Enabling Opportunity

If you’ve been following my campaign thus far, you likely have noticed that my website has been updated. One of the changes we made was adding 3 simple priorities. 

1. Enabling Opportunity 

2. Monitoring and Measuring

3. Capacity Building

My team and I have already visited thousands of doors. The feedback has been incredible and has helped me determine what I believe are priorities and principles for Ward Karhiio. Today, I am happy to share some of that feedback in the first of a three-blog series.  

What does Enabling Opportunity mean?

Simply put, I believe you should have the opportunity to pursue reasonable actions. 

One of the things I’m hearing at the doors is that residents are frustrated by City regulations to accomplish simple tasks like building a shed or renovating a basement into an in-law suite. These are reasonable actions for someone to take, but it feels like there’s always some bureaucrat trying to micromanage you on your property. Meanwhile, I’ve heard from residents who are scared to put solar panels on their rooves because they feel as if the bureaucrats are rubber stamping these absurd developments that cast shadows over their neighbour’s properties Why is it more difficult for you to get a permit for a shed than it is for a developer to put up a three-storey development right next to you? 

It’s not just about developments though. It’s also about economic opportunity. We keep hearing about how Edmonton has grown by 170,000 new residents over the last three years as justification for the radical Zoning Bylaw, but we don’t hear anything about City Council contributing towards creating 170,000 jobs for these people. In fact, our City Council thinks they’re business-friendly, because of all the grant money they “invest” in startup companies. Unlike the current City Council, I don’t want to raise your taxes and give that money to someone else so they can have an opportunity for success. I want to consider balanced actions that can reduce obstacles for all tax-paying citizens to explore options that will help to improve their economic status, whether they choose to start up a business or have better employment opportunities. 

My vision for enabling opportunity goes beyond what you can do for your own benefit, but also how the City provides basic public services. The one at the top of my mind is public engagement. I want the City to move away from this online “show and tell” approach to public engagement. I want you to have the opportunity to be a part of the issues that matter most to you. I want to go back to a society where the government gives the people time and space to share their feedback rather than the government releasing a 1000-page Bylaw they expect the public to read within 2 weeks or forever hold their peace. That’s if the matter even requires a public hearing, as per the new rules set out by our current City Council. The zoning by-laws are a perfect example of this. 

Opportunity goes beyond start-ups and jobs though. There is also the aspect of considering how the decisions of Council will affect existing businesses. Edmonton is known as the Festival City. We love to be out in our communities enjoying arts, culture, and music. We have many great spaces for these to happen in, spaces that don’t block access to businesses and cause them hardship. Festivals and events are meant to bolster the local economy, so why are there several festivals happening every year that do the exact opposite? Better decisions need to be made when the permits and licenses are being issued for these activities. If the event is going to cause financial hardship for businesses in the area, and there are other suitable areas nearby, then the event permits should be granted for the areas that will not block off streets and cut off businesses from their customers. 

Generally speaking, there are two ways to govern. You can use a heavy hand or a helping hand. Unfortunately, this Council uses the helping hand for opportunistic developers and open drug use but saves the heavy hand for when you complain about the lack of value for the services we receive…or don’t. I believe this mentality needs to change, and I know I’m not alone.