Coun. Tim Cartmell's claim that Mayor Amarjeet Sohi does not believe drugs are a problem in Edmonton is unfounded and at odds with the mayoral hopeful's own voting record, the co-hosts of Episode 294 of Speaking Municipally said.
On Feb. 3, Kevin Hassett, a member of United States President Donald Trump's economic team, claimed he witnessed fentanyl-linked social disorder during a visit to Edmonton, and suggested it was further evidence Canada has a drug crisis that's "spilling over the border into the U.S." Trump has claimed his intention with tariffs is partly to address Canada's role in the U.S.'s own fentanyl problems, and recently claimed he granted a tariff reprieve until March 1 because Canada has created a fentanyl "czar" to combat the issue.
Cartmell posted a response to Hassett's claims about Edmonton on Feb. 3 on X: "How is it a foreign guest is able to see and draw such attention to this tragedy that the Mayor and his followers would have us believe is not a problem," he wrote.
The hosts of Speaking Municipally were not convinced.
"It is absolutely ridiculous to suggest that the mayor doesn't think that this is a problem," co-host Stephanie Swensrude said. "(Cartmell) knows that Mayor Sohi is always talking about how bad the drug crisis is in Edmonton. He knows this, and it's just such a blatant misrepresentation. He's in campaign mode, you know?"
Coun. Andrew Knack asked Cartmell when Sohi ever said drugs weren't a problem in a post on X.
Co-host Mack Male reviewed council votes on measures to combat the crisis. Cartmell, he said, opposed additional funds for the municipal drug poisoning response integrated service package in November 2022, after voting in favour of asking the province for help with the drug crisis in April of that year. Cartmell also voted in favour of a later motion to convene stakeholders to reduce drug poisoning injuries, Male said. "It's just that when we got to the funding, (Cartmell) voted against it, and now conveniently has forgotten this when he's trying to call out the mayor and his council colleagues," he said.
Sohi most recently discussed the drug crisis on Feb. 4, when he told CBC he has been asking for action from Ottawa and the province for the last three years.
The co-hosts also discussed city manager Eddie Robar's presentation to council on the aforementioned tariffs. Robar was joined by Malcolm Bruce, the CEO of Edmonton Global, and Doug Griffiths, the president and CEO of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. The group discussed how tariffs could affect the price of municipal projects, the benefits of supporting local businesses (including those that carry American products), and Edmonton Global's efforts to work with foreign trade partners beyond the U.S. Another update on tariffs will come to council on Feb. 19.
The hosts of the Feb. 7 episode of Taproot's civic affairs podcast also discussed potential changes with the Edmonton Design Committee, and a potential way to expedite construction of the Valley Line West. The episode also featured another segment with the creators of Edmonton Food Faves We Crave, and an update from the Taproot newsroom from managing editor, Tim Querengesser. Speaking Municipally comes out on Fridays. Listening and subscription options are all right here.