The beginning of a new City Council term is always exciting. We are taking the perspectives from our neighbours and pooling our experiences together to create a shared vision for Edmonton, and it is full of possibilities. What do we hope to achieve together? How can we make this great city a better place for our families, our friends, and our communities?
Council has officially defined our priorities for the next four years, and they will be guided b y the principles of fiscal sustainability, affordability and relationship-driven.
Economic Development
Economic development is essential for a growing and thriving city. In Edmonton, our business, arts, culture, and sports organizations all contribute to economic development.
I support this focus area because successful economic development secures our long-term financial stability. By growing our non-residential tax base, we reduce our dependence on residential property taxes.
Ward Anirniq holds one of the largest portions of industrial land in the city. These lands are engines of opportunity, but we need to be intentional in their activation and use. I want to see this focus area of economic development applied to the opportunities in Ward Anirniq, and I’m committed to ensuring that we see new businesses choosing our industrial areas throughout this term.
Growth Management
Strategic growth is a necessity for Edmonton’s growing population. We need to increase residential units in nodes and corridors and enhance public transit. We also need to focus on the less flashy work of renewal.
I am a proponent of investing in renewal projects this term. Maintaining our existing infrastructure is vital for longevity, and when we delay these projects, they cost more in the long run. We must support key growth, but we also have a fiscal responsibility to be better stewards of what we already have.
For too many years, the Northwest has been underserved by public transit. Ward Anirniq remains the only quadrant of Edmonton without mass transit access. While the metro line is planned to eventually go there, we need to discuss what can be done in the interim to support mass transit access. I’ll continue to be a vocal advocate for correcting this inequity and will be focused on how we grow transit equitably.
Safety
A service loses its value if people don’t use it because they feel it’s unsafe. So we must proactively ensure that our city facilities, services and infrastructure are safe, reliable, and benefiting community members.
We also have to ensure that people feel safe in their own homes and communities. We’ve seen encouraging results from the Problem Property Initiative, which has already benefited several neighbourhoods in our ward. We can and should apply this same logic to other areas of our city.
I also look forward to seeing traffic safety, which is a key concern for constituents, addressed within these new priorities. We must do more to ensure our streets are safe and well-maintained through infrastructure and initiatives - including in school zones, parks zones, and in mitigating traffic cutting through neighbourhood.
Quality Services
When it comes to providing services, quality can be more important than quantity.
We have to ensure that services are truly accessible and reliable.
I want to be certain that we are getting our money’s worth and that residents can count on the city to function. When services work well, they build civic pride and encourage deeper engagement in our community.
One of my specific goals for the Northwest is to see that our snow clearing efforts must reflect the reality of an Edmonton winter. Expanding and improving our winter services is not just a matter of convenience; it is a fundamental part of keeping our community safe, moving, and accessible.
What’s Next
Right now, we’re deep in budget discussions, and in the coming months, we’ll be holding opportunities across the city for public engagement on the upcoming four-year budget. I encourage everyone in Anirniq to get involved and stay tuned for further announcements.
