Council asked to consider building rec centres, fund sports programs and transit
City council heard from dozens of community advocates and groups Monday to inform its budget deliberations for next year's operating and capital budgets.
Edmontonians taxes are set to go up in 2022, but that's only if council makes no changes to the fall supplemental budget adjustment. While the city budgets are planned on a four-year cycle, there are opportunities for budget adjustment for new projects, priorities, or necessary items every fall.
Administration is recommending a tax increase of 1.8 per cent. On Monday, Edmontonians pleaded their case to councillors to try and convince them to pay for recreation centres, grant programs, and transit change — all items not budgeted within the proposed property tax hike.
CORONATION AND LEWIS FARMS REC CENTRES
One of the most significant asks is a budget increase for the proposed Coronation Recreation Centre and Velodrome. The project needs an extra $41.1 million on top of the approved $112 million budget.
If council declines, the project could be shelved indefinitely.
"Many of us have been working on this project for more than 10 years, and over the past decade, literally thousands of community volunteer hours and dollars have gone into the project to build this vision for Edmonton," said Stephen Bourdeau, representing the World Triathlon Series Edmonton.
Steve Hogle, representing Hockey Edmonton, said he would like council to construct the Lewis Farms Recreation Centre as there is a lack of ice availability for youth, especially with Callingwood closed this season for renovations.
ACCESS TO SPORT FUNDING
Most of the speakers who addressed councillors on Monday wanted the city to continue funding the Community Investment Operating Grant (CIOG) program, providing $3.8 million to support non-profit groups increasing access to sport and recreation.
The program was saved in 2021 after a one-time budget adjustment reduced Edmonton Police Service funding.
Various sporting organizations, recreation clubs, and multicultural groups all rallied together to tell council that the funding helps connect marginalized people with meaningful recreation opportunities.
James Rosnau, chairperson of the Edmonton Sport Council (ESC), said that funding to support opportunities for sport for all is even more critical in light of the pandemic, adding that a generation of young people could be "lost to organized sport."
"There is no greater time in history than (now) to support health and wellness in the community," Rosnau said.
"To understand the significance of the CIOG program is to understand the profound impact that access to sport and physical activity opportunities can have on communities," said Shannon Pynn, ESC board member.
MORE BUSES AND PEACE OFFICERS
The head of the transit union told council that Edmonton needs more buses on the road and more peace officers to help keep the system safe.
Steve Bradshaw, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 569 president, said the last time the city-funded extra bus service hours was six years ago, despite an ever-growing population.
"There are no new service hours in this budget," Bradshaw said. "Some will argue with the reduced ridership we are experiencing, there is no need for more service."
"Not funding expanded and improved transit service is crippling Edmonton," Bradshaw said, adding that addressing rider concerns with the bus network redesign will require higher service levels.
- 100 jobs saved after city halts privatization of bus cleaning staff
- How 'reimagining' downtown Edmonton could help with economic recovery
In terms of transit security, Bradshaw said more peace officers to the system would help as the contracted security can only observe incidents and report. Additionally, Bradshaw said the city should look to expanding peace officer authorities to help handle more incidents.
Council is expected to continue budget talks Tuesday and settle on a decision for any changes to the 2022 fiscal plan by mid-December.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots,” has died. He was 87.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Luxury cruise line selling world cruise suite for US$1.7 million
Luxury operator Regent Seven Seas Cruises is raising their price tag to eye-watering levels, with a suite on an upcoming 140-day world voyage costing US$1.7 million.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
A Filipino villager is nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace
A Filipino villager has been nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time to reenact Jesus Christ’s suffering in a brutal Good Friday tradition he said he would devote to pray for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the disputed South China Sea.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.