Priorities

Many candidates may share some of these priorities. I have the political will, experience, and courage to turn them into action. Learn more about my experience and what sets me apart. In addition to my priorities below, I am publishing my responses to surveys, recording videos, and writing about emergent issues on my blog which you can read here.

Edmonton’s population grew by 100,000 in the past two years which brings opportunity and challenges. Based on the feedback from our neighbours, my priorities are…

Rigorous public oversight to ensure public taxes, land, and assets are used for public, not private benefit.
Curbing Edmonton’s urban sprawl, (building in, not out) and providing more affordable housing choices
Building and improving affordable, high-quality public services such as libraries, recreation, snow removal, parks, roads, and waste management.
Growing our active and public transportation network so we can move, safely, reliably and efficiently, no matter how we choose to get around
Preparing our neighbourhoods for drought, wildfires, and floods to protect clean air and water for future generations
Standing up for a fair deal for Edmontonians from Premier Smith and Prime Minister Trudeau to provide quality services and restore lost funding.

Learn more about my path to fiscal balance at: michaeljanz.ca/threepillars2024

Promoting the Local Economy, Good Jobs & Economic Diversification

Building a Safe, Caring & Welcoming City for Everyone

Strengthening Public Services & Putting the Public Interest First

Accelerating Action on Energy Transition & Climate Change

Promoting the Local Economy, Good Jobs & Economic Diversification

Edmonton’s economic recovery is an opportunity to build on our existing economic strengths and invest in our future. With the right tools and approaches, we can continue to ensure a high quality of life and low cost of living that makes Edmonton a great place to live and start or grow a business.

Working closely with the U of A, other post-secondary institutions, and our regional partners, we can grow Edmonton’s emerging sectors like hydrogen, artificial intelligence, logistics, advanced manufacturing, health, food, and agricultural tech.
As an immediate part of our recovery, we can implement local procurement and community benefit tools and agreements to make sure local work supports local businesses first.
We also need to quickly reduce and rethink regulation that currently gets in the way of the flexible use of public spaces - to ensure vibrancy, innovation and relentlessly support our small business community.
Economic diversification must include investing in the arts.
Ensuring that early learning and childcare is part of our economic recovery (read more)

Building a Safe, Caring & Welcoming City for Everyone

As we emerge from the pandemic, we must prioritize an equitable recovery for all through our next operating and capital budgets, and execution of the City Plan.

We need to fast-track affordable housing, accessible and affordable transit, and affordable childcare for all.
We need to take action on the root causes of homelessness in our City - including support for innovative approaches to any substance use and mental health challenges.
We must address the overdose epidemic through access to innovative harm reduction and treatment services. (read more)
Alternatives to police intervention, criminalization, and incarceration are more important than ever - especially for disconnected and socially isolated young people.
We must enact anti-racist and anti-discrimination policies supporting all equity groups, including the Black and Indigenous communities, People of Colour and LGBTQ2S+, and others facing injustice.
Take meaningful action on the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Strengthen community connections by supporting Community Leagues, non-profits, local dog parks, supporting playgrounds, and neighbour-powered local democratic and community-led initiatives to improve our city.

Strengthening Public Services & Putting the Public Interest First

COVID-19 has taught us that now more than ever we must invest boldly in our collective well-being that makes Edmonton a great place to live for all ages, wages, and stages: in transit, libraries, parks and recreation, and support for seniors and families.

Strengthen public services and resist attempts at cutting services or privatization
Strengthen community engagement in the planning and development process to achieve better infill for better communities
Ensure City Plan is implemented with an equity lens and we pace change appropriately to make the plan a reality for all Edmontonians. For example, we can build 15-minute communities while at the same time ensuring that new developments respect the local context, prioritize meaningful and proactive engagement to address the concerns of the surrounding community.
Ensure Edmonton is an animated advocate to orders of government on issues that increase our economic productivity such as education, post-secondary, and health care that are vital components of a vibrant and healthy city.

Accelerating Action on Energy Transition & Climate Change

As a city, we must meet the challenge of the climate crisis by committing to the accelerated actions for climate change.

Increased protections for the River Valley, parks, trees, and green spaces and planing two million more trees.
By working with other orders of government, industry, and global partners we can recognize the enormous economic opportunity in energy transition and economic diversification.
By using smarter urban planning, we can create complete more vibrant local communities where activities are closer to home. We can both save money and the planet by expanding opportunities to move so that half of our daily trips are by transit, walking, and cycling.
We can electrify our transit and increase the efficiency of our buildings, promote alternative energy like hydrogen and solar, creating good-paying jobs and a more resilient and efficient local economy while ensuring clean air and water for the next seven generations.
Prioritization of the Safe Mobility Strategy and achieving Vision Zero are a must. Open up more streets for patios, pedestrians, cyclists, and for use by local businesses. Improve pedestrian pathways and address missing links and connections such as the East/West crossing of the CP Rail line.
We must move forward with the small and incremental improvements that dramatically increase community connection and livability, local parks and recreation opportunities (such as the Rollie Miles project or the High Level Line)