Edmonton Minute: Issue 259

Edmonton Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Edmonton politics

📅 This Week In Edmonton: 📅

• It’s Election Day! Polls are open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. In case you missed it, check out our 2025 Municipal Election Survey, revealing where Mayoral and Council candidates stand on key issues like safety, affordability, taxation, and accountability. We have published their unedited responses so voters can make informed choices. Some candidates answered, others declined - but all responses, or lack thereof, offer insight into their priorities.
  
  
• Today is also the day to vote for School Trustees! School boards make important decisions that affect every taxpayer, so even if you don’t have kids in school, these elections matter. Make your voice heard and help shape the future of education in Edmonton. You can find information on Edmonton and Edmonton-area school trustee candidates from our friends at the  Alberta Parents' Union.
  
  
• An analysis of City Council voting records from 2021 to mid-2025 shows that most Councillors voted together a majority of the time, with only two members frequently opposing the majority. Data from the City’s open records indicate Councillors aligned on about 75% of non-unanimous votes, with the strongest correlation between Anne Stevenson and Ashley Salvador at nearly 90%. Two councillors emerged as the most frequent dissenters - Karen Principe and Jennifer Rice often voted together, but less often with the rest of Council. Outgoing Mayor Amarjeet Sohi led all members in successful vote outcomes, aligning most closely with Keren Tang and Jo-Anne Wright. Voting unity was strongest on infill development and single-use item bylaws, while issues such as policing, regional transit, and housing drew shifting alliances. 
  
  
• Edmonton is experiencing a housing boom, with more homes being built than ever before. In 2024, the City issued over 15,000 building permits, with more than 75% concentrated in the southwest, near 41st Avenue and Anthony Henday Drive, including areas like Keswick, Chappelle, and The Orchards. This growth is partly driven by available land and proximity to the airport, and Edmonton’s population has increased by over 100,000 in just two years. While much of the expansion is on the city’s outskirts, the City also aims to increase density in established neighborhoods like Griesbach. The boom brings economic benefits, such as jobs and a wider variety of housing, though it also requires new infrastructure like schools, roads, and utilities. Many families are drawn to the new developments for modern amenities and ease of living, even if commuting to the city core takes time. Urban planners expect the city will continue expanding outward while also redeveloping inner neighbourhoods.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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