Edmonton election ward profile: Nakota Isga
Nakota Isga has three candidates in the 2021 municipal election, including incumbent Andrew Knack.
Formerly Ward 1, Nakota Isga runs from 231 Street in the west to Groat Road in the east, and from Whitemud Drive in the south to the city boundary in the north.
Nakota Isga (nah-KOH-tah EE-ska) comes from the Indigenous language Sioux and means "the people." Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation is the most northwestern representation of the Siouan language family.
- Complete coverage of the municipal election
- Edmonton's new Indigenous ward names, explained
- New places for familiar councillors? More than new names to city's overhauled electoral wards
Here’s a look at the candidates in Nakota Isga.
ANDREW KNACK
Andrew Knack (Supplied)
The ward’s incumbent, Andrew Knack, has been a city councillor since 2013. Knack, who first ran in 2007 when he was 23, says he wants to be re-elected to bring his experience to this council.
"As we continue to work through the pandemic and plan to welcome at least five new members of City Council, it is critical to have councillors who understand the scope of the challenges before us and can build consensus to achieve our common goals,” Knack told CTV News Edmonton.
Knack's platform includes support for the innovation sector to improve the licensing process for startups, and the expansion of companies that promote innovation, such as Edmonton Global, Edmonton Tourism and Innovate Edmonton.
If re-elected, Knack says he will call on the provincial and federal governments to turn over housing jurisdiction to the large municipalities to expedite affordable housing in Edmonton.
DAVE OLIVIER
Dave Olivier (Supplied)
Dave Olivier grew up in Ontario and moved to western Canada when he was 15 to work in the oil fields with his brother. Olivier has a background in marketing and accounting, and has owned a restaurant, a fleet of taxis, worked in accounting firms and ran a charter business for the last 20 years.
If elected, Olivier says he will work to limit property taxes to the rate of inflation. According to Olivier, controlling taxes sends a message to businesses that Edmonton is a stable economy to invest in.
"This 30 per cent is taken out of seniors’ pantries and medication budgets. It is preventing young people from getting into their own home, and is forcing young families to struggle to survive instead of thriving in this city as they should," Olivier said.
His platform says funding for police, fire and ambulance services in Edmonton should be a formula model, based on population growth and changes to the rate of inflation.
STEVE WESTON
Steve Weston (Supplied)
Steve Weston is a longtime resident of the Nakota Isga ward, growing up in the Meadowlark area and moving to La Perle as a teen.
He currently drives a large truck for a local construction company but he wants to give back to his community “in a bigger way” as a city councillor.
"If I was to win a seat on council, I would be able to not only help my community but could push for necessary changes that would benefit the entire city," said Weston in a statement to CTV News.
If elected, Weston plans to advocate to revamp Vision Zero and streamline the approval process for business licences and permits.
The municipal election is on Oct. 18.
Read profiles for mayoral candidates and wards on our municipal election page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Stormy Daniels is expected to appear at Trump's hush money trial on Tuesday
Donald Trump returns to the hush money trial Tuesday facing a threat of jail time for additional gag order violations as prosecutors gear up to summon big-name witnesses including porn actor Stormy Daniels.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.