Alberta
City of Edmonton has a spending problem
From the Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Author: Kris Sims
Between 2014 and 2023, total spending at the city went from $2.2 billion to an estimated $3.4 billion, a spending increase of about 54 per cent. The population of Edmonton increased by about 17 per cent over that same period.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Edmonton City Hall to rein in its salaries and spending splurges in the wake of its 6.6 per cent property tax hike.
“Ordinary working people didn’t get a nearly seven per cent pay increase this year, so what makes Edmonton city hall think these folks can afford this property tax hike?” asked Kris Sims, CTF Alberta Director. “The city clearly has a spending problem and it’s wasting taxpayers’ money on electric buses that don’t work.”
Edmonton city councillors passed a 6.6 per cent property tax increase at city hall Tuesday afternoon.
Budget documents show spending at Edmonton city hall has jumped.
Between 2014 and 2023, total spending at the city went from $2.2 billion to an estimated $3.4 billion, a spending increase of about 54 per cent. The population of Edmonton increased by about 17 per cent over that same period.
Meanwhile, the city has a growing list of spending issues.
Reports show Edmonton spent about $60 million on a fleet of electric buses, but about 75 per cent of them are stuck in maintenance bays, needing constant repair and adjustments. The company that manufactures parts for the electric bus fleet has since gone bankrupt.
Last year, Edmonton City Hall decided to spend $100 million on bicycle lanes, in a city that can see snow on the roads from September to May.
After taking a raise this year, Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is paid a salary of $211,488 per year, while the city’s 12 councillors are each paid $119,484. The premier of Alberta, by comparison, is paid $186,180 per year.
“The people of Edmonton should remember they have the option of recall legislation and they can force a byelection for their city councillor if they think they’re doing a bad job,” said Sims.
From LifeSiteNews
Imagine if it was a conservative minister making fun of Mohammed on an important religious feast day
The leader of Alberta’s socialist New Democratic Party (NDP) has been taken to task by the ruling United Conservative Party for appearing to mock Christians in a moment caught by a hot mic at a press conference in the province’s legislature.
On Wednesday, NDP leader and former mayor of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi, who does not hold a seat in the legislature despite being leader of the opposition, drew the ire of UCP Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Dan Williams for appearing to mock Jesus Christ.
“Yesterday, right here in the legislature, Naheed Nenshi, the leader of the NDP, mocked Christians along with the media. They laughed at us,” said Williams in an X post video Thursday.
In the video, Williams shows a clip of Nenshi walking away after Wednesday’s press conference saying, “I wanted to say the UCP hates baby Jesus.” Immediately afterward, members of the media burst into laughter.
It is not clear what Nenshi was asked by the legacy media, or why he made the response he did, but it was perceived by Williams and others to be a mockery of Christians who support the UCP.
Williams took issue with Nenshi’s comments, saying that what he said was “deeply inappropriate anywhere, especially here in our legislature, and it’s so deeply inappropriate for anyone to say, especially someone who believes that they should be the leader of our province.”
Not done yet, Williams accused Nenshi of making “fun of the majority of faith holders in this province.”
“To do it here, of all places, in the Rotunda. Friends imagine if the roles were switched. Imagine if it was a conservative minister making fun of Mohammed on an important religious feast day,” he said.
Williams demanded that Nenshi apologize for his “offhand joke.”
“He might not have intended it, but it is offensive and I hope Mr. Nenshi rises to the occasion and apologizes because I don’t think Christians want to stand for being made fun of by Mr. Nenshi or by anyone, and not in the house and seat of our democracy here in the legislature,” he said.
Nenshi is no stranger to advocating for the woke agenda that often stands in opposition to Christian values.
In 2021, Nenshi called COVID protesters, many of whom were Christians, “white supremacists,” and said last year that Canadian politicians should use their positions in parliament to combat the “radicalization of white people.”
It was also during Nenshi’s time as mayor of Calgary that the city’s council banned businesses from offering help to those with unwanted same-sex attraction, meaning that even if someone who suffered from such attraction wanted help in dealing with those feelings, offering such help was not permitted.
A new Construction Codes Working Group will explore changes to construction codes to help address housing affordability.
As Alberta’s population continues to grow, so does the need for more housing options. That’s why the province has been working to reduce barriers and empower its housing partners to get more shovels in the ground, and get more houses built for Alberta families.
Alberta’s government continues to look at all options to build more homes. To further this work, a Construction Codes Working Group has been created to explore how Alberta’s construction codes can be improved to speed up development while still maintaining the required high quality and safety standards. The working group includes members from government, municipalities and the development community.
“We are leaving no stone unturned in our approach to increase housing options for Albertans. We have already collaborated to streamline some permitting processes, and by continuing to work together we will remove barriers standing in the way of housing options.”
“Albertans need more housing options as the population grows and it’s why we’ve been working to reduce barriers to housing construction. This working group is just another way that our government is working with housing partners and municipalities to accelerate homebuilding across the province.”
Using the expertise and experience of municipal and industry professionals, the Construction Codes Working Group will explore construction code amendments to accelerate the homebuilding process across the province and harness regulatory, municipal and industry expertise to tackle housing development complexities. Examples of code changes the working group may consider include those for secondary suites and single-stair apartments to make housing easier to build.
The Construction Codes Working Group will include representatives from Alberta’s government, the cities of Calgary and Edmonton, the Safety Codes Council, and the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) Alberta. The Safety Codes Council will ensure safety codes officers are trained on any new codes, inspections or approval processes. BILD Alberta will give insight into market conditions and development challenges.
“In the face of unprecedented population growth, we need an ‘all hands-on deck’ approach to build more homes and meet the growing demand. The Construction Codes Working Group unites experts to streamline construction processes while maintaining top safety standards. I look forward to the insights and recommendations from this working group and am confident a collaborative approach will help deliver more housing options for Calgarians.”
“The City of Edmonton is proud to be a member of the new Construction Codes Working Group. As Edmonton continues to experience unprecedented growth and an increased demand for housing, we are eager to explore new and innovative ways to streamline the development process to ensure every Edmontonian has a home.”
On May 1, Alberta formally updated its provincial building and fire codes to align with national codes and allow for improved energy efficiency in housing and small buildings, while still emphasizing consumer affordability. The Construction Codes Working Group will build on this work to address additional pressures and development challenges found in Alberta’s housing market.
“As a member of the Construction Codes Working Group, BILD Alberta is proud to support the development of solutions that balance building code requirements with housing affordability. By collaborating with key stakeholders, we aim to identify innovative, practical changes that prioritize safety, efficiency and accessibility while addressing the pressing housing needs of Albertans.”
Quick facts
- The 2023 Alberta editions of the building and fire codes and the 2020 National Energy Code for Buildings came into force on May 1, 2024.
- The creation of the Construction Codes Working Group supports the goals of Alberta’s Housing Action Plan by looking at ways to cut red tape that are creating delays in affordable construction.
- The 2024 Accessibility Design Guide that was recently released includes detailed information and context to help the public and construction industry understand and apply the provincial building code’s accessibility requirements.
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