing on asset renewal while supporting strategic growth, and ensuring fiscal resilience and intentional urban design across both developing and redeveloping areas.
Safety: Ensuring safety in public spaces and on our roadways, supporting violence prevention, advancing actionable housing options, and actively addressing problem properties.
Quality Services: Delivering public services that respond adaptively to city growth and community input, innovating operational systems, and building shared civic pride.
Beyond the above priorities that were identified by Council, I remain focused on maintaining momentum on key priorities such as affordable housing, climate action, public and active transportation, renewing and improving our infrastructure, street safety, and protecting the public services that we all depend on.
Central to all of these conversations is making smart investments and decisions today, such as curbing urban sprawl and advancing proactive maintenance, so that we do not pass deferred costs onto future generations. We need to be building for a stronger, more equitable, and sustainable Edmonton for all of us.
Looking Ahead
Because budget deliberations involve shifting amendments and voting, final outcomes will take shape through rigorous debate. Once Council concludes deliberations in December, I will follow up with a comprehensive post-budget debrief to share how the approved 2027–2030 plan impacts our ward and city.
Budget engagement has been underway all year.
Beyond participating in the public hearing, you can write to me to share your thoughts on ways we can improve our City’s budget. It is critical the your perspectives and priorities are part of this process.
Thank you for your ongoing engagement, advocacy, and shared commitment to making Ward Métis and Edmonton a place where everyone can thrive.
