[Gronk!]

Michael Walters Announces Plan for Economic Development

Edmonton. It’s time for practical, unifying, decisive leadership. Vote Michael Walters for Mayor.

www.michaelwalters.ca

September 9, 2025

Michael Walters Announces Plan for Economic Development​

COVID didn’t just change Edmonton - it rewrote the rules for every Canadian city. To succeed we need to tackle safety and homelessness head-on, protect affordability, and reinvent ourselves as a magnet for people and investment. Together we can build a city that attracts talent, investment, and opportunity. As the next Mayor, I will be Edmonton's biggest fan and champion.
Edmonton’s downtown can’t just be about office towers anymore - it must be the cultural and residential heart of the city. Whyte Ave, Jasper Ave, and our neighbourhood strips must become destinations again - not just shopping streets, but thriving social and entrepreneurial hubs. My vision is simple: make Edmonton Canada’s most investable city - where businesses and people stay and grow. As Mayor I will:

Reimagine Downtown:​

• Transform vacant lots into thousands of new homes, classrooms, and cultural spaces by 2030, backed by a comprehensive development incentive program and a streamlined permitting process;
• Work with business owners in Chinatown to reinvigorate Chinatown as a vibrant, safe, crown jewel of Edmonton’s business and cultural community; and
• Bring City Centre Mall from receivership to a revitalized community hub.

Grow our Tax Base:​

• Establish a Mayor’s Advisory Panel on Investment & Growth to coordinate efforts to land 10 new major employers in Edmonton by 2029, through the establishment of a competitive industrial and commercial attractions package that targets growth sectors like logistics, health, clean energy, and AI/technology companies;
• Edmonton needs a single, measurable economic development plan, that aligns the efforts and accountabilities of City Administration and all of our economic development agencies into a leaner, more effective investment team that closes deals faster and reduces bureaucratic overlap;
• Make Edmonton the best city in Canada for businesses to grow — Edmonton is known for speedy residential permitting processes, it’s time we also had the fastest industrial and commercial permitting process in Canada. As Mayor, I will make this happen within the first 180 days of taking office;
• Create the most competitive industrial economic development package in the region within 180 days, through streamlined approvals, business-friendly standards, and budget reform to make our tax rates more competitive; and
• Rebuild our Regional Strategy and work to build shared economic prosperity by renewing our commitment to the Industrial Heartland Association and bringing all Regional Mayors together to coordinate major project and investment attraction.

Revitalize through Arts, Tourism, and Thriving Main Streets:​

• Champion the Arts and Creative Economy as one of Edmonton’s key economic engines through incentives and business-friendly policies for film production, live performance venues, and the broader creative community;
• Roll out a Main Street Accelerator program to fill vacant storefronts with entrepreneurs, startups, and cultural venues, using incentives and quick-lease models;
• Cut red tape for small businesses seeking permits and double the number of patios across Edmonton; and
• Grow Tourism in Edmonton by positioning Edmonton as a four-season cultural, festival, sports, and nature hotspot — expanding winter festivals, river-based experiences, Indigenous-led tourism, and adventure offerings that make us a must-visit city.

Build On Our Existing Strengths:​

• Edmonton is a leader in artificial intelligence. I will build on these strengths and solve City challenges by working with AMII to establish local procurement of AI solutions to showcase our homegrown innovation;
• Edmonton leads the country in construction and advanced manufacturing. I will work to position our City at the forefront of helping to transform how homes are built in our country to address the housing crisis;
• Partner with Edmonton's Muslim community to develop a halal food processing hub, creating opportunities for meat processing plants, food production facilities, and export businesses near the airport;
• Position Edmonton as Canada’s Resilience Capital by working with our universities and colleges in biotech, food security, and clean-tech commercialization — turning research into companies, jobs, and global solutions;
• Develop a comprehensive talent attraction campaign with our post-secondaries at the core - improve existing collaboration and marketing to sell Edmonton nationally and globally as a place where top students, researchers, and entrepreneurs come to live, learn, and stay;
• Require new, expanded LRT stations to have new housing, offices, and retail nearby - developing “Transit Investment Zones” so each LRT line generates economic returns and contributes to our goal of 5,000 units of rental supply every year; and
• Continue planning for LRT expansion to Castle Downs and the airport to unlock future development opportunities.

The Impact​

Making Edmonton Canada's most investable city isn't about slogans. It's about taking bold, realistic steps: revitalizing downtown, growing our tax base through competitive policies and regional cooperation, unleashing our creative economy, and leveraging our post-secondary cluster to attract talent and drive resilience. With the fastest permitting processes, most competitive industrial packages, and strongest regional partnerships we can make Edmonton the city where investment — and people — choose to stay and grow.

 

[constance_chlore]

I don't agree with everything, but there's a lot to like in there. I appreciate the focus on "attracting talented people" as one of the main challenges Edmonton has as a city.

 

[northlands]

Maybe I'm just a gullible ham but I think Mikey is absolutely cookin' with that platform. No idea how much is realistic but there's vision and acknowledgement in a lot of those line items that has been direly missing from our civic leadership.

 

[TAS]

Michael Walters Announces Plan for Economic Development

Edmonton. It’s time for practical, unifying, decisive leadership. Vote Michael Walters for Mayor.

www.michaelwalters.ca

September 9, 2025

Michael Walters Announces Plan for Economic Development​

COVID didn’t just change Edmonton - it rewrote the rules for every Canadian city. To succeed we need to tackle safety and homelessness head-on, protect affordability, and reinvent ourselves as a magnet for people and investment. Together we can build a city that attracts talent, investment, and opportunity. As the next Mayor, I will be Edmonton's biggest fan and champion.
Edmonton’s downtown can’t just be about office towers anymore - it must be the cultural and residential heart of the city. Whyte Ave, Jasper Ave, and our neighbourhood strips must become destinations again - not just shopping streets, but thriving social and entrepreneurial hubs. My vision is simple: make Edmonton Canada’s most investable city - where businesses and people stay and grow. As Mayor I will:

Reimagine Downtown:​

• Transform vacant lots into thousands of new homes, classrooms, and cultural spaces by 2030, backed by a comprehensive development incentive program and a streamlined permitting process;
• Work with business owners in Chinatown to reinvigorate Chinatown as a vibrant, safe, crown jewel of Edmonton’s business and cultural community; and
• Bring City Centre Mall from receivership to a revitalized community hub.

Grow our Tax Base:​

• Establish a Mayor’s Advisory Panel on Investment & Growth to coordinate efforts to land 10 new major employers in Edmonton by 2029, through the establishment of a competitive industrial and commercial attractions package that targets growth sectors like logistics, health, clean energy, and AI/technology companies;
• Edmonton needs a single, measurable economic development plan, that aligns the efforts and accountabilities of City Administration and all of our economic development agencies into a leaner, more effective investment team that closes deals faster and reduces bureaucratic overlap;
• Make Edmonton the best city in Canada for businesses to grow — Edmonton is known for speedy residential permitting processes, it’s time we also had the fastest industrial and commercial permitting process in Canada. As Mayor, I will make this happen within the first 180 days of taking office;
• Create the most competitive industrial economic development package in the region within 180 days, through streamlined approvals, business-friendly standards, and budget reform to make our tax rates more competitive; and
• Rebuild our Regional Strategy and work to build shared economic prosperity by renewing our commitment to the Industrial Heartland Association and bringing all Regional Mayors together to coordinate major project and investment attraction.

Revitalize through Arts, Tourism, and Thriving Main Streets:​

• Champion the Arts and Creative Economy as one of Edmonton’s key economic engines through incentives and business-friendly policies for film production, live performance venues, and the broader creative community;
• Roll out a Main Street Accelerator program to fill vacant storefronts with entrepreneurs, startups, and cultural venues, using incentives and quick-lease models;
• Cut red tape for small businesses seeking permits and double the number of patios across Edmonton; and
• Grow Tourism in Edmonton by positioning Edmonton as a four-season cultural, festival, sports, and nature hotspot — expanding winter festivals, river-based experiences, Indigenous-led tourism, and adventure offerings that make us a must-visit city.

Build On Our Existing Strengths:​

• Edmonton is a leader in artificial intelligence. I will build on these strengths and solve City challenges by working with AMII to establish local procurement of AI solutions to showcase our homegrown innovation;
• Edmonton leads the country in construction and advanced manufacturing. I will work to position our City at the forefront of helping to transform how homes are built in our country to address the housing crisis;
• Partner with Edmonton's Muslim community to develop a halal food processing hub, creating opportunities for meat processing plants, food production facilities, and export businesses near the airport;
• Position Edmonton as Canada’s Resilience Capital by working with our universities and colleges in biotech, food security, and clean-tech commercialization — turning research into companies, jobs, and global solutions;
• Develop a comprehensive talent attraction campaign with our post-secondaries at the core - improve existing collaboration and marketing to sell Edmonton nationally and globally as a place where top students, researchers, and entrepreneurs come to live, learn, and stay;
• Require new, expanded LRT stations to have new housing, offices, and retail nearby - developing “Transit Investment Zones” so each LRT line generates economic returns and contributes to our goal of 5,000 units of rental supply every year; and
• Continue planning for LRT expansion to Castle Downs and the airport to unlock future development opportunities.

The Impact​

Making Edmonton Canada's most investable city isn't about slogans. It's about taking bold, realistic steps: revitalizing downtown, growing our tax base through competitive policies and regional cooperation, unleashing our creative economy, and leveraging our post-secondary cluster to attract talent and drive resilience. With the fastest permitting processes, most competitive industrial packages, and strongest regional partnerships we can make Edmonton the city where investment — and people — choose to stay and grow.

Lots to like.

On this proposal:
Roll out a Main Street Accelerator program to fill vacant storefronts with entrepreneurs, startups, and cultural venues, using incentives and quick-lease models;

We've talked on here that lease rates in some new dt spaces are relatively high and why developers do that even if it means the spaces sit empty - which is bad for dt. So for these mainstreet spaces to fill, taxpayers will help subsidize the difference between what a retailer can pay and what the top rate the developer wants for the space?

 

[Gronk!]

The only thing missing from Walters' economic development platform is the hydrogen economy.

 

[David A]

Lots to like.

On this proposal:
Roll out a Main Street Accelerator program to fill vacant storefronts with entrepreneurs, startups, and cultural venues, using incentives and quick-lease models;

We've talked on here that lease rates in some new dt spaces are relatively high and why developers do that even if it means the spaces sit empty - which is bad for dt. So for these mainstreet spaces to fill, taxpayers will help subsidize the difference between what a retailer can pay and what the top rate the developer wants for the space?

I was just in Montreal and struck by how vibrant downtown is, there is a lot of retail there (not just coffee shops, restaurants and bars).

It was also hurt by COVID and WFH, there are obvious empty spaces, construction issues and some social problems there too, but I don't feel they have given up on their downtown like a lot here have.

I think we do need a more positive vision here now along with some ideas to implement it.

 

[thommyjo]

I wish Walter’s and knack weren’t both running. Or that 1 would be a clear winner. Walters as mayor and knack in nakota isga still would be nice.

 

[policyenthusiast]

Michael Walters Announces Plan for Economic Development

Edmonton. It’s time for practical, unifying, decisive leadership. Vote Michael Walters for Mayor.

www.michaelwalters.ca

September 9, 2025

Michael Walters Announces Plan for Economic Development​

COVID didn’t just change Edmonton - it rewrote the rules for every Canadian city. To succeed we need to tackle safety and homelessness head-on, protect affordability, and reinvent ourselves as a magnet for people and investment. Together we can build a city that attracts talent, investment, and opportunity. As the next Mayor, I will be Edmonton's biggest fan and champion.
Edmonton’s downtown can’t just be about office towers anymore - it must be the cultural and residential heart of the city. Whyte Ave, Jasper Ave, and our neighbourhood strips must become destinations again - not just shopping streets, but thriving social and entrepreneurial hubs. My vision is simple: make Edmonton Canada’s most investable city - where businesses and people stay and grow. As Mayor I will:

Reimagine Downtown:​

• Transform vacant lots into thousands of new homes, classrooms, and cultural spaces by 2030, backed by a comprehensive development incentive program and a streamlined permitting process;
• Work with business owners in Chinatown to reinvigorate Chinatown as a vibrant, safe, crown jewel of Edmonton’s business and cultural community; and
• Bring City Centre Mall from receivership to a revitalized community hub.

Grow our Tax Base:​

• Establish a Mayor’s Advisory Panel on Investment & Growth to coordinate efforts to land 10 new major employers in Edmonton by 2029, through the establishment of a competitive industrial and commercial attractions package that targets growth sectors like logistics, health, clean energy, and AI/technology companies;
• Edmonton needs a single, measurable economic development plan, that aligns the efforts and accountabilities of City Administration and all of our economic development agencies into a leaner, more effective investment team that closes deals faster and reduces bureaucratic overlap;
• Make Edmonton the best city in Canada for businesses to grow — Edmonton is known for speedy residential permitting processes, it’s time we also had the fastest industrial and commercial permitting process in Canada. As Mayor, I will make this happen within the first 180 days of taking office;
• Create the most competitive industrial economic development package in the region within 180 days, through streamlined approvals, business-friendly standards, and budget reform to make our tax rates more competitive; and
• Rebuild our Regional Strategy and work to build shared economic prosperity by renewing our commitment to the Industrial Heartland Association and bringing all Regional Mayors together to coordinate major project and investment attraction.

Revitalize through Arts, Tourism, and Thriving Main Streets:​

• Champion the Arts and Creative Economy as one of Edmonton’s key economic engines through incentives and business-friendly policies for film production, live performance venues, and the broader creative community;
• Roll out a Main Street Accelerator program to fill vacant storefronts with entrepreneurs, startups, and cultural venues, using incentives and quick-lease models;
• Cut red tape for small businesses seeking permits and double the number of patios across Edmonton; and
• Grow Tourism in Edmonton by positioning Edmonton as a four-season cultural, festival, sports, and nature hotspot — expanding winter festivals, river-based experiences, Indigenous-led tourism, and adventure offerings that make us a must-visit city.

Build On Our Existing Strengths:​

• Edmonton is a leader in artificial intelligence. I will build on these strengths and solve City challenges by working with AMII to establish local procurement of AI solutions to showcase our homegrown innovation;
• Edmonton leads the country in construction and advanced manufacturing. I will work to position our City at the forefront of helping to transform how homes are built in our country to address the housing crisis;
• Partner with Edmonton's Muslim community to develop a halal food processing hub, creating opportunities for meat processing plants, food production facilities, and export businesses near the airport;
• Position Edmonton as Canada’s Resilience Capital by working with our universities and colleges in biotech, food security, and clean-tech commercialization — turning research into companies, jobs, and global solutions;
• Develop a comprehensive talent attraction campaign with our post-secondaries at the core - improve existing collaboration and marketing to sell Edmonton nationally and globally as a place where top students, researchers, and entrepreneurs come to live, learn, and stay;
• Require new, expanded LRT stations to have new housing, offices, and retail nearby - developing “Transit Investment Zones” so each LRT line generates economic returns and contributes to our goal of 5,000 units of rental supply every year; and
• Continue planning for LRT expansion to Castle Downs and the airport to unlock future development opportunities.

The Impact​

Making Edmonton Canada's most investable city isn't about slogans. It's about taking bold, realistic steps: revitalizing downtown, growing our tax base through competitive policies and regional cooperation, unleashing our creative economy, and leveraging our post-secondary cluster to attract talent and drive resilience. With the fastest permitting processes, most competitive industrial packages, and strongest regional partnerships we can make Edmonton the city where investment — and people — choose to stay and grow.

Hell of a lot stronger than any other platform I've seen come out. Not perfect mind you, but if he keeps drumming up support he might break into the current 2-way race.

I wonder how people will interpret not taking a stance on some of the more contentious items, like the Bike Plan and the LUB.

 

[yeggator]

Guys, I really don't like the new ward names but I also really didn't like the use of ward numbers either. Neither sets of names mean anything to me, and probably a lot of other people. We need to just use geographic place names for our wards like we do with provincial and federal constituencies, so that it's easier to link the councilors with the areas of the city they represent and advocate for.

Anirniq - Castle Downs
Dene - Manning
Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi - Heritage Valley or Blackmud Creek
Karhiio - Mill Woods
Métis - Northlands or Capilano
Nakota Isga - Jasper Place
O-day'min - Downtown
Sspomitapi - Meadows
papastew - Old Strathcona
pihêsiwin - Riverbend
sipiwiyiniwak - Wedgewood Creek
tastawiyiniwak - Eaux Claires

 

[TAS]

Hell of a lot stronger than any other platform I've seen come out. Not perfect mind you, but if he keeps drumming up support he might break into the current 2-way race.

I wonder how people will interpret not taking a stance on some of the more contentious items, like the Bike Plan and the LUB.

So far this is what I have heard.

Walters said at first mayor's debate that he is in favour of "a small percentage" of our overall transportation spending for active transportation and bike lanes rooted in philosophy of 8-80 cities.

8 80 Cities | Creating cities for all

We're a non-profit organization bringing citizens together to enhance mobility & public spaces so we can create vibrant, healthy, & equitable communities.

www.880cities.org

 

[policyenthusiast]

So far this is what I have heard.

Walters said at first mayor's debate that he is in favour of "a small percentage" of our overall transportation spending for active transportation and bike lanes rooted in philosophy of 8-80 cities.

8 80 Cities | Creating cities for all

We're a non-profit organization bringing citizens together to enhance mobility & public spaces so we can create vibrant, healthy, & equitable communities.

www.880cities.org

The government is trying to force us into 880 minute cities.

 

[Glenco]

All very fluffy what is not to like. Some are very ambitious goals which are going to be very difficult to achieve. For instance:

• Establish a Mayor’s Advisory Panel on Investment & Growth to coordinate efforts to land 10 new major employers in Edmonton by 2029, through the establishment of a competitive industrial and commercial attractions package that targets growth sectors like logistics, health, clean energy, and AI/technology companies;

Does he have any particular companies in mind because it takes time to initiate negotiations so the first year is a right off then 3 new companies a year for 3 years. It would be nice to see but I have my doubts.

 

[thommyjo]

So far this is what I have heard.

Walters said at first mayor's debate that he is in favour of "a small percentage" of our overall transportation spending for active transportation and bike lanes rooted in philosophy of 8-80 cities.

8 80 Cities | Creating cities for all

We're a non-profit organization bringing citizens together to enhance mobility & public spaces so we can create vibrant, healthy, & equitable communities.

www.880cities.org

I think he’s playing it safe there cause he knows he has to win the centrist crowd and the progressives will vote knack already. My read is that he’s not saying dumb stuff like “we need to use common sense again and have a more balanced approach”. Like better Edmonton people are. Which is code for “I’m an idiot and think adding a dozen MUPs totaling less than 100km to a city 5x the geographic size of Vancouver is somehow overkill”.

8-80 is brilliant and should be a guiding philosophy. And spending a small percentage of our budget on MUPs and bike lanes is super logical. We really shouldn’t need to spend more than 3-5%. But that would be tens of millions and would make a huge difference.

 

[johnnyboy]

Any "plan to plan" promises make my eyes immediately glaze over, but I would like to see more details on his idea for a "comprehensive development incentive program".

 

[yeggator]

Reimagine Downtown:​

• Transform vacant lots into thousands of new homes, classrooms, and cultural spaces by 2030, backed by a comprehensive development incentive program and a streamlined permitting process;
• Work with business owners in Chinatown to reinvigorate Chinatown as a vibrant, safe, crown jewel of Edmonton’s business and cultural community; and
• Bring City Centre Mall from receivership to a revitalized community hub

I see no mention of advocating for bail reform and harsher criminal sentencing