Serving Edmontonians over many years has given me the chance to see our city’s remarkable work ethic on display, from those running businesses of all sizes, to doing valuable work in the non-profit sector, to caring for children or family members. Right now, I know many of you are struggling.

I have been there. My wife and I raised a family on modest incomes, and we had to make hard choices and sacrifices every day. I know what it feels like to count every dollar. And I know the financial hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic mean more individuals and families than ever are struggling to make ends meet. We have to keep life in Edmonton affordable and ensure every tax dollar brings value to our city. 

As mayor, I will take a strong, principled approach to fiscal management. I am committed to the principle that each financial decision must be in service to Edmontonians, honouring their hard work with accountability and transparency. 

While many residents and businesses have struggled through the pandemic, for many, financial difficulties started even before COVID-19 impacted our lives. At the municipal government, we need to continue prioritizing affordability, because recovery for many people and businesses is just beginning. As Mayor, I will work with Council and City Administration to assess the state of the City’s finances to ensure we are making the most fiscally responsible decisions balanced with providing quality public services.

Accountability to citizens

Council sets the direction for the City Administration, but sometimes there are gaps between expectations and reality. I will work closely with City Administration to set clear expectations and strengthen two-way communication between the public, Councillors who represent them, and City staff who provide services.

Specifically, I will work with Administration to establish a robust approach to engaging Edmontonians in reviewing the city’s budget priorities—to ensure we are reflecting the community’s priorities and meeting their expectations for efficiency. There are many promising models for us to draw on, including citizens’ panels.

Property Taxes and Provincial Responsibilities

At the municipal level, governments do not have many options to raise revenue. The two major tools at our disposal at property taxes and user fees. But after a challenging couple of years, I have heard loud and clear from taxpayers and service users that overreliance on these levers is making life unaffordable for people. 

My goal as Mayor will be to safeguard the quality of life of Edmontonians by ensuring our city is a beautiful, prosperous and affordable place to live. That means finding a sustainable balance between quality public services and reasonable public spending. 

My approach to keeping property taxes and user fees affordable has three major planks:

• We have to recognize that Edmonton households and businesses are still in the midst of a challenging time, and we should strive to hold the tax increase for 2022 as low as possible without compromising our investment in the core services Edmontonians depend on.
• Right now, the province collects 30% of property taxes paid by Edmontonians, and we see no direct value for those taxes. I will bring our whole community together to advocate that the province either return that revenue to the city, where it belongs, or start meeting our city’s needs when it comes to providing services like affordable housing, treatment beds, or harm reduction facilities—when the province chooses not to meet its obligations, it downloads these costs onto municipalities, and onto our property taxes. Edmontonians should see value for those property taxes in their communities.
• In the longer term, we need to grow our industrial tax base to take pressure off our residential and commercial taxpayers. Attracting new industrial and commercial investment is the best path to creating stability and predictability for taxpayers across the board. Read more about my approach to economic growth and diversification.

Delivering Projects on Time and on Budget

The City must be accountable and transparent to residents for major infrastructure projects. I will strengthen reporting practices, and ensure more communication between project leaders and local Councillors to ensure the public is aware of project timelines and milestones. We need to engage affected property owners and businesses more proactively to minimize the impact of construction on life in the city.

We also need to enhance our social procurement practices to ensure our local businesses can compete for contracts (within applicable trade agreements), as well as yield value to residents in support of the City’s infrastructure and service goals. The goal here should be finding the best value and the best delivery

External Consultant Costs

The City of Edmonton has excellent internal capacity to carry out the direction of Council. While sometimes services from external consultants are necessary and beneficial, the City should be transparent about what services are not within its capacity. 

I will direct Administration to provide an annual report on consultant costs and will ensure there is transparency in the contract awarding process. Open communication will help Council determine where there may be gaps in the City’s capabilities and ensure service providers are accountable for the commitments they make. 

Management Review

Having worked with City staff in my former role as Councillor, I know the City has many staff in all areas with excellent skills and a commitment to the work they do. A review of the City’s corporate structure will ensure that staff’s talents are being used in the most efficient and effective way. 

As Mayor, I will direct City Administration to set benchmarks in areas such as overall employees per capita and staff per supervisor so we can manage our corporation’s size and structure against other comparable Canadian municipalities. 

Improve efficiencies, accountability, and service delivery

The City is a large organization that can be difficult to navigate, whether for a small business going through the licensing process or a parent looking for community resources for their child. I will work with the City Manager to establish clearer and more accessible processes to provide the best service possible.

My proposed Business Advocacy Office will improve commercial and industrial service as a one-stop shop for business owners.

I will also direct City Administration to look into alternative customer service models—such as a citizen service liaison or case worker—to deliver efficient “one-stop-shop” services and information to residents at a comparable or reduced cost to the current multilayered system. 

Council sets the direction for City Administration, but sometimes, gaps appear between expectations and reality. I will work closely with the City leaders to set clear expectations and strengthen two-way communication between the public and Councillors who represent them, and City staff who provide services. 

I will also prioritize a strong culture of pride, innovation, and collaboration within the City. The past year-and-a-half has produced so many challenges that have required innovative solutions at the City; some of which should continue as we move past the pandemic to save money and ensure an even better experience for Edmontonians (such as virtual services and appointments).

I want to inspire trust and confidence in our municipal government. To do so, City Hall must work every day to earn a reputation as a thoughtful and forward-thinking institution. Strong partnerships with external organizations can contribute to shared priorities and share in investments in the community. 

I will work tirelessly with my provincial and federal counterparts to make the best use of public dollars, while also pursuing partnerships with private companies and public institutions that can leverage the City’s resources for an even greater impact for our citizens.