Erin’s Reflections on 2022
Wishing everyone a happy 2023! Please check out my other post on a look at the year ahead. For now, I want to take a moment to reflect on the year that has just been - and what a year it was! This was our first full year as a new Council and there were many ups and downs along the way.
I want to start with appreciation. First, appreciation for all the residents and all who put their faith in me to represent such an amazing part of the city. Thank you to everyone who I’ve had the honor of connecting with over the course of this year through email, phone, in-person, virtually, or even traditional snail-mail. Your time, wisdom, and passion are so appreciated. Secondly, to my family, for being a source of inspiration and support. Last, but not least, thank you to my colleagues for showing your passion for community and debating issues with respect, especially when we have diverse thoughts on the path forward.
In many ways, 2022 felt like 5 years lived in one (maybe that explains the extra greys?). Personally, I had some huge changes within my family and even moved to a new house in July (still in the ward!). I finally finished getting settled in this December break - with the last hurdle of basement boxes organized!
The biggest focus in 2022 for Council was on the 4 year budget. We had conversations leading into the December debate going back to early 2022. During these conversations we were in the midst of another variant COVID wave and faced much uncertainty as a City. It was sobering as a new Councillor learning about the financial pressures being faced by the City with pressures from inflation, less provincial funding, city growth and emergent challenges such as an increase in encampments. In May, the estimated tax rate to address currently funded capital projects and maintenance (no enhanced services) for 2023 was 8.5%. I wrote about the budget realities in a blog you can find here. From May to the proposed budget in November, much work was done to bring the proposed budget down to a tax increase of 3.9%. However, there were key items that were missing that I heard again during the campaign and budget engagement.
While I had hoped the final tax-levy number (4.9%) would have been lower (as I voted yes to reductions that failed and no to additions that passed), I am still proud that the revised budget demonstrates commitment to city services, community safety, climate mitigation, support for the most vulnerable, and maintenance of existing public property. It is never politically favorable to increase taxes. However, I campaigned on the values I would show up with everyday and courage is doing the right things, even when it’s hard. It was clear to me, we could not keep consistently underfunding services and expect better results. Edmontonians want a city they can be proud of and that means investment in infrastructure and services that help.
In terms of other high-impact decisions in 2022, I think about the decision to ground the gondola. Our River Valley is one of our most prized assets, and we shouldn’t be leasing it for a bargain price. While we want to make sure we are attracting innovation and business to the city, when city assets are involved, there needs to be equal or greater return for public good and a continued commitment to the calls to action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report.
Transit recovery was also a huge focus. This included ensuring fares are kept low, barriers to transit are removed, and we are continually improving the systems. I was proud to advocate for advancing public transportation in our ward. A major transit win for the NW was putting the Metro-line LRT back on the City’s plan for growing to 1.25 million people AND finally seeing progress on the NW LRT through the approval of funding land acquisition. There is now an On-Demand transit route along 167 Ave in the ward and DATS now allows non-service animals in carriers. We also had several discussions about the regional transit commission and the value of having a separate entity take over transit. For me, moving forward with this was adding extra costs, putting local routes at risk, and removing the accountability elected officials have over this important city service. I couldn’t in good faith continue to go farther down this costly path of the commission knowing it already was not producing the results originally envisioned. I’m proud to see that Edmonton’s collaboration with the region on transit will continue on, such as the exciting launch in 2022 of Edmonton region’s electronic fare payment system (ARC).
It was a dicey year with regards to addressing social issues such as transit safety, encampments, downtown revitalization. Council has, and will continue to, invest in community safety through plans for downtown and Transit Safety Plan. Encampments and shelter spaces are something we as a Council have been grappling with. I personally struggle with the tension from increased investment in these band aid solutions while the root causes are not being addressed. We will see so many costs go down as a city and a province if we simply house people. For example, when an encampment gets shut down and individuals are still houseless, they simply move and set-up somewhere else. At the same time, I can’t hear about the suffering on our streets and not do all that is possible within our roles to help. The Province set-up a task force in 2022, and I hope they step up in a way that maintains dignity and addresses the root issues leading to social disorder in Edmonton.
There were a lot of great moments in 2022 as well. I loved being out at community events throughout the ward, meeting with seniors, doing school visits, going to and meeting with local businesses, and getting the opportunity to see what makes this part of the city not just great, but exceptional. We broke ground on the Coronation Recreation Centre and saw the Telus World of Science Expansion completed. Dunluce started engagement on neighborhood and alley renewal and Calder construction was in full swing! New playgrounds opened and many investments in infrastructure are happening throughout the ward.
While there is so much I could discuss, I think I will end with I’m ready to continue the work we’ve started as a Council and seeing it through!
Again check out my look ahead to 2023 for some of those key items!
