Open races could affect capital region priorities
Airport and regional transit plan had support from political allies
Edmonton is losing at least four friends in the capital region as retiring politicians leave wide open election races to the south and north of the city.
Edmonton, Leduc and Leduc County have been working to build the Edmonton International Airport south of the city into a key job generator for the region.
But two of the three political leaders behind a deal signed just this year are departing their posts.
To the north of Edmonton, St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse — who poured his heart into his five years chairing the Capital Region Board — is also stepping down. His leadership helped created the fledgling regional transit commission, a commuter deal beginning with just St. Albert and Edmonton.
That deal has the potential to gradually build seamless public transit from Sherwood Park to Stony Plain, Leduc to St. Albert — or it could die after the Oct. 16 election.
Two councillors are in a battle for Crouse’s seat.
Cathy Heron has been a key player in many regional discussions.
Cam Mackay avoided them — his platform includes a new local economic development corporation focused on St. Albert and he said, so far, it looks like the regional transit system will cost more for the same service.
“I voted for it because it’s in the preliminary stages,” said Mackay, adding he’s made it clear he’ll vote against the plan if the numbers don’t improve. Regional co-operation often doesn’t make sense, he added. Each municipality is “large enough on their own to provide economies of scale.”
For years, the capital region was dominated by voting blocks, with Edmonton butting heads with regional mayors afraid the larger municipality would limit their ability to grow. It was every city for itself when it came to planning new roads and communities or attracting industry, for example.
Since the last municipal election, those voting blocks have been breaking down. But new economic, land use and transit initiatives passed by the regional board are still really new.
The board for a new regional economic development corporation — Edmonton Global — still hasn’t been announced. Those involved say a lot rests on the upcoming regional elections.
“It’s a risk for the whole region,” said outgoing Edmonton Coun. Ed Gibbons, who focused most on regional files during his 16 years on council. He’s been watching races in Strathcona County, St. Albert and Leduc closely, wondering if the voices for co-operation or protectionism will win.
The region has come a long way. But if politicians who don’t see the global picture are elected, who act only in the short-term interest of their own taxpayers, it could set things back, he said. “You can’t be autonomous in this big world.”
Morinville Mayor Lisa Holmes is another ally Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson will lose on the regional board.
She supported Iveson’s push for higher density targets to support growth focused on public transit and using less farmland. She also sided with Edmonton against Beaumont, when Iveson wanted to force the smaller municipality to run water and sewer services more efficiently through joint planning with Edmonton.
Holmes’ successor was elected by acclamation last Monday.
“I’m still kind of in a state of disbelief,” said mayor-elect Barry Turner, a current town councillor who works as a business analyst for the University Hospital Foundation in Edmonton.
Turner served on Capital Region Board committees during his time as councillor. He said newly elected politicians often start off more protectionist, feeling a heavy responsibility back to their ratepayers. “But real progress happens when you think about the success of the region overall.”
When it comes to regional transit, land use and economic initiatives, he said, “there might be a couple steps back in the short term, depending on how many faces change. But we have a great foundation.”
Morinville, he added, needs to stay committed to co-operation, especially with economic development. A town of fewer than 10,000 can’t do that alone.
“That’s going to make a difference for a lot of regional municipalities. It gets us at the table.”
He also hopes the new commuter transit commission will eventually extend lines into Morinville, but he doesn’t expect that to happen this term. Beaumont Mayor Camille Berube is also retiring. His departure comes after pitched annexation battles this term, with a growing divide between Beaumont and Edmonton.