“The premier did not take questions from journalists Thursday, but a spokesperson confirmed the province is still hammering out a deal with the city and the Oilers Entertainment Group to “explore” which downtown projects will be funded.
I would love to take that $330 million and use it as seed funding to ignite housing growth downtown. To see it going into new housing, new parks, new transit, new infrastructure,” said Michael Janz, an Edmonton city councillor.”
Recently at a corporate lobbyist event, Premier Smith told an Edmonton audience that she welcomed a proposal from the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) and the City of Edmonton for the equivalent of what her government provided to billionaire owners of the Calgary Flames (~$330 Million). I was briefly interviewed on this topic earlier this summer by CityNews Edmonton: https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2024/07/18/calgary-to-break-ground-on-new-rink-edmonton-still-waiting-for-their-provincial-money/)
“The premier did not take questions from journalists Thursday, but a spokesperson confirmed the province is still hammering out a deal with the city and the Oilers Entertainment Group to “explore” which downtown projects will be funded.
I have a number of concerns with Premier Smith’s approach going forward and I want to draw a hard line now to make clear to my constituents where I stand.
First of all, any public dollars should be invested in public assets and public entities. I agree with 2015 Wildrose Opposition Leader Danielle Smith on this topic that public funds should not pay for private business arenas. I oppose corporate welfare and would have voted in opposition to public funding for the arena deal in Edmonton. It was a bad deal for taxpayers, and I encourage you to read the book Power Play: Professional Hockey and the Politics of Urban Development by Edmonton Authors Jay Scherer, David Mills, and Linda Sloan McCulloch.
Second of all, provincial funds are still public dollars, and a dollar for the Flames or Oilers is a dollar unspent on public health or education. Two wrongs don’t make a right, and while I support more provincial funding for the City of Calgary and the City of Edmonton (and rural municipalities for that matter) just because public dollars were provided to billionaires in Calgary, it is not improved by providing it to billionaires in Edmonton. Instead, provide those funds to the City of Edmonton to assist taxpayers struggling with affordability, overcrowded buses, maintaining infrastructure, and ending poverty.
Third of all, even if you do believe that funding should be provided to these corporations, it ranks very low for me on the list of priorities, well behind Premier Smith paying her more than $80 million (and growing) owed to the City of Edmonton for property taxes.
If the province provided City Council a cheque for $330 million tomorrow, I would like to see this one-time funding used to reduce our civic debt room, help reduce property taxes, invest in critical infrastructure (we have a $470 million annual deferred maintenance gap), build public housing, provide public infrastructure and much more.
My favorite Peter Lougheed quote is that “we must think like owners.” We are the owners of this province, and our job is not to facilitate public handouts for private businesses, no matter how proud we are of the most recent playoff run.
Folk Fest: Heading to the hill? Come say hello!
Saturday: Rise Against Racism: A Step Up Initiative: Come join us at Duggan Community League for a youth-led event focused on combating racism in our community. You will hear powerful stories from speakers, learn about the career paths in Anti-racism, participate in engaging activities & more! Oh and did we mention, there will be food and games? Get your FREE tickets now! Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of positive change. RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rise-against-racism-a-step-up-initiative-tickets-921179471597
Forrest Fires and Smokey Summers and Floods: Can we tackle climate change? Neighborhoods with a greater density of housing and jobs have fewer transportation-related emissions
On average, households living in the densest parts of metropolitan areas—typically central cities—consistently produce lower carbon emissions than households living in suburban, exurban, and rural areas. People living in cities drive less partially because they have more nearby destinations, reducing their driving time and allowing for more alternative travel methods, such as transit and walking.
Instead of directing billions in federal funding toward automobile infrastructure, transportation funds could be redirected to support land-use change through TCMs that encourage high-density development rather than polluting suburban sprawl. This approach has already proven its efficacy, with the one land-use project that acted as a TCM—Atlanta’s Atlantic Station—substantially reducing car travel for both residents and workers compared with people on average regionwide (PDF). Ideally, future investments should be paired with support for affordable housing and public transit, which can give more people the opportunity to live in low-polluting neighborhoods.
“To me, it’s very simple. Number one, we have to curb urban sprawl. Number two, we need the province to pay their bills and pay their taxes. And number three, we need to focus on renewal, not building new. It’s really that simple.”
FireSmart Canada Community Preparedness Meeting:
Wednesday August 28th, 7:00pm
Strathcona Community League Hall
10139 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 2P3
Earlier this summer, Leduc Mayor Bob Young took a page out of the same, shameful, inhumane playbook and pushed forward a policy that Leduc would close the winter shelter in their community with the express intention of shipping the needy into Edmonton.
