Updates

May 2nd City Hall News

Events:

  • May 11th - Alberta Bike Swap
  • May 13th - Summer Streets launch party
  • Big Bin Events This Summer! 
  • Fire Hall open houses
  • May 25th - Harbinger Media Network Showcase
  • July 1st - Mill Creek Pool reopening

News & Views

  • Bill 20 is a disaster. Take action
  • Housing Crisis: What is the role of the University of Alberta?
  • What I'm hearing on the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy...
  • Understanding property tax increases

  • The Edmonton Police Commission is refusing to share its plans for auditing the local police department with city council. Councilor Keren Tang put forward a motion in December last year to have a look at the plan, which council approved. But now the EPC says it “owns the audit function” and does not “support sharing that responsibility with council.” 

  • Don't fall for privatization: Chicago doesn't own their own streets (Video)

Challenging the U of A: Leading with purpose in housing and land use planning

City Council recently approved a rezoning across the street from the U of A and it got me thinking about all the underutilized or unused space on the U of A main campus.

The expression I often hear at city hall is “highest and best use of city land” – in other words, land that brings benefit to the community (eg, a park or public space) or land that generates revenue for the city to offset taxes and pay for services (Industrial, commercial, residential in that order) 

But what if the University of Alberta could generate revenue and mitigate the housing and climate crisis? The university already has the vehicle: the U of A Properties Trust, an arms length development corporation that pays dividends back into the U of A through innovative developments and land leases.

What I'm Hearing About the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been meeting with several different organizations, attending meetings, door knocking, and responding to emails about the Old Strathcona Public Realm Strategy.

I wanted to share a bit of what I have been hearing and manage expectations about timelines. You can read and review the full draft plan here: https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/Old-Strathcona-Public-Realm-Strategy.pdf?cb=1713376450

April 8th City Hall E-News

  • LAUGH, CRY: April fools Joke Recap: The joke was funny. The provincial government funding cutbacks less so.
  • RSVP: Edmonton Live Show: Sandy And Nora Talk Politics: (3:00PM Saturday April 20th)
  • READ Suburban Developers have profited over $1 Billion in the last decade. We must curb sprawl.
  • SHOP: Pleasantview Les Causeries Playschool Fundraiser: Everything-For-A-Dollar Kids Clothing Sales
  • TUNE UPS!: Bike Day at Strathcona Community League - (Saturday April 13th)

Plus, more reading and videos from around town...

 

Confiscation and Sale of Provincial Property

EDMONTON, Alberta: (April 1st, 2024) Edmonton City Councillor Michael Janz gave orders to commence the seizure and sale of Government of Alberta property in order to offset the over ~$60 million in property taxes that Premier Danielle Smith and Jason Kenney have failed to pay over the last five years, despite numerous warnings. 

"It's a real shame that it has come to this, but we're starting with Government House. Next, we might proceed with confiscation and sale of the $30 Million dollar "War Room", or, ultimately the provincial legislature." said Councillor Janz.

Since 2019, Premiers Kenney and Smith have failed to pay the grants to cover the property taxes on Government of Alberta buildings. Since over 60% of the provincial government property is in Edmonton, this disproportionately harms Edmontonians who pay higher taxes to offset this provincial cutback.

In Estimates last week, Minister Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver indicated that, unlike the hundreds of millions set aside for the billionaire owner of the Calgary Flames for a new rink, the provincial government had no plans to pay their back taxes owed to Edmontonians.

"We urge the premier to pay her outstanding property taxes so our capital city afford to pay for the high-quality public services for Edmontonians."

As background, in December 2023, Councillor Janz penned an oped about the provincial tax arrears in the Edmonton Journal that he urges you to read and share: https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/michael-janz-alberta-govt-needs-to-pay-its-property-taxes-too

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Connect with Michael

Email:
Phone: 780-496-8146
Address: 1 Sir Winston Churchill Sq, 2nd Floor, Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7