Every week in the lead up to Edmonton's municipal election on Oct. 18, we're rounding up the news and announcements you need to know to stay informed.
Policies and campaign updates
Mayoral candidates
- Amarjeet Sohi released policies on leadership during the fourth wave of COVID-19, truth and reconciliation, and provincial advocacy. He also posted two Twitter threads regarding his thoughts on the West LRT Line and working with the provincial government.
- Kim Krushell wrote about her commitment to climate action and community leagues, as well as her plans for safe communities and safe consumption sites.
- Mayoral candidate Michael Oshry pledged to declare Whyte Avenue as car-free every Sunday.
- Mayoral candidate Mike Nickel posted a video and accompanying documents in a post titled Serious Questions Regarding Collusion. He also posted a Twitter thread with his stance on unions.
- Mike Nickel and Ward O-day'min candidate Tony Caterina endorsed one another's campaigns.
- Augustine Marah's seven-part platform is available on YouTube.
- Brian (Breezy) Gregg uploaded two blog posts about building a caring economy and his hopes of becoming Edmonton's first rock and roll mayor.
- Diana Steele tweeted a screenshot of anti-Indigenous hate mail she received. Ward O-day'min candidate Adrian Bruff and Ward papastew candidate Haruun Ali have also reported racist comments over the course of their campaigns.
- Rick Comrie tweeted that the city should reverse speed reductions and rethink certain speed limits on major thoroughfares, worry more about serious crime, and eliminate red tape for business owners.
City council candidates
- Ward Anirniq candidate Erin Rutherford published her traffic safety policy and her reasons behind running for city council. She also confirmed she has not accepted or received funding or support from political action committees (PACs).
- Ward Anirniq candidate Tyler Zutz made his economic prosperity platform public.
- Ward Ipiikookanipiaohtsi candidate Rhiannon Hoyle posted a Twitter thread detailing why she believes she should be elected compared to others in her ward.
- Ward Karhiio candidate Keren Tang rounded up all of the links to survey responses she has completed during her campaign.
- Ward O'day-min candidate Gabrielle Battiste released her strategy for senior Edmontonians.
- Ward O-day'min candidate Anne Stevenson uploaded Episode 4 and Episode 5 of her campaign podcast: Stronger. Smarter. Together.
- Ward papastew candidate Kirsten Goa tweeted a graphic that explained her places for people plan.
- Ward papastew candidate Michael Janz vowed to "fight the Kenney agenda" in a YouTube video.
- Ward papastew candidate Tarcy Schindelka shared how he thinks his ward can address climate change.
- Ward pihêsiwin candidate Tim Cartmell explained in two blog posts why he is running for city council and his thoughts on Thanksgiving 2021.
- Ward sipiwiyiniwak candidate Daniel Heikkinen uploaded a video series answering campaign questions on his YouTube channel.
- Ward Sspomitapi candidate Harman Singh Kandola called on fellow candidate Moe Banga to apologize for what Kandola described as disparaging language towards Indigenous communities.
Eight mayoral candidates spoke at the Africa Centre's forum. (Africa Centre)
Weighing in on the campaign trail
- So far, 67 out of 85 candidates have responded to the Taproot Survey. You can take the survey yourself and see where you align with mayoral and city council candidates on key campaign issues. And there are more ways to play with the data.
- Edmonton Elections provided voting instructions in Arabic, Blackfoot, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Dene, English, French, German, Plains Cree, Punjabi, Spanish, and Tagalog. Candidates Haruun Ali, Susan Field, Gabrielle Battiste tweeted that translators should available at polling stations, as well.
- Answers from mayoral and city council candidates to the Waste Free Edmonton election survey are available online.
- Kids Kottage, a crisis prevention and intervention shelter for infants and children, posted the first part of its mayoral candidate interviews.
- Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP), a grassroots network of youth and students who are concerned about the negative impact of drugs, posted responses to from mayoral candidates to its survey. Responses are also available from candidates in Wards Anirniq, Dene, Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi, Karhiio, Nakota Isga, Métis, O-day'min, papastew, pihêsiwin, tastawiyiniwak, sipiwiyiniwak, and Sspomitapi.
- Edmonton Sport Council posted responses sent to mayoral and city council candidates regarding the city's live active strategy, accessibility, economic recovery, and more.
- The Alberta Transit Trade Union shared its list of endorsed candidates.
- In a post, the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL) expressed concern over "the rise of party politics and partisan actions in the municipal election campaign."
- Advocacy group Act for Edmonton was in the spotlight for "avoiding third-party advertising registration and donor disclosure rules by promoting candidates through emails," reported the Edmonton Journal.
- The Edmonton Journal published opinion pieces by mayoral candidates Kim Krushell, Vanessa Denman, Michael Oshry, Mike Nickel, Brian (Breezy) Gregg, and Rick Comrie.
- The Edmonton Journal released its profile of Ward Anirniq candidates.
- Edmonton Journal columnist Dustin Cook wrote an opinion piece on late-game platform proposals from mayoral candidates.
- Edmonton Journal columnist Keith Gerein wrote a piece that highlighted ideas from each of the five mayoral candidates that have not, in his opinion, received enough attention.
- CBC News reported that Mike Nickel has spent considerably more money on Facebook ads in the past three months than any other mayoral candidate.
- Nine mayoral candidates participated in a video vignette series by CBC News to briefly introduce themselves and explain why they should be the next mayor of Edmonton.
- CBC's Edmonton AM will produce a week-long election series leading up to Oct. 18. The first episode featured mayoral candidates Mike Nickel and Amarjeet Sohi.
- Real Talk with Ryan Jespersen featured mayoral candidates Michael Oshry, Amarjeet Sohi, Cheryll Watson, and Kim Krushell on Oct. 8.
- Mayoral candidates Kim Krushell and Michael Oshry, plus Ward sipiwiyiniwak candidate Giselle General, took part in respective Reddit AMA threads.
- Mayoral candidate Mike Nickel called into the #TheLOCKERROOM Podcast on Oct. 7.
- The Dragged to the Polls Brunch Fundraiser by Party Queens took place on Oct. 11 in support of Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi candidate Glynnis Lieb.
Forums
- A Conversation with Mayoral Candidates presented by the Edmonton Public Library is available on Vimeo. CTV News has since published an article that covered mayoral candidates' responses to the question of how well they would be able to work with other elected councillors.
- Five mayoral candidates debated LRT development at an Edmonton Chamber of Commerce forum on Oct. 7.
- The Africa Centre facilitated a mayoral forum on Oct. 8.
- The Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness hosted a virtual mayoral forum on housing on Oct. 12.
- CBC Edmonton's Mark Connolly, Nancy Carlson, and Tahirih Foroozan will host a live election night special on CBC Listen and 93.9 FM.
A list of all of the candidates who have announced they are running in the Edmonton municipal election is available here. Learn more about Taproot's effort to ground our election coverage in what is important to Edmontonians on our election site.