Newsletter - April 2025

Hello Neighbours! By now, you should have received my spring newsletter in your mailbox. Thanks for checking out the expanded version here.

I wanted to provide you with an update on the work my office is doing on issues important to you in Ward Métis. I remain committed to building a healthy,  sustainable, and thriving city by protecting public services, expanding housing and transportation choices, and investing in strong, connected, and prosperous communities.

As always, please feel free to reach out to our office at: ashley.salvador@edmonton.ca if you have any follow up questions or concern we can help with.

Fixing Edmonton's Maintenance Gap

This year, we took a critical step to care for the roads, parks, rec centres, pools, and other public assets we rely on by advancing a new Dedicated Renewal Fund, something I’ve championed all term.

This sets aside funding to help maintain our infrastructure, avoid closures, and prevent surprise repairs. It’s not flashy, but will help keep our city safe, functional, and affordable; a smart, proactive step that avoids higher costs down the line.

By acting now, we can spare future Edmontonians from both higher costs and bigger headaches. It’s a clear, long-term solution that outlives four-year budget cycles.

You can learn more about Edmonton's Infrastructure Renewal Deficit here, and about the steps we are taking to close it.

Safe Streets for Everyone

Whether it’s kids walking to school or neighbours out for a stroll, traffic safety is vital for safe, connected communities.

This year, in Ward Métis, 13 new upgrades are planned, including speed humps, raised crossings, pedestrian signals, and more. In 2023–24, we added 20 upgrades, with 22 planned for 2026.

Housing for Stronger Communities

We’re working hard to protect residents from rising housing costs. Edmonton is leading the nation in homebuilding and affordability, with a goal of 35,433 new homes by 2026.

This includes 6,907 near transit, 7,741 medium density homes, 8,520 multiunit homes, and 1,940 non-market affordable units, building on Council’s $183 million investment in 2,700 affordable and supportive homes. Thanks to our bold plan and leadership, we have also secured $192 million in federal housing funding.

Here is an exciting and heartwarming example of the kind of projects we are supporting. I was delighted to attend the opening of St. Paul's Legacy Project, which delivers affordable homes for families in our communities.

In 2019, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church partnered with Right at Home Housing Society to transform their building into new affordable homes for people who need them.

The project includes family-sized homes and accessible suites for individuals with mobility challenges. It also includes a community space where neighbours can gather, celebrate, and build lasting relationships.

This project is part of the City of Edmonton’s new approach to creating affordable housing. By stepping up with catalyst investment, we’re able to leverage resources and assets from the community and other levels of government.

Fighting for Fair Funding

Strong cities need strong provincial partners. Housing, healthcare, and addiction are core provincial responsibilities. We’re making significant investments, but we can’t solve these challenges alone.

Thanks to our sustained advocacy, the province has agreed to resume paying property taxes after accumulating a $96 million shortfall. It’s a good start, but falls short of what’s needed to ensure a fair deal for Edmonton.

Beyond this, we know the provincial infrastructure funding has been on a steep decline, down from $420 per person in 2011 to $150 per person in 2023 - a decrease of around $270 per person.

While no single level of government can fully fund all the infrastructure needed for Alberta to continue thriving and prospering, the provincial government can and should provide more funding. We need the province to better support our rapidly growing communities.

Transportation that Connects Us All

Everyone deserves access to safe, reliable, and affordable public transit. In 2025, we’re adding 20 new buses, 50,000 service hours, and investing in safety through enhanced cleaning, 36 more Transit Peace Officers, and outreach team

We also successfully protected low-income transit passes from provincial cuts. Strong public transit reduces congestion and keeps us moving as we grow.

Spring Maintenance and Upkeep

Street sweeping keeps our streets and pathways clean and safe for everyone. City crews plan started residential neighbourhoods on April 14. Watch for signs or check the Street Cleaning Map for updates on your neighbourhood.

Sign up for Parking Ban Notifications to stay informed here.

Crews have filled over 70,000 potholes so far this year, up 376% from last year. Crews are working hard 24/7 to keep our roads in good shape. Be sure to report through 311.

Exhibition Lands Redevelopment

The transformation of Exhibition Lands is underway, with demolitions and site servicing advancing this spring. This major redevelopment will turn a large, underused site into a sustainable, complete community, adding thousands of new homes and connecting more people to transit, parks, and services.

Learn more: exhibitionlands.ca

Protecting Our Urban Forest

Our parks and green spaces are essential for health, recreation, and climate resilience. With Dutch Elm Disease now detected, crews are acting quickly to protect our urban forest.

The early symptoms of the disease appear from the latter half of June to the middle of July when the leaves on one or more branches may wilt, droop and curl. The leaves then turn brown and usually remain on the tree.

Avoid elm pruning between April 1 - Sept. 30, and report signs of disease to 311. We're also committed to growing our canopy, with funding to plant 2 million trees by 2030 to support a greener, healthier city. Learn more about how you can help protect our tree canopy here.

Oversight and Accountability in Action

In 2025, we’re introducing new municipal tools to improve safety and accountability based on community feedback:

• Changing the Business Licence Bylaw to ban the sale of knives in convenience stores to reduce opportunistic purchases.

• Expanding the Derelict Tax Subclass (3x the regular tax rate) citywide for hazardous, high-risk, vacant properties.

• Launching the Construction Accountability Program (CAP) to hold problematic builders accountable, allowing the City to deny permits to repeat offenders

• Shifting construction enforcement costs away from taxpayers to developers 

For more information and details about these programs and the steps we are taking to ensure development happens responsibly, read my blog here.