Edmonton’s Veteran Councillor Jumps into Mayoral Race
Coun. Andrew Knack, who has recently announced his bid for Edmonton’s mayoral position, notes that witnessing the city expand by an additional 200,000 inhabitants within four years brings about both possibilities and difficulties.
“It’s focused on returning to the management of our city’s expansion. It aims at making life more budget-friendly for Edmonton residents and enhancing safety for every Edmontonian,” Knack stated on Thursday.
A lot has been discussed about Edmonton’s financial shortfall—the difference between income and expenditures—and Knack views this as a top priority for the mayor—to “advocate for Edmonton residents, striving to collaborate with the provincial government to bridge these gaps, since we’ve observed such issues provincially,” he explained.
“At present, local governments have limited funds available for investing in essential services that could reduce living costs, enhance security, and tackle development challenges. Therefore, we must strive to bridge this funding shortfall,” Knack stated. “Moreover, we need to ensure fiscal discipline as we undertake numerous initiatives internally.”
“We definitely need to go over to the provincial government to attempt filling those gaps, but we must also ensure that we’re taking all necessary steps to manage that budget as effectively as possible,” he stated.
Regarding zoning, Knack mentioned that Edmonton stands out as the most budget-friendly large city in Canada.
“We must recognize that significant efforts have been made, however, each time we modify the zoning bylaws, we need to be prepared for alterations since this is an ongoing process,” Knack stated.
He anticipates an engaging discussion at a forthcoming public meeting in June concerning the expansion of the downtown Community Revitalization Levy, which he believes will attract considerable attention.
“I believe we should discuss ensuring equitable investment throughout all of Edmonton. It’s crucial that we focus on developing our downtown area. However, my concern is that most funds might end up benefiting just one particular section of the downtown for a single property owner. Meanwhile, various parts of the city require attention,” he stated, highlighting the scarcity of fire stations beyond Anthony Henday Drive and emphasizing the necessity for facilities and services aimed at enhancing the well-being of Edmonton residents.
Knack stated that Edmontonites can take pride in their city being the top location for constructing homes in Canada, and comparable efforts should be directed towards supporting small businesses.
“There continue to be numerous instances where, during my conversations with small business proprietors, they mention that the process of obtaining inspections or permits is excessively lengthy,” he explained. “Given our ability—and we possess it—to excel at constructing homes, we should also lead in facilitating the commencement of small businesses,” he added.
“We possess the capability, the resources, and the team members who have undoubtedly excelled at establishing this foundation on one end. What remains is integrating these elements into our broader initiatives aimed at aiding local businesses throughout the city,” he stated.
As indications of homelessness spread beyond the limits of downtown, the city must step up efforts to tackle these issues, he stated.
We’ve been attempting to bridge the gaps left by the provincial government. However, I believe we should assume more of a leadership position, despite it not being officially our duty, since ultimately individuals have been awaiting action.
Following over 12 years on the city council, where he has participated in numerous town hall meetings and gone door-to-door while also ensuring follow-up calls, Knack mentioned that he has collaborated with Edmonton residents from various political perspectives and belief systems.
He aligns himself with others on the council who are firmly against the province’s attempts to introduce partisanship into municipal politics.
We’ve witnessed how partisan politics can be toxic—how political parties often lead to allegiance to the party taking precedence over everything else,” Knack stated. “It ought to focus on the citizens we serve rather than the political parties themselves.
Through involving all Edmonton residents, including regular citizens like us, we can truly create better choices. However, when they implement this divisive approach that is essentially imposed on Albertans—where it has become evident they do not desire such changes—we will oppose it. There’s no reason for us to follow that route.
Knack emphasized that effective listening is crucial for making better decisions.
“We can assist in making it more cost-effective, enhance safety measures, and genuinely cope with the expansion we’re facing. That’s precisely why independence matters so much. This initiative concerns all residents of Edmonton, rather than merely catering to these specific individuals or following directives from a particular political group,” he stated.
Councillor and aspiring mayor Tim Cartmell is putting together a complete team of 12 candidates as part of his campaign for the upcoming October election.
Cartmell responded gracefully when Knack joined the competition.
“I believe it’s wonderful that we have several distinct candidates. This diversity enables us to see varying perspectives, ideas, and proposals, which I feel contributes to a robust discussion,” Cartmell stated.
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