The Pulse: Oct. 15, 2021

Most candidates running for council think the city is on the right track with its Community Energy Transition Strategy, with many who answered the Taproot Survey saying it's a good start but needs to go further.

A few, however, consider the action items too expensive. Incumbents tend to think it's a strong plan and we just need to follow it, though there are a couple of exceptions — Moe Banga said the plan needs to go further, while Jon Dziadyk said the plan is too expensive.

The city first approved the Community Energy Transition Strategy in 2015 to tackle climate change. This year, city council revised the strategy to include targets aligned with the Paris Agreement. Implementing the plan will require $24 billion in public and private investment over the next 10 years. Without action, the strategy suggests that more frequent and intense weather events could reduce Edmonton's GDP by $3.2 billion annually by the 2050s.

"I think it's about time our council and the leadership of the mayor really reflects we're in a climate emergency," Shafraaz Kaba, co-chair of the city's Energy Transition Climate Resilience Committee, told Taproot. He said that the next council will have a large impact on whether the city's strategy is successful or not.

"When they do their capital budget ... they really will have a massive impact, not just for the next few years, but for the next generation. How we build (infrastructure) and how we reinforce communities to be less carbon-intensive is where we'll have the most impact, starting today," Kaba said.

And when it comes to those who think the strategy's action items are too expensive, Kaba said the cost of not implementing them will be far worse.

"I'm just not at all interested in hearing 'Can we afford it?' It's 'How much of a future do we really want to have?'"

• Former federal cabinet minister and city councillor Amarjeet Sohi is the frontrunner in Edmonton's mayoral race, according to a new poll by Leger. More than a third of respondents said they intended to vote for Sohi during Monday's municipal election.
• Some special interest groups used a loophole in the municipal elections legislation, allowing them to advertise and support specific candidates without registering as a third-party advertiser. Act for Edmonton paid for issues-based ads, and then endorsed candidates using email lists, according to Postmedia.
• Edmonton Public Libraries (EPL) have been busy helping Edmontonians access and print their QR code. "Since we introduced the restrictions exemption process in Alberta, we've seen customers at all of our locations basically every day of the week coming in to ask for help," said Chrissy Hodgins, EPL's director of branch services and community engagement. All QR code printing services at EPL are free.
• The Edmonton Emergency Relief Services Society (EERSS) is shutting down after being unable to secure a new home. EERSS operated out of a surplus government building on 104 Street, but the province ended the no-cost lease this summer. The Mennonite Centre is trying to fill the gap in emergency supplies by opening a temporary drop-in centre to accept donations.
• A Métis designer is installing hundreds of painted panels above the new Tawatinâ Bridge walkway. The display honours the Indigenous history of amiskwacîwâskahikan, which translates to "beaver hills house" and is a traditional name for the Edmonton area. Despite delays to the Valley Line LRT, the pedestrian crossing is expected to open in November.
• Former Edmonton Elks offensive lineman Jacob Ruby apologized for misrepresenting his COVID-19 vaccination status. Ruby, who was removed from the team in September, posted a statement on Twitter saying he made a mistake.
• The Edmonton Oilers will play Ritchie Valens' 1950s hit La Bamba after every win at home this season as a tribute to the late Joey Moss. The song was a favourite of the Oilers' locker room attendant.

As Edmonton heads into Small Business Week, there is increased hope that recent COVID-19 initiatives are providing a needed boost to both consumer and company confidence levels, says Jeffrey Sundquist, president and CEO of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

"Six weeks ago, I would have said there was cautious optimism, but right now — (because) hospitalization rates are declining, vaccination rates are climbing, and we have the restrictions exemption program in place — there is again optimism," Sundquist told Taproot.

The Edmonton Oilers season opener generated a welcome buzz of downtown excitement, which is a positive sign for an area that produces 20% of the city's revenues. "People are excited to get back together to congregate."

Encouraging employment numbers are also fuelling hopes for Edmonton's economic rebound, although Sundquist noted that labour shortages in the hospitality sector and supply chain disruptions are still major concerns for local businesses.

Edmonton's municipal election is on Oct. 18 — this is our final round up of the news and announcements you need to know to stay informed before heading to the polls.

Policies and campaign updates

Mayoral candidates

• Rick Comrie has pulled out of the mayoral race and formally endorsed Mike Nickel. The full-length video announcement is available on Facebook.
• Amarjeet Sohi confirmed his commitment to completing the Valley Line West LRT.
• Amarjeet Sohi, Mike Nickel, and Diana Steele have released their donor disclosures. Candidates running for mayor must disclose their finances to Edmonton Elections before March 1, 2022, and frontrunners have pledged to do so before election day on Oct. 18. For more insight into Nickel's finances, the Edmonton Journal unpacked his donor list in an article on Oct. 14.
• Mayoral candidate Cheryll Watson tweeted her 10-point economic recovery plan.

City council candidates

• Ward Anirniq candidate Bev Esslinger released her three policy pillars: economy and jobs, safety, and community.
• Ward Dene candidate Aaron Paquette compiled his professional and political track record.
• Ward Karhiio candidate Keren Tang posted her plans for Edmonton's southeast.
• Ward Karhiio candidate Shamair Turner will door-knock virtually with a video series.
• In a post, Ward Nakota Isga candidate Steve Weston offered his thoughts on vote splitting.
• Ward papastew candidate Haruun Ali posted an infographic on why he believes Edmonton should divest from the Edmonton Police Service.
• Ward papastew candidate Tarcy Schindelka provided his thoughts on a proposed safe consumption site in Strathcona.
• Ward pihêsiwin candidate Tim Cartmell shared his stance on the city's naturalization policy and new recreation plans.
• Ward Sspomitapi candidate Moe Banga posted about his experience with traffic safety street labs.

Halloween is fast approaching, and what better way to usher in the season than with horror movies and spooky stories? The latest episode of I Love This, You Should Too — the podcast about sharing the things you like with the people you love — shone a light on the Spanish horror movie The Orphanage (El Orfanato) by J. A. Bayona and short story The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs.

During each episode co-hosts Indy Randhawa and Samantha Hees introduce each other to movies and other pieces of pop culture that they love in hopes that the other will grow to love it just as much.

With as few spoilers as possible, here's a breakdown of the stories covered in the most recent episode:

The Orphanage follows Belén Rueda as Laura, who returns to her childhood home (an orphanage). After Laura's son Simón, Roger Príncep, goes missing within the enormous house, horror unfolds.

In The Monkey's Paw, first published in 1902, Herbert White is granted three wishes by way of a mysterious monkey's paw. However, as the protagonist quickly discovers, wishes come at a terrible price.

Bundle up, make some hot chocolate, and get spooky with this Alberta Podcast Network member on PodBean, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

You can listen to podcast picks from Taproot on Listen Notes or Spotify.