[thommyjo]

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.

I’d rather see ambitious ideas that will be hard to achieve vs no idea on how to grow our major employers. The latter suggests a lack of recognition of its importance. Likely the greatest failure of our last council was this area. And neither incumbent seems too driven to change it

 

[David A]

We elected several past mayors and councils to revitalize and grow the city, especially the downtown core. Some had more success that others, but it really seems to have fallen of the radar for the current bunch so here we are now trying to refocus on it, well at least some of the candidates who are not incumbents.

 

[policyenthusiast]

Felt like updating my guesses at the election outcome.

Mayor: Knack
Nakota Isga: Reed Clarke
tastawiyiniwak: Karen Principe (shockingly)
Dene: Aaron Paquette
O-day'min: Stephen Hammerschmidt (due to radio silence from Pye)
Metis: Caroline Matthews (capitalizing on outrage in the ward)
sipiwiyiniwak: Thu Parmar
papastew: Michael Janz
pihêsiwin: Michael Elliott
Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi: Jon Morgan
Karhiio: Keren Tang
Sspomitapi: Harman Kandola (no clear lead in this ward)
Anirniq: Jesse Watson

And in a newly created "God-Emperor of Edmonton" role, Ron Billingsley Jr.

https://troypavlek.ca/yegvote-2025/whos-running

 

[TAS]

Felt like updating my guesses at the election outcome.

Mayor: Knack
Nakota Isga: Reed Clarke
tastawiyiniwak: Karen Principe (shockingly)
Dene: Aaron Paquette
O-day'min: Stephen Hammerschmidt (due to radio silence from Pye)
Metis: Caroline Matthews (capitalizing on outrage in the ward)
sipiwiyiniwak: Thu Parmar
papastew: Michael Janz
pihêsiwin: Michael Elliott
Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi: Jon Morgan
Karhiio: Keren Tang
Sspomitapi: Harman Kandola (no clear lead in this ward)
Anirniq: Jesse Watson

And in a newly created "God-Emperor of Edmonton" role, Ron Billingsley Jr.

https://troypavlek.ca/yegvote-2025/whos-running

Mandel also endorsed Reed Clarke - although it was prior to Reed joining Cartmell's Better Edmonton Party.

 

[constance_chlore]

How are O-day'min folks feeling? I'm prepared to vote strategically between Stevenson and Pye, but that doesn't mean much if we don't know who the strategic pick is. Neither seems to be trying very hard.

Unfortunately, I don't think signage is a good indicator of anything because all the right-wing candidates are following the federal Conservative playbook of just putting tons of signs up everywhere. That didn't end up working for whoever the (completely forgettable) Edmonton-Centre candidate was, and I don't know that it'll work much better now.

 

[David A]

How are O-day'min folks feeling? I'm prepared to vote strategically between Stevenson and Pye, but that doesn't mean much if we don't know who the strategic pick is. Neither seems to be trying very hard.

Unfortunately, I don't think signage is a good indicator of anything because all the right-wing candidates are following the federal Conservative playbook of just putting tons of signs up everywhere. That didn't end up working for whoever the (completely forgettable) Edmonton-Centre candidate was, and I don't know that it'll work much better now.

Yeah, I think getting more signage up early may just mean the candidate has more money to spend. The candidates for parties may also have some infrastructure in place to support them, whereas the independents particularly those who are not incumbents need to create it. As well downtown has fewer single family homes, so its harder to tell if signage is a good indication of support.

 

[Oilers99]

Mandel also endorsed Reed Clarke - although it was prior to Reed joining Cartmell's Better Edmonton Party.

Mandel endorsed Kandola last weekend regardless of Better Edmonton.

 

[TAS]

Mandel endorsed Kandola last weekend regardless of Better Edmonton.

He appears to be making his share of endorsements.

 

[constance_chlore]

Mandel endorsed Kandola last weekend regardless of Better Edmonton.

If I remember correctly, Clarke and Kandola were both among the candidates who broke with Cartmell's hard line on infill.

 

[policyenthusiast]

How are O-day'min folks feeling? I'm prepared to vote strategically between Stevenson and Pye, but that doesn't mean much if we don't know who the strategic pick is. Neither seems to be trying very hard.

Unfortunately, I don't think signage is a good indicator of anything because all the right-wing candidates are following the federal Conservative playbook of just putting tons of signs up everywhere. That didn't end up working for whoever the (completely forgettable) Edmonton-Centre candidate was, and I don't know that it'll work much better now.

Hardly the scientific method here, but Pye and Rajah Maggay have stronger online followings in their respective wards:

Nakota Isga

O'day-min

 

[constance_chlore]

That could be informative, but I would also imagine that the ex-CEO of NAIOP Edmonton would have a lot of LinkedIn followers even pre-campaign.

 

[policyenthusiast]

That could be informative, but I would also imagine that the ex-CEO of NAIOP Edmonton would have a lot of LinkedIn followers even pre-campaign.

I'd expect the same from the ex-CEO of Sport Edmonton and someone who's been on Council for 4 years.

 

[policyenthusiast]

Knack's economic platform is out. It's a lot of points, but nothing earth-shattering. Not sure why he dedicated a point to regulating hookah establishments:

Strategically position Edmonton’s main streets and business improvement areas (BIAs) as economic hubs, built on increased residential density and year-round activity. These hubs will benefit from targeted programming, including:

• Citywide Vibrancy Fund: Dedicated to enhanced cleaning, beautification, festivals, and business attraction and retention initiatives across all main streets and BIAs.
• BIA Infrastructure Renewal Program: Ensuring main streets and BIAs are prioritized in City infrastructure renewal and long-term planning.
• Integrated Social Supports: Improved access to social supports to address the impacts of social disorder in commercial districts.
• Vacant & Derelict Property Program: Targeted strategies to cut down high vacancy rates and revitalize underused properties, including advocating to the province to formalize penalties for derelict commercial properties.
• Reduced Red Tape: Automatic approvals for priority initiatives and applications, including attractive, all-season patios in designated main street and BIA areas.
• Targeted Incentive Programming: Property tax incentives and initiatives designed to increase residential opportunities in Downtown, BIAs and main streets.

Ambitiously implement the City’s Nighttime Economy Strategy to support economic activity between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. with a focus on safety, accessibility, and vibrancy.

• Ensure that City supports and regulatory services (e.g., permitting, bylaw support, emergency contacts) are accessible to businesses operating outside standard hours, including evenings, nights, and weekends.
• Reimagine Edmonton as a 24-hour city with diverse offerings in food, arts, retail, transportation, and nightlife that serve a range of residents, workers, and visitors during all hours of the day.
• Review opportunities to regulate shisha establishments in the City, ensuring additional regulations to ensure worker safety - this measure is necessary to counter illicit shisha establishments that are currently occurring.
• Support sectors that benefit from vibrant main streets, ensuring small businesses, cultural industries, and local entrepreneurs can flourish in accessible, high-activity areas.
• Prioritize the music, arts and creative sector in main streets and BIAs — by growing jobs, attracting more visitors, and making space for artists and creative entrepreneurs to thrive.

Grow Edmonton's profile locally, nationally and internationally as a hub for tourism, event attraction and festivals.

• Major events create employment opportunities, give more reason for people to choose Edmonton, and create a more vibrant city for everybody. As Mayor, I will work with Explore Edmonton, and other economic development partners to promote Edmonton’s visitor economy and position the city as a top-tier destination for:
  • Concerts & tours, leveraging our world-class small, mid-sized and large-scale music and entertainment venues
  • Sporting events & tournaments, prioritizing City assets capable of hosting national and international competitions that put Edmonton on the global stage.
  • Conferences & major conventions, raising Edmonton’s profile in global markets and attracting visitors, investment, and opportunities.
• Better leverage major events, festivals, conferences, and sporting events as platforms to tell Edmonton’s economic story, facilitate investment, and showcase our city as the destination for business and talent.
• Market Edmonton to Edmontonians to strengthen civic pride and support local tourism and commerce.

• Help connect and promote programs across the city that build skills and prepare Edmontonians for the jobs of today and tomorrow—ensuring a resilient, future-ready workforce.
• Leverage the City’s buying power to:
  • Support the creation of more skilled trade jobs in Edmonton by leveraging the City’s Sustainable procurement policy to increase apprenticeships.
  • Ensure that Edmontonians are seeing the community benefits of City procurement..
  • Continue to ensure Indigenous-led businesses can access city contracts, particularly on projects that most impact Indigenous people.
  • Explore opportunities to buy Canadian and buy local. Work with the Federal government to offset any additional cost incurred to “Buy Canadian” procurement strategies.
  • Invest intentionally in City-Building and housing enabling infrastructure, in partnership with the federal government, to create and support good jobs in our City.
• Work with community and economic development partners to create a targeted strategy to tackle youth unemployment. Each year, Edmonton graduates tens of thousands of highly skilled, highly educated young people. Our city should be a place of economic opportunity — where graduates are supported, trained, and shaped into world-class talent — not a place where they face limited prospects and despair.
• Strengthen our economy by ensuring everyone can fully participate:
  • Ensure City programs and services are equipped to support business opportunities for diverse and equity-deserving communities, removing systemic barriers so that equity-deserving entrepreneurs can thrive and fully participate in Edmonton’s economy.
  • Ensure City processes and programs are optimized to support Indigenous businesses - reduce barriers to navigating City processes and requirements, promote entrepreneurship opportunities, and improve Indigenous knowledge of doing business with the City.
  • Work with Indigenous communities, entrepreneurs, and partners to grow sustainable Indigenous tourism opportunities in Edmonton that showcase culture and create lasting benefits.
  • Ensure that First Nations, Indigenous peoples and businesses are meaningfully included in City strategies and programming related to economic development, business attraction, and industrial investment.
  • Support TRC Call to Action 92(ii)- ensuring that Indigenous peoples have access to jobs, training, and educational opportunities with the City, and that Indigenous communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.

 

[Seamusmuldrew]

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.

I honestly cannot stand the “common sense” rhetoric. Basically professing ignorance without explicitly saying so, rejecting the need for nuance when it is necessary. Common sense is stuff like not putting wool in the dryer or using the bathroom before a long drive, idk if you can just use common sense when you’re in government. Not to say those who govern should do so in absence of their common sense, but rather they should use quite a bit more than their initial reaction to something in order to effectively govern.

 

[David A]

If people start to use phrases like common sense again more, it is usually a reaction to the feeling that good sense is not being used on some important issues or the government is failing in managing them.

The phrase doesn't strongly appeal to me, because it is vague and subjective, but I sort of get where its appeal comes from. Although one saying I especially like is that common sense is not so common.