The Pulse: Oct. 14, 2025

Taproot partnered with the Edmonton Public Library for a mayoral forum at the Stanley A. Milner Branch on Oct. 9. The in-person event was sold out, and more than 6,000 people tuned into the livestream, which was recorded to allow you to watch it in full afterwards. Ten candidates shared their vision for Edmonton's future: Ronald Stewart Billingsley, Jr., Tim Cartmell, Tony Caterina, Abdul Malik Chukwudi, Vanessa Denman, Andy Andrzej Gudanowski, Rahim Jaffer, Andrew Knack, Olney Tugwell, and Michael Walters.

Here's a recap of what some of the candidates said about infrastructure, property taxes, and infill.

Infrastructure

Tim Cartmell said, if elected, he would focus on maintaining the city's existing infrastructure. "We're $1.9 billion behind the ideal spend on maintaining the stuff that we already have. That is going to be absolutely key in the next four years — making sure that we actually are pushing back and biting it back against that deficit," he said. Cartmell pitched private-public partnerships and working with other levels of government to reduce pressure on property taxes when paying for that infrastructure.

Andrew Knack noted that the city's population has grown in record numbers over the last few years, and said most newcomers have moved into suburban communities beyond Anthony Henday Drive. "Those are areas that don't have services — we are short for fire halls right now outside the Henday, we need the recreation spaces, we need libraries, we need parks," he said. "We have a number of locations where their roadway infrastructure isn't enough."

Michael Walters said he wants to negotiate a fair deal between the city and the provincial government for infrastructure grants that can take some pressure off paying for infrastructure through revenue collected through property taxes.

Rahim Jaffer said, if elected, that he'd stop the "shotgun" approach to adding infrastructure, where the city builds several large projects simultaneously. "What I'd like to do is focus on some of the bigger infrastructure projects, and get those done within a certain quadrant of the city. As I mentioned, if there's emergency issues that come up, we can move people accordingly, but just in order to allow those major arteries to remain open and clear, it's very important to have that oversight, because otherwise you have this gridlock that continues to plague most of our citizens trying to get around."

Property taxes

While some candidates have discussed cutting services to lower taxes, Walters proposed taxing only to a level that makes the city competitive for businesses, provides excellent public services, and promotes livability. "We certainly need to look at our budgets and our tax increases through those three lenses and make sure that we are not going much past inflation, particularly at a time when families are already struggling dearly to pay the bills," Walters said.

Knack said partnering with the private sector wouldn't fully address the budget pressure the city faces, and that he's proposed a "responsible budget, one that is still going to invest in our city."

Infill

Cartmell said infill housing should be focused on large swaths of mostly-empty land, like Blatchford, the Exhibition Lands, and surface parking lots in the east portion of downtown. "This is where we can build the housing that we really need to take the pressure off of established neighborhoods," he said.

Knack said the city needs to densify to avoid growing only through suburban expansion. He pointed to recent zoning bylaw amendments that reduce the footprint of some infill developments in mature neighbourhoods. "We also need to do more on preserving mature trees — we're one of the few large cities in this country that doesn't have a mature tree protection bylaw," Knack said.

You can hear from the 10 mayoral candidates who attended the forum by watching the recording of the event. Advance polls are open until Oct. 11. Election day is Oct. 20. Visit the Taproot vote site to find your ward and where to vote. You can also take the Taproot survey to match with candidates and take a look at how much money candidates have raised in the first part of the election period.

• Edmonton Elections reported a significant increase in advance voter turnout for the municipal election on Oct. 20. More than 41,000 ballots were cast over the five-day advance voting period, averaging 8,268 votes daily, a nearly 30% rise from 2021. The busiest day was Oct. 11 with 10,698 votes. Due to new provincial government rules, ballots will be counted by hand, not tabulators, which officials warn will significantly slow down the counting process. Preliminary results are not expected until Oct. 21, and municipalities anticipate increased administrative costs.
• A new exclusive CBC News poll by Janet Brown Opinion Research suggests Andrew Knack leads the Edmonton mayoral race with 41% support among decided and leaning voters, while Tim Cartmell garnered 21%. However, 46% of Edmonton voters remain undecided, according to the survey conducted Oct. 1-8. Pollster Janet Brown called the high undecided rate unusual this close to the Oct. 20 election. Omar Mohammad and Michael Walters each received 10% support, with other candidates trailing. Experts note Knack's focus on progressive issues, while other candidates struggle for centrist votes.
• A majority of Edmonton residents, 62%, feel the city is growing too fast, according to a CBC News poll by Janet Brown Opinion Research conducted Oct. 1-8. The survey found 56% of Edmonton respondents reported a negative personal impact from this growth. With Alberta's population surpassing 5 million on July 1, concerns include overcrowding, strained health care services, and challenges with recreation facility access. This rapid growth is a key issue for politicians in the municipal election race.
• Edmonton grassroots groups are mobilizing underrepresented communities for the municipal election on Oct. 20. The University of Alberta Students' Union, alongside the Edmonton Student Alliance, encourages students to pledge votes for issues like housing, transit, and affordability. YEG Muslim Vote, led by Shiza Wasi, focuses on policies benefiting Muslim communities, addressing affordability, housing, transit, and concerns about the war in Gaza and EPCOR fees. Zohreh Saher's interVivos organizes forums for newcomers, 2SLGBTQ+ Edmontonians, students, and unhoused individuals.
• The Investigative Journalism Foundation published a database of campaign contributions for Edmonton's upcoming Oct. 20 election on Oct. 10. Changes to the Local Authorities Election Act in 2024 by Alberta's United Conservative Party government allowed municipal political parties in Edmonton and Calgary, increasing contribution limits and permitting corporations and unions to donate directly. Data from two reporting periods show that Better Edmonton, one of Edmonton's two registered parties, received $395,220 of $597,006 in corporate donations, primarily going to its 12 candidates out of 57 total who have reported so far.
• While new to most contemporary voters, municipal political parties previously existed in Alberta, dominating city councils in Edmonton and Calgary from the late 1910s to the 1970s, CBC News reported. Historical parties, such as the Dominion Labor Party and the Civic Government Association, saw success before gradually disappearing due to factors like the province assuming more social welfare responsibilities, the fading of policy divides, and a shift to ward systems. The provincial government introduced legislation in 2024 allowing local political parties to reappear on ballots in Calgary and Edmonton for the Oct. 20 election.
• A provincewide teachers' strike is entering its second week in Alberta, affecting approximately 750,000 students. Edmonton high school student Declan Reid noted the strike's impact on football, while Melissa Qerimi, a Grade 10 student at the Alberta School for the Deaf in Edmonton, described feeling stressed about schoolwork without teacher support, though she said she supports the teachers' actions. The Alberta Teachers' Association and the government's bargaining team will hold their first formal meeting on Oct. 14 since the strike began on Oct. 6 to discuss a complex counter-offer from the union.
• The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) reported that most of its more than 11,000 educational assistants and support staff across various Alberta school boards continue working amid a provincewide teachers' strike. While only High Prairie School Division and Northern Lights School Division have issued layoff notices or granted temporary layoffs, CUPE expects more if the strike persists. Edmonton Public Schools is assigning alternative tasks like library book classification to its support staff.
• Food safety expert Lawrence Goodridge of the University of Guelph suggests food courts can pose unique challenges for hygiene due to close vendor proximity and continuous operation, which may hinder cleanliness and increase pest risks, Postmedia reported in a series done in collaboration with the MacEwan University journalism program. In Edmonton, a cockroach infestation closed a Southgate Centre mall business in 2018 and a West Edmonton Mall vendor was fined $12,000 for health violations in 2009.
• The Edmonton Police Service arrested two people on Oct. 11 after a protest involving 50-100 individuals caused significant traffic gridlock near River Valley Road and 105 Street in downtown Edmonton. The blockade also obstructed emergency services and extended to the Walterdale Bridge. Acting Insp. Ian Brooks of the police service said that while police will uphold the "right to lawful protest," impeding emergency access is not acceptable. Police cleared the blockade and restored traffic flow within an hour. Charges are pending.
• The Edmonton Police Service is seeking additional complainants in a sexual assault investigation following an incident at the Jasper Place Transit Centre on Sept. 29. A 40-year-old man has been charged with assault, sexual assault, and obstruction after reportedly attempting to touch a woman and a young girl. Police believe he may have approached and attempted to touch several other individuals, including women and a man with a child, in the area between 7:30am and 9:07am. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
• University of Alberta experts Neal LaMontagne and Sandeep Agrawal said Edmonton's incoming city council must address the threat of climate change, calling it a "clear and present danger." They said that mitigation focuses on reducing impact through energy intensity, transportation, and building design, while adaptation involves responding to a changing climate. Agrawal noted rising temperatures, declining precipitation, and worsening air quality are already affecting Edmontonians. While Edmonton's current climate policy is robust, LaMontagne suggested improvements, such as making buildings solar ready and accommodating electric vehicles.
• The NHL issued a fine to Vancouver Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers for US $2,500 on Oct. 12, for slashing Connor McDavid, the captain of the Edmonton Oilers. The incident happened during the third period of their game on Oct. 11 that saw the Oilers defeat the Canucks 3-1. Myers appeared to hit McDavid in the groin area with his stick. While no penalty was called on the play, Myers later received a delay of game penalty.
• Connor McDavid's agent, Judd Moldaver, explained the motivation behind his short-term deal with the Edmonton Oilers in a podcast interview on Oct. 13. McDavid signed a two-year, $25 million extension, foregoing a potentially more lucrative contract to prioritize winning a Stanley Cup in Edmonton. Moldaver stated that McDavid's intention was always to win with the Oilers and that the prolonged process allowed him to be "wisely patient" in balancing individual value with team success.

Interim disclosures from candidates running in the Oct. 20 municipal election and the departing thoughts from outgoing Mayor Amarjeet Sohi were discussed on Episode 327 of Speaking Municipally. Here's a quick snapshot.

Cash rules everything around me

Co-host Mack Male's story, which tracked campaign disclosures through July 31 for candidates running for mayor and council positions on Oct. 20, was an episode focus. The data shows from the highest level that candidates have raised almost $1 million less in the 2025 election than they did in the 2021 election, albeit, 2021 candidates only had to provide full campaign disclosures, not for this interim period. Still, Male said contributions appear to be less widely distributed. "It just seems to me like there's less money overall in this election, but it is more concentrated," he said.

Male then noted these concentrations, including mayoral candidate Tim Cartmell, who has raised nearly half of all money for open positions, and Coun. Jennifer Rice, who has raised the third highest amount of any candidate, including those for mayor. Rice has raised more than $70,000, which Male said was "just incredible to me."

The co-hosts also noted the comparative small amounts that the eight other incumbents running for council positions have raised, at a rough average of $12,000. They also said that candidate Karen Principe, who's running for reelection in Ward tastawiyiniwak, has declared just $99 in revenue and did not complete the Taproot candidate survey. "I have not seen a great deal from Karen Principe. She's been pretty quiet … I feel like she's banking on name recognition," he said.

Sohi says goodbye

Male and co-host Stephanie Swensrude paid departing Mayor Amarjeet Sohi a visit to ask about the 2021 to 2025 council term. The duo noted Sohi remained careful and chose words carefully.

Swensrude asked Sohi about his anti-racism work, his first motion as mayor. As Taproot reported in 2023, the committee charged with that strategy was dissolved against its will.

"I think the most successful part of the anti-racism strategy has been that is now embedded in the city budget," Sohi said. "It is all now embedded in the corporation. So anyone who wants to take away that work would have to initiate through a motion of council (a rollback of) those successes, which will be very difficult to do. Yes, it took us a little bit longer I hoped that it would … But at the end, I think the result is better."

The co-hosts asked Sohi about how the city consults people on decisions and how that plays into what gets built.

"When you are trying to transform your community in a meaningful way for the long run, there comes a time when where you start to implement things that you have heard, that (the) community wants," Sohi said. Later, Sohi added an example using bike lanes to strengthen his point. "How long are we going to continue to talk about bike lanes without building them? And I think demonstrating actually how bike lanes look creates buy in. You bike on 83 Avenue in Strathcona and Whyte Avenue, people love that, and there were a lot of complaints when the neighbourhood was being rehabilitated. Now people use it. I think we need to also show to people what these new changes actually look like."

The Oct. 10 episode of Taproot's civic affairs podcast also includes a discussion of bike lane signage. Listening and subscription options are all right here.

Taproot asked candidates to complete a 30-question survey covering a wide range of topics relevant to Edmonton's next city council. It was informed by the more than 900 responses to our election question, insights gathered at listening sessions, input from our election partners, and our own observations of what Edmonton's next city council will face.

Here are the answers we've received from the candidates in Ward O-day'min:

• Stephen Hammerschmidt
• James Miller
• Anand Pye
• Anne Stevenson

We have not yet received a response from David Aaron, Lee Permann, Adil Pirbhai, Patrick Stewart, and Mulugeta (Mully) Tesfay.

Want to see which candidates best align with you on the issues that matter most? Take the survey and find out.

For more coverage of the 2025 municipal election in Edmonton, visit edmonton.taproot.vote.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Governing Innovation: Powering Canada's Competitiveness & Productivity starting at 7:30am at Royal Glenora Club
• Edmonton Design Week (until Oct. 19)
• You Want Me To WHAT?! starting at 6pm at The Bear's Den
• The Australian Bee Gees Show starting at 7pm at Festival Place
• Confession Publique starting at 7:30pm at Mile Zero Dance
• FREE Tuesday Jam Hosted by Elisabeth Wagner starting at 8pm Yardbird Suite

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Oct. 20-24: Small Business Week at World Trade Centre Edmonton
• Oct. 23: Women, Wine & Waterways at Maison de Noir
• Oct. 24: Unleash Your Side Hustle Potential online

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

Once you're done the crossword, take the Taproot Survey to see how the candidates for mayor and council in Edmonton align with you.