Week in Review - November 27, 2015
November 27, 2015
A non-statutory public hearing was held at City Council on Monday to allow members of the public to give their input on the 2016-18 City Operating Budget. After listening to what Edmontonians have to say, Council goes into deliberations over the next couple of weeks in order to provide direction for city programs and services over the next three years.
Monday brought some tragic news as word spread that Manmeet Bhullar, MLA for Calgary-Greenway, had passed away on the QEII as he tried to assist another driver on the highway. Mayor Iveson paid tribute to Mr. Bhullar at Executive Committee this past Thursday. The High Level Bridge will be lit navy blue, his favourite colour, on Saturday November 28 in his memory.
Mayor Iveson spoke about how ease of use and the involvement of children in behavioural change is important to Edmonton’s waste management innovation on Tuesday. He brought this message to the attendees of the Biorefining Conversion Network and Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions Conference. He also said that local companies, like SBI Bioenergy, are key to Edmonton solving global challenges like climate change and diversifying the economy.
The Mayor also took time on Tuesday to speak to the national viewers of CTV News about Edmonton’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis. Mayor Iveson said that the City of Edmonton has been in close communication with all players and other orders of governments involved in planning the arrival of the refugees. While expressing some concern over the long-term availability and support for housing, he also provided a welcoming message to all those who are fleeing from devastation and seeking refuge in our diverse and warm-hearted city.
Local Edmonton bloggers arrived at City Hall this past Wednesday to sit down with the Mayor to discuss the budget and other issues of interest. Conversation ranged from discussions around police funding to city charter progress to Valley Line LRT procurement.
That night, the Mayor was at the Knowing Our Spirits conference and spoke to the assembled delegates on how much we can learn from the Treaties signed with First Nations, especially when it comes to the idea of the medicine chest (included in Treaty No. 6). The Mayor was honoured to receive a beaded vest for his work advancing reconciliation from Chief Wilton Littlechild, Commissioner with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Mayor Iveson ended the week by having a breakfast meeting with the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, the new federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. As the Mayor noted in a tweet, Edmontonians may have sent Minister Sohi to represent us in Ottawa but we all know where his loyalties lie.
Budget deliberations began on Friday for City Council. Mayor Iveson made an amendment motion on the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) budget with the aim of making increases to their funding “formula-based,” tying it to inflation and population growth in order to bring certainty to their budgeting. There is also an intention to go to the province to get a fairer share of resources to support the work being downloaded onto EPS, especially those not related to hard policing costs, like court house reporting, responding to mental illness incidents, and addressing social disorder. Further deliberation on the City Budget and on the amendments made by Council members will take place next week.
The Mayor also opened Friday's City Council meeting with a salute to the Edmonton Eskimos. The Eskimos will be taking on the Ottawa RedBlacks in the 103rd Grey Cup game in Winnipeg this Sunday. Mayor Iveson and all the rest of City Council were decked out in green and gold to show their support for the Eskimos. Mayor Iveson and his wife will be in Winnipeg this Sunday to cheer on the Eskimos. #GoEsksGo!
For More Information
Mayor Don Iveson
2nd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB
T5J 2R7
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