The Pulse
Sept. 17, 2024

The perennially optimistic Coun. Andrew Knack, known for thanking all who engage him, even if it's to tell him he's wrong, has planned how to remain at work during and after the 2025 election, the first municipal poll since 2007 that he won't run in.

"I very much expect I will endorse not just somebody in the ward I represent, but in other wards," Knack said in a candid interview on Speaking Municipally, Taproot's municipal affairs podcast. "I am passionate about our city. I want to be able to share my perspective, whether people care about that or not."

On Sept. 9, Knack provided 13 months notice that he will not seek re-election to Edmonton's city council in 2025. He told co-hosts Stephanie Swensrude and Mack Male that he did so to open the door for new candidates who may be dissuaded to run against him as an incumbent, to open possibilities for more women to win council seats in 2025, and to mirror U.S. President Joe Biden's self-honesty on the need for new perspectives as an election looms. "There is that part of you that asks yourself, 'If I ran again, at what point do I become the person that people are starting to talk to themselves and be like, why is he still around? What value is he adding?'" Knack said, noting that at 40, he's not exactly in the same camp Biden is despite being the "old man" on council. Knack is currently the longest-serving city councillor, having run unsuccessfully in the 2007 and 2010 municipal elections before being elected in 2013.

Knack's announcement was emotional, with his council colleagues heaping praise and bear hugs on him. He has governed in a way that attempts to limit how much he polarizes. Postmedia columnist Keith Gerein wrote that Knack has successfully walked the tightrope between being humble and remaining relevant. "Knack has somehow made modesty and deference work for him," Gerein wrote.

With his big 2025 election news out of the way, though, Knack told the podcasters that while his name won't be on lawn signs next fall, he intends for his presence to be felt during the election, both inside and outside of council.

At council, Knack said he anticipates that he may fact-check the election rhetoric from any council colleague who might choose to run. "I feel like I can be the boring facts guy and be like, 'Well, actually, no, (at) this meeting, this is what we decided,'" he said. "So it's less a criticism of a particular person or a particular party, but rather like, 'Here's a clear statement of facts that people need to know about.'"

Outside of council meetings, Knack said he's already encouraged specific people to run in Nakota Isga, though he refused to offer names. "I've talked to some people … who are in the process of putting together what their team would look like," he said. "I think there will be a couple of good people who I hope are going to run … and I'm sure there's a bunch of other people that I hadn't even thought of that will suddenly come forward and will be fantastic for the area, too."

Looming over the incoming council in 2025 is a fiscal hole, currently sized at $34 million, as well as an exploding population curve. "You're just going to leave this for the next council now, right?," asked Male.

Knack replied by conceding that he did this very thing while sitting on the last council by voting with his colleagues to artificially freeze increases to property taxes during the COVID-19 pandemic. "In my view, it was very much on me and those of us who were on last term, who went through the pandemic and said, 'We've got to keep these taxes really low,'" Knack said. "So, we set up the situation we're in."

Knack said the current council has not been shy as it tackles the fiscal hole this has created, voting in a nearly 9% tax increase in the fall. "Let's remember, it was an 8.9% increase that every member of council voted for," he said. Given it's just a step to fix the fiscal imbalance and that more people are moving to Edmonton, Knack said further tax increases will be on the horizon. "I think this council is not going to shy away from a tough financial conversation for the sake of political gain," he said. "They've shown their willingness to not worry about their political future … and yeah, that might mean that some people lose their job in 2025 because they made what was a really tough decision."

• City council's community and public services committee reviewed new regulations to limit or ban the sale of knives in convenience stores following safety concerns from residents. The options councillors debated at their Sept. 16 meeting included introducing a new business licence with specific rules for handling and storing knives, or prohibiting their sale entirely. Any changes to business licences would take up to three years to implement fully. Councillors deferred their decision on the proposal to a city council meeting scheduled for Oct. 2.
• Edmonton's Neon Sign Museum has unveiled a new sign commemorating music icon and Edmonton native k.d. lang, marking the museum's first sign dedicated to a person. The sign, created in collaboration with local organizations, celebrates lang's contributions to music and her connection to Edmonton's history, and marks her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame during the 2024 Canadian Country Music Awards.
• Residents of Edmonton's Sweet Grass neighbourhood are worried about coyote sightings and the threat the animals pose to area residents and pets. Long-time resident Kinia Romanowska, who has experienced multiple close encounters with coyotes, is calling for the removal of the animals to ensure community safety. University of Alberta professor Colleen Cassady St. Clair suggests proactive measures like removing coyote attractants and using aversive conditioning, adding that relocating coyotes is generally ineffective.
• Drivers around Edmonton are frustrated with construction delays, Global News reported. The City of Edmonton says it has more than 90 construction projects currently underway, including bridges, roads, buildings, and pathways. Coun. Tim Cartmell said there is "always the opportunity" to better coordinate the work.
• Thousands of typically elusive tiger salamanders recently swarmed an Edmonton woman's childhood home. "It was like something you would read in the end times," said Chelsea Brown of their appearance. Experts say the normally subterranean salamanders are harmless and their presence indicates a healthy ecosystem. Residents are advised to gently relocate any trapped salamanders they discover to nearby bodies of water.
• Teams at Edmonton International Airport took turns pulling a 30,000-kilogram WestJet plane 100 metres during a Sept. 16 fundraiser for Hope Air, a national charity that helps low-income Canadians travel for medical care. Hope Air says it has experienced a surge in demand, with trips increasing from 6,000 in 2021 to a projected 40,000 this year.
• The potential for Northern Lights was high between Sept. 16 and 17, with peak viewing times between 9pm and 3am. Areas like Elk Island National Park and Bon Accord are ideal spots for viewing away from city lights. The high auroral activity was attributed to strong geomagnetic storms.
• The provincial government's plan to expand online gambling by allowing private operators has raised concerns among casino operators and nonprofits that fear the change could reduce funding for charities and make it difficult for traditional casinos to compete. The province is still in discussions about how to regulate and manage revenue splits for these new iGaming ventures. Play Alberta, which is managed by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis, is currently the only regulated online gambling site in the province.
• Martin Cochingco, a stunt performer from Edmonton, won an Emmy for his work on the TV series Shōgun. Cochingco, who has also worked on productions like The Last of Us and Deadpool, shared the award with his team for their stunt performance in episode four of the series. He co-owns The Stunt Garage, an Edmonton gym which trains local talent.
• Edmonton Oilers mascot Hunter the Lynx was ranked fifth-best among Canadian NHL mascots in a survey by Casino.ca, placing him above only Youppi from the Montreal Canadiens and Mick E. Moose from the Winnipeg Jets. Carlton the Bear from the Toronto Maple Leafs took the top spot, followed by Harvey the Hound from the Calgary Flames.
• Alberta Parks issued an advisory for drivers in the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area and Miquelon Lake Provincial Park areas to watch out for garter snakes crossing the roads as they migrate to hibernation sites. The snakes are more active on roads during the fall season, the advisory says. While the snakes may bite if handled, their bites are harmless and unlikely to break the skin.
• The Greater Edmonton Model Train Show drew 4,000 enthusiasts to Millennium Place over the weekend, featuring 32,000 square feet of train setups. The annual event takes place every September in Sherwood Park.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• ERINnovation Meetup: IP Insights starting at 12pm online
• J.G. O'Donoghue Memorial Lecture: Farm Safety and Health is a Team Sport starting at 12:30pm at Lister Centre
• Myth Busting Federal Government Procurement starting at 1pm online
• An Evening of Presentations - YEG Reconnect starting at 5:30pm at Road 55 Studio
• Drought Planting and Care of Peonies in the Urban Garden starting at 7pm online
• Book Launch: Sunshine and Spice starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
• Streetcar Named Negroni Week starting at 7pm at the High Level Streetcar (Jasper Plaza terminal)
• Tuesday Jam Hosted by Aretha Tillotson starting at 8pm at the Yardbird Suite

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Sept. 26: Nerd Night: Back to School at the Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Sept. 28: The Food Drive
• Oct. 5: Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium

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