Transition memos released by Edmonton's mayor to 'inform debate'
Edmonton's outgoing mayor released five memos to the public on Friday that, he said, cover the most pressing issues the next city council will face in the first months of office.
"One of the strengths of local democracies everywhere is how open and transparent they are and how much information is shared with citizens to inform debate," Mayor Don Iveson told reporters on Friday.
In November, Iveson announced he would not be seeking re-election as Edmonton's mayor.
"The goal of releasing these transition memos quickly is to provide insight that will help the next mayor and council hit the ground running on implementing their city building priorities.
Iveson's five open transition memos can be viewed on his website:
- Supportive Housing
- Energy Transition Strategy
- The City Plan
- Fiscal Policy
- Regional Economic Development
'AN UNCOMFORTABLE DEPENDENCY'
In his Fiscal Policy memo, Iveson cited provincial cuts and dependency as one of four financial challenges the city is facing.
"Transfers from other governments are a necessary way to bridge the gap," the memo reads in part.
"However, with this granting arrangement comes an uncomfortable dependency. Recently announced provincial cuts to Alberta's municipalities, especially Edmonton and Calgary, are likely the largest threat to our budget and therefore to the kind of city the next council wants to build."
When asked about the section in his memo on Thursday, Iveson's response was blunt.
"I'm not sure it's possible to have a functional relationship with a dysfunctional government," he said. "The situation Alberta finds itself in is indicative of that."
"The federal government is now providing the bulk of support to cities, both for COVID and for infrastructure as the provincial government's position retreats."
The Fiscal Policy memo also lists impacts of COVID-19, climate crisis, and police funding formula as financial challenges for Edmonton.
"Traditionally, transition memos like this are kept confidential and shared only with incoming elected officials," said Iveson, "but by releasing these memos publicly it will provide transparency by giving Edmontonians the same access, the same information that elected officials would receive."
Eleven candidates are running to become Edmonton's next mayor. There are 74 candidates running for council in the city's 12 wards.
Edmonton's next municipal election is on Oct. 18.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
1 killed, 3 injured including toddler, after Hwy. 417 crash in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.