Week in Review - March 24, 2016
March 24, 2016
Saturday saw Mayor Iveson serving as speaker of the Girl Guides of Canada’s “Alberta Girls Parliament,” bringing greetings and words of encouragement for the dozens of service-minded young women assembled. The Mayor pressed upon the mock parliament participants the importance of having women in all orders of government, as their perspectives and voices make both government and democracy stronger.
At Tuesday’s Executive Committee meeting, the Mayor and Councillors discussed two issues tied to growth in Edmonton. The first was a report on the expected costs and revenues of Edmonton’s ‘greenfields’ over a 50-year term. Mayor Iveson elaborated on this report and what it means for future growth in our city in his blog. The growth discussion is one that centers on growing responsibly and ensuring we can build higher-density, sustainable communities.
This led into the second discussion at Committee, which was on methods to improve the infill construction process in Edmonton’s mature neighbourhoods. Administration recommended different ways for ensuring the city proactively protects citizens who have issues with “unneighbourly” infill builders - in the end the Committee approved tighter construction hours, and increased the fine amounts for various construction infractions, such as breaking the noise bylaw. A new team dedicated to infill compliance will also be created and will soon begin inspections of infill projects to ensure they are following all new and current rules.
Tuesday was also a big day as the country digested the new federal government’s first budget. Mayor Iveson expressed his appreciation for the “transformative policy shift” made by the Liberal government on the transit funding front. With $3.4-billion over three years promised for transit funding, a new arrangement was also announced where the allocation of funds will be made based on ridership and up to 50% of eligible costs can be covered by the federal government. This is a positive change over the previous one-third of eligible costs arrangement. Mayor Iveson has pointed out that Edmonton expects to partner with the province in order to fully activate and leverage these funds.
One of the more widely reported items in the budget focused on how the Edmonton Metro Region was left out of the extended Employment Insurance (EI) benefit program. While all other regions in Alberta will receive the extra 5-weeks of EI coverage, Edmonton did not meet the federal government’s criteria for extended benefits. This criteria required a region’s unemployment rate increase "by two percentage points or more for a sustained period between March 2015 and February 2016 compared to its lowest point between December 2014 and February 2015 without showing significant signs of recovery." While it is good news that Edmonton’s diverse economy has helped shield the city from high unemployment, the Mayor is advocating to federal politicians that should the economic situation deteriorate Edmonton would then be eligible.
Wednesday evening, Mayor Iveson was in attendance at the Terra Centre’s 2016 Annual General Meeting. The Mayor spoke of how the success of the child is related to the success of the parents, putting emphasis on the good work the Centre does in lifting up young mothers looking to continue their studies.
That ends another week at the Mayor’s Office! From our office, we wish you a joyous and happy Easter long weekend.
For More Information
Mayor Don Iveson
2nd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB
T5J 2R7
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