Week in Review - September 18, 2015
Mayor Iveson began the week with his monthly Mayor's Phone-in show with Mark Connolly on CBC Radio. The Mayor took questions from Edmontonians on a number of topics including the change to the senior leadership in the City's administration; community mailboxes and inner city crime. Have a lull in your day? Take time to watch the video of the Mayor's Phone-in show and catch up on these issues.
Later on Monday, Mayor Iveson and members of the Community Services Committee received a very important report from Administration on creating better access to transit for vulnerable youth. Between October 2015 and March 2016, the pilot will see 100 transit passes distributed to local agencies that serve youth. These organizations are in the best position to assess which at-risk youth are most in need and will work to ensure all passes are being used. Mayor Iveson saw this program as a positive first step in giving disadvantaged youth access to a service that may have been just out of reach for them.
The Austrian Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Arno Riedel, also popped into City Hall on Monday. The Mayor and Ambassador Riedel took time to discuss issues related to cultural and academic exchange. That evening, the Mayor joined thousands of City of Edmonton employees and their families at the Telus World of Science for the Great City Evening, a casual and fun event celebrating the great work City workers do for Edmontonians. The Mayor was on hand to help launch a couple of rockets to the oohs and aaahs of those in attendance.
Tuesday was kicked off with exciting news for the international traveller in your household. Mayor Iveson was on hand at the Hotel Macdonald for WestJet’s launch of direct flights between Edmonton and London Gatwick airport, with an introductory price of $299 (one-way, all fees included). This comes on the heels of a recent announcement by Air China Cargo to serve Edmonton and give us another connection with the Asia-Pacific. Building on this momentum, this is yet another new service option for Alberta’s north, our local businesses, post-secondary institutions and visitors - Welcome to Edmonton, mate!
The Executive Committee also met on Tuesday, where they approved motions that will move us one step closer to making the Blatchford Redevelopment a 100% renewable energy, zero-carbon project. More details on this development - including the plans for using district energy throughout the community - can be found on the Mayor’s Facebook page.
The next day was also a busy one. Mayor Iveson and eight of his mayoral colleagues, who form the Metro Mayor’s Alliance, launched the Advisory Panel on Metro Edmonton’s Future. The panel will submit a report and recommendations in Spring 2016 on how the Edmonton Metropolitan region can better collaborate in a way that will make the region globally competitive.
Wednesday was also the first day of public hearings on the proposed amendments to the Vehicle for Hire Bylaw. The bylaw amendments would allow private transportation providers (like Uber) the ability to operate in Edmonton - this new class of vehicle-for-hire providers would need a proper driver’s license, insurance and a license from the City among other stipulations. Hundreds of people registered to speak at the hearing, with the meeting being held over to Thursday in order to hear all input. The Mayor recognizes that new technology-based entrants into this space changes the game and that an update to the bylaw is needed. Safety and choice for residents remains a dominant concern throughout these discussions as they go into next week where it is hoped that final direction will be given to administration.
Thursday had the Mayor kicking off the United Way’s fundraising campaign for 2015 at the Shaw Conference Centre. The Mayor and Edmonton Community Foundation board chair Ted Kouri announced a $1-million grant to match donations made between $1,200 and $10,000. Mayor Iveson spoke of Edmonton’s sense of generosity and how it can make great social change possible. This kick-off for the United Way was a great segway into Friday’s major announcement on ending poverty in Edmonton.
EndPoverty Edmonton has laid out the strategy to eliminate poverty in a generation. The report and 28 recommendations was produced by the 22-member EndPoverty Edmonton Task Force, co-chaired by Bishop Jane Alexander and Mayor Iveson, and is aimed at accomplishing a bold goal in our city - not to simply reduce poverty, but to eliminate it. This strategy will be presented to City Council on September 22, with a series of public engagements to take place in the fall. The implementation plan will be brought to Council in April 2016 for approval. From there we will continue on a path where, in the Mayor’s words, we will “build a truly inclusive city for all.”
Thank you for taking time to read up on what the Mayor has been up to this week. From the Mayor’s Office, have a fun-filled, Autumn-coloured weekend!
For More Information
Mayor Don Iveson
2nd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB
T5J 2R7
| Online | Contact The Mayor Online |
|---|
| https://twitter.com/yegmayoroffice |
