Sohi sees province's push to limit city-federal deals as `unnecessary red tape'

Edmonton's mayor says the provincial government should not block cities' efforts to get federal funding and municipalities should be respected as legitimate, independent orders of government.

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said the new provincial legislation requiring municipalities to get Alberta's approval before striking deals with Ottawa creates “unnecessary red tape” that will harm Edmonton's economy and could slow or stop important projects from being built.

He made the remarks before seeing the details of legislation tabled Wednesday afternoon. The law, Bill 18 — the Provincial Priorities Act, 2024 — is expected to come into force in early 2025.

Canada's Constitution, which houses municipalities under provincial rule, is still “stuck in the olden days,” Sohi said.

It wasn't written with large cities in mind and municipalities have taken on expanded roles. Cities, he said, shouldn't be treated “as the children of the province that need to be looked after or controlled, or managed.”

“Restricting municipalities' ability to have that relationship with the federal government will hurt our economy, our economic growth, and will delay projects that we are building to make Edmontonians' lives better,” he told reporters at city hall on Wednesday. “We are a hub for culture, we are a hub for art, we are a hub for many, many things, and I think still treating municipalities as creatures of the province and restricting our ability to engage with other orders of government I think will not serve us well.”

For instance, Sohi worries the planned bus garage to store an expanded fleet, including hydrogen-fuelled buses in the future, may need to be put on hold if the expected federal agreement for $300 million cannot be signed.

“Losing $300 million that we need to build our garage facility to unlock the potential of hydrogen but also improve bus service in our city, that will be a big loss for our city if such legislation restricts our ability to work directly with the federal government,” he said.

Expanding Yellowhead Trail, the 50 Street at 82 Avenue overpass, and about 600 units of supportive housing in recent years are some projects Sohi said came about when the city went directly to the federal government for money.

At times, the province has joined its support only after dollars from Ottawa were secured, he said.

Sohi said the city asked the province for funding to build the bus garage but it wasn't granted. The city purchased land from the province for that project, he said.

The mayor said his focus is building a thriving city, which requires working relationships with provincial and federal governments.

Premier Danielle Smith portrayed it as “taking back control” of federal agreements, ensuring the cash flowing into Alberta aligns with the province's priorities.