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issues that directly affect your constituents.
So what would you do in that respect?
TC: One thing I would not do is embarrass the
provincial government publicly. This council,
and this mayor, have gone out of their way to
call out the Province and embarrass them.
That’s not the way to do things because the
next morning, after you’ve done that, you still
have to go back and ask them for help.
OM: So then, related to help with health and
addictions care, what specifically would you
be asking the Province for?
TC: We have Alberta Hospital in Horse Hill,
and the plan was always that Edmonton’s next
hospital would be built there. I’d advocate for
that. The land is already set and the psychiatric
facility needs enhancing. But we also need
a new general hospital on that site to relieve
pressure on the Royal Alex, the only hospital
on the north side.
OM: Safety is central to your platform. You
argue the current model of council directing
the police commission, and the commission
then directing EPS, is fraught. Why?
TC: The current commission is like-minded
with this council. I believe it’s been populated
with people who lean toward the “defund
police” mentality. They’ve set the tone for
how police should react, and now officers
are more worried about optics than doing
their jobs. Progress is fine, but the thinking
that police are bad, and that bylaws shouldn’t
be enforced, is wrong. For example, council
eliminated the loitering bylaw in 2021, and
now you see the results downtown.
OM: What are you advocating for?
TC: Enforcing the laws that we have. If
people don’t like those laws, there are proper
channels to change them — but you don’t
just ignore them because you disagree. The
police need to feel supported. It’s a large part
of the city budget, yet we still haven’t fixed
problems downtown. Chinatown businesses
had to hire their own security because police
couldn’t help with encampments, disorder,
defecation — all of it. ■
Michael Walters
Michael Walters' (Top 40, '09) path runs from the Bissell Centre,
where he managed its street newspaper for people living in poverty,
to advocating fair wages and stronger community services with the
Greater Edmonton Alliance. After an unsuccessful run for MLA on
the Alberta Party ticket in 2012, he served two terms on city council.
He later became a partner at Berlin Communications as it expanded
its strategic and political portfolio. Now, with a campaign focused on
housing, affordability and urban vibrancy, Walters argues the city can’t
afford another four years of “drifting.” His mid-summer campaign
launch caught many off guard, with analysts speculating that Walters
was capitalizing on Tim Cartmell’s fading support among moderates
and the business community. The question now is whether Walters will
consolidate the centre — or merely split it.
OM: Just about all the mayoral candidates
have prioritized the same things — affordability,
safety and governance. How are you going
to set yourself apart?
MW: I think it’s those issues and liveability —
what does a successful city look like? What
is a city we can feel proud and excited
about? I got into the race because I didn’t
see excitement about the future or a focus on
our potential. And setting myself apart also
means understanding what the job really is
— it’s leadership for the next four years. It's
not project management.
OM: But you’ve also said the city has
“drifted.” How so?
MW: I think we’ve drifted from a lack of focus.
The results are clear: the city doesn’t feel
as safe as it did four years ago; we have
acrimonious relationships with the police and
province; and we’re not making progress on
housing or homelessness. On city-building
— LRT, transit, recreation — we’re tackling
too many projects everywhere all at once
that are poorly coordinated and more mindful
30 EDify. OCTOBER.25
of contractors than residents.
OM: Do you think it’s diminished confidence
in the City of Edmonton’s ability to pull off big
projects or to build new ones?
MW: When it comes to new projects,
there just isn’t as much financial capacity
because we’re bumping up against our debt
and debt-servicing limits. But I don't think
they're against building things — they just
want them built well and without the level of
inconvenience we’ve seen. It feels like we're
living in a constant renovation — it’d be nice
to finish it up and finally enjoy the space.
OM: Your platform emphasizes livability but
leaves out arts and culture. Where do they fit
into your vision for vibrancy?
MW: My entry into Edmonton was based
in the arts. I moved here from Drayton
Valley in my 20s because of the arts and
culture scene. As we prioritize public safety
and our response to homelessness right
out of the gate, I also want to lift up our
central arts district and bring people back
into that hub. That means working with the
Citadel, Winspear, the AGA and the broader
community around the civic precinct. I
also would like to create arts hubs that
neighbourhoods and local economies can
galvanize around.
OM: You’ve promised to fast-track more
housing. How will you accomplish that?
MW: Suburban communities still play a
role in affordability, but we need to rebuild
the regional consensus lost in the last four
years. Our neighbours grow toward us for our
services and amenities. But we develop land
at a denser, more sustainable and affordable
rate than other municipalities, making us the
most responsible developer in the region.
OM: What actions can the city take within
its jurisdiction to expand mental health and
addiction supports, given its limited tools?
MW: We have to go upstream with prevention,
which always plays second fiddle to reaction.
Edmonton could build the largest after-school
program in the country with vision: make rec
centres free from 3 to 7 p.m. — when kids
from newcomer and low-income families are
most vulnerable — provide free transit from
high-needs neighbourhoods and partner with
the province to open schools after hours. It’s
basically Free Play on steroids. Those kids
could grow into leaders and mentors, creating
a cycle of support that prevents more serious
mental health and addictions later. It’s not a
silver bullet, but it’s significant.
OM: It’s significant, but it's a very long-term
plan. What can we do for people who’ve
already fallen through the cracks?