The Pulse
June 25, 2024

A new administration report shows the percentage of taxes the city collects from non-residential properties is smaller than that same percentage across the region. Given non-residential taxes from businesses net a municipality far more than residential ones, the report poses a problem that the co-hosts were keen to discuss in Episode 269 of Speaking Municipally.

The report suggests the reasons Edmonton's share of the region's non-residential tax base is small are the city's higher taxes, utility costs, and design standards, as well as its relatively complex administrative processes.

But co-host Mack Male said city administration's Industrial Investment Action Plan report also proposes to shrink the gap and attract more businesses to Edmonton. "And that's the part that's really interesting to me about all of this," Male said. "This is a regional discussion, or it should be a regional conversation."

Male pointed out that Edmonton Global was created as a group of municipalities in recognition that investment in the region benefits all. "So, we should be benefiting from having a company come and set up shop in the Industrial Heartland, or in Sturgeon County or something like that, because those people come and live in the city, they shop in the city, you know, all of those kinds of things, that economic benefit should be to all of us. But at the end of the day, it's about taxes, isn't it?"

Co-host Troy Pavlek pointed out many of the businesses that locate outside city limits are doing so ever closer to Edmonton, with areas like the roads to Spruce Grove or to the Edmonton International Airport having almost no divide between city and region. "It's basically a bunch of businesses that feel like they're in Edmonton, but they're not quite in Edmonton," Pavlek said.

"Now it's kind of you can have your cake and eat it, too, which makes me wonder — is it time to annex Leduc, Spruce Grove, and St. Albert?"

Male said the report feels like a backwards step, as does the committee's response. "Committee approved unanimously that administration provide a report that includes an update on this Industrial Investment Action Plan, what steps have been taken, come back to us and also bring an unfunded service package for our consideration." Male said council's tendency has been to request such reports but have no plan to put them into action until they can get money in the future.

Pavlek shifted the conversation to what was supposed to be another committee discussion, about how city-led construction can harm small businesses, and what the city can do to lessen that. "I do think that if a city is performing an action that negatively impacts small business, we should be helping small business," Pavlek said. "We've created a situation where we build in a way that's hostile to our businesses, for no adequately explored reason, and don't build in any mechanisms to prevent that. I would prefer this policy be, 'Let's create a policy that intentionally limits the impact of construction on businesses.'"

Montreal has a policy of subsidizing businesses affected by construction, with a lump sum of $5,000 for each affected company. The committee conversation on the topic will have to wait, however, as it's been delayed until Aug. 14.

The co-hosts also discussed urban growth and development standards, the city's corporate homelessness plan, the economic impact of the Oilers' Stanley Cup run, and heard an update from the Taproot newsroom by managing editor Tim Querengesser in the June 21 episode of Taproot's municipal affairs podcast.

• The Edmonton Oilers failed to clinch the Stanley Cup on June 24, losing 2-1 to the Florida Panthers in Game 7. Despite the loss, Oilers captain Connor McDavid's standout performance earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP, with eight goals and 34 assists. The Oilers made a dramatic comeback from a 3-0 deficit to force a Game 7, and a win would have made them only the fifth team in NHL history to achieve such a feat. Florida's Sam Reinhart scored the decisive goal in the Panthers' victory, securing their first-ever championship.
• Edmonton Oilers fans gathered at Ice District, inside Rogers Place, and at watch parties across the city to take in a historic Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers on June 24. Support also poured in from across Canada, and some fans travelled on a 95-seat charter flight to Florida to be nearer to the action. A Rhode Island family, originally planning a trip to Disney World, changed their plans to attend the game. Enthusiasm leading up to the game was high in Edmonton, and some businesses closed early to allow staff to watch the final, which ultimately ended in a 2-1 loss for the Oilers.
• Thirteen years to the day after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was drafted first overall by the Edmonton Oilers, the team's longest-tenured player was preparing to face off against the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. While the Oilers were eliminated before the playoffs for seven of his eight first seasons, Nugent-Hopkins has become a key contributor to the team's recent success, alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. "He means a lot to our group. He means a lot to the people of the city of Edmonton," said McDavid.
• Property taxes are due by June 30, with a 5% penalty on outstanding amounts starting July 1, the City of Edmonton said in a release. Property tax bills can't be appealed, and payments can be made several ways, including through telephone or online banking, by mail, or in person at a financial institution.
• The Internazionale Soccer Club of Edmonton is calling for more indoor soccer fields in the city to accommodate a growing number of players, particularly during the winter. The organization says the existing facilities are insufficient for standard 11-on-11 matches. The Edmonton Minor Soccer Association estimates it would cost $15-20 million to build a proper facility.
• Edmonton will hold a Canada Day fireworks display on July 1 at 11pm over the central river valley and North Saskatchewan River. The show will be visible from various parks and livestreamed by CBC. Road closures and parking restrictions will be in effect. Other Canada Day events are planned at various locations around the city, including the Edmonton Valley Zoo, Muttart Conservatory, John Janzen Nature Centre, and the legislature grounds.
• WestJet has expanded its partnership with Condor Airlines to offer direct flights to Frankfurt from Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Halifax. The flights began June 24.
• Samantha Luchkow, a 15-year-old student from Avalon Junior High School, is heading to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to represent her team at the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program National Conference on July 1. Her team is the first from Edmonton Public Schools to be selected, and they will present research on the growth of bacillus cereus in microgravity.
• The seventh annual Show Your Stripes Day was marked last week, aiming to raise awareness about human-caused global warming by using visual graphics to illustrate temperature changes over time. Data for Edmonton shows a significant increase in above-average temperatures from 1850 to 2023, with recent years displaying a noticeable rise in warmer temperatures, a trend consistent with broader patterns across Canada and globally.
• The latest forecast from the Alberta Energy Regulator projects a 17% increase in oilsands production by 2033, reaching four million barrels per day, primarily through in situ operations. The regulator believes the sector can grow while reducing emissions using carbon capture technology, though a Deloitte report suggests companies might reduce production instead. The federal government is proposing a 35-38% emissions cut by 2030, which Alberta opposes because it says it would limit growth and investment in the sector.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Wildhood Film Screening starting at 11am at MacEwan University
• Live at Lunch: Dana Wylie starting at 12pm at Churchill Square
• Edmonton Regional Innovation Network Meet Up starting at 12pm online
• Tuesday Afternoon Book Club starting at 3pm at Strathcona County Library
• Tom Viinikka in a Q&A With Community starting at 4pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Association of Fundraising Professionals AGM and Uncharitable Viewing starting at 6:30pm at Metro Cinema
• Bellingham Bells vs. Edmonton Riverhawks starting at 7pm at Re/Max Field
• On the Edge: Emerging Scholars — Archaeology as a Tool of Social Justice starting at 7pm online
• Book Club: Persepolis starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
• Salsa Y Bachata Social starting at 7pm at Añejo Restaurant
• Summer Singing Social starting at 7pm at Freemasons Hall of Edmonton
• Tuesday Jam Hosted by Louise Dawson starting at 8pm at the Yardbird Suite

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• July 6: Circus Carnival & Market Merriment at Spruce Grove
• July 7-14: Historic Festival & Doors Open Edmonton
• July 19-27: Jubefest at the Jubilee Auditorium

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.