As Rage wraps up our third month of existence, we reflect on the stories that are important to our readers and ourselves. We consider ourselves fortunate to be surrounded by a growing community that is passionate about what is going on in their municipality.
We wanted to take this chance to say thank you and to review some of the stories that have since blown up in mainstream media.
Thank you so much to our supporters!
A Rage Recap
Unrest in rural municipalities
Photo: Mayor Don Scott screenshot of the RMWB YouTube channel
In February, we noted the unrest brewing in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo with the United Conservative Party’s changes to 911 dispatch centres. and it wasn’t only in Wood Buffalo. Red Deer, Calgary, and Lethbridge are also openly calling on the province to reverse its decision on EMS dispatch.
We highlighted what the UCP budget meant for municipalities. This included long-terms cuts to the municipal sustainability index. The budget saw the MSI spike for the 2021-’22 fiscal year to $1.26 billion, only to fall to $515 million in each of the years. It’s an incremental rise followed by another significant decrease. This means years of uncertain and uneven funds that municipalities depend upon to keep the lights on.
We also let out readers know why this election was different from previous municipal elections because of the referendums and senate election
Métis Settlements and Indigenous Prosperity
For March, we dug into the concerns of Métis settlements and a funding agreement that the province said would not be renewed. General Council President Herb Lehr said the province is amending the Act (currently known as Bill 57) without consulting the community. This story is still developing, and the Métis settlements are incensed. Elected members across all eight settlements have unanimously voted that they do not accept this act in its current form. On April 21, 2021, Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson spoke to the committee of the whole about Bill 57. He took issue with the accusations from Lehr and others about the lack of engagement. The opposition, voiced by Richard Feehan, MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford reminded the government of their responsibility to Indigenous people:
If you believe that they are indigenous people under section 35 of the Constitution, then you recognize that Canada has a historical financial responsibility in their relationship with the Métis people; that is, they had an a priori claim to the land in the province of Alberta prior to the establishment of the province of Alberta and as such have a claim to the benefits of the land which was taken away from them. That benefit typically, in our modern day, is the extraction of resources: oil and gas, forestry, and so on.
Not so long ago, the Métis were forced to live in an agreement called the “road allowance” where after the Red River resistance and the breaking up of the Red River Settlements, the Métis came to stay after being dispossessed of their land through a process known as scrip. These were small shacks in areas carved out for roads. It was a sort of bureaucratic homelessness.
March Guidebook Madness
We also covered in-depth, the innocuously named Guidebook for Great Communities and the chattering classes' reaction to neighbourhood densification. As Calgary already knows, if you mess with the housing status quo you should expect drama (see also: secondary suites). We dug into what we could find about a mysterious ad that was a wraparound in the Calgary Herald and explained to readers the facts on the guidebook, so people could look beyond the rhetoric of the discussion.
To Fund, or to Defund the Police
We have kept a close eye on the issue of policing in the province, as it falls under the jurisdiction of municipalities that have their own police forces.
As we noted in a round-up, Lethbridge MLA Shannon Phillips sent shock waves through the province with the results of a freedom of information request she had filed with the Lethbridge Police. The stunning documents revealed multiple police databank searches in her name, as well as the fact that uniformed police officers had taken photos of her at public meetings.
Since then, we have covered the lawlessness in police town as competing narratives of what it means to be safe in Edmonton have emerged. The discussion about policing and budgets in Edmonton has been predictably full of emotion and reaction. Suggestions of racism still spark automatic defensiveness in many government forums in Canada. Edmonton is no different.
If you aren’t a paid subscriber, you’re missing out
While two out of three posts a week are free to all of our readers, those who pitch in a yearly or monthly fee have also enjoyed articles that dive deep into the inner workings of municipal legislation, and how local governments have come to be where they are.
A history of recall elections across the West.
An exclusive interview with Mayor Nenshi on the municipality and the provinces’ hand-to-hand combat.
A primer on the Gas Tax Fund (and why it matters to munis)
A rough-and-tumble look at the old West and ways you can get kicked off the municipal ballot.
How the municipality is invisible (the government closest to the people isn’t even in the constitution).
The Weekly Tweet Recap
Flyer drops!
Locals, ok a beloved subset of political nerds, are getting excited about flyer drops appearing in our mailboxes. Let us know your favourites by tweeting us @RageMunicpal
Farkas and Gondek Debate Turns Into a Q & A
As we commented on last week, Jyoti Gondek called for a debate with only one other councillor. The topic of the debate was supposed to be about past council decisions. But Farkas didn’t confirm attendance, so LiveWire switched to a interview format.
We Are Still Fighting About the City of the Future
And That Includes Transit
The People Want Public Drinking in Parks
Are Social Media Ribbons the New Lawn Sign?
Edmonton mayoral candidate Cheryll Watson unleashes a twibbon. In a year where many candidates have paused their door-knocking campaigns, this could be a way that supporters demonstrate their love of a candidate.
Campaign Forces at Play
Survey season is upon us, and Campaign Coalition for Life is sending out theirs to municipal candidates, as shared by Nate Pike, candidate for Ward 3 in Calgary.
The Passing of Stanley Milner
Sad news in YEG this week as we learn of the passing of former city councillor Stanley Milner.
The Edmonton public library, whose flagship downtown library is named in Milner’s honour released a statement.
“From his work as a member of City Council, to his leadership roles with numerous civic institutions, Stanley Milner helped shape Edmonton into the uplifting and enterprising city we enjoy today,” says Mayor Don Iveson. “Stan’s support and passion for veterans and the military was legendary, and was central to building the reputation Edmonton has with military members and their families as a welcoming and caring home base.”
“Stan Milner was a beloved Edmonton giant, a true gentleman and a friend,” said City Manager Andre Corbould. “His connection and service to our community was outstanding and his contributions will have a lasting, uplifting impact on our city for generations to come,” Corbould said.