The building blocks for a sustainable and vibrant Edmonton:

Balanced, sustainable growth

Strong communities combine to achieve a sustainable and vibrant city only when decisions are guided by long term vision that puts people first. We are struggling to build new infrastructure, while roads and sidewalks crumble, snow piles up, and public spaces and buildings deteriorate. City Council must have the courage to articulate a realistic long term vision and the determination to follow it through.

Community involvement in planning

Communities must be given a real voice in the decisions that affect them. Vibrant communities exist where people live, work, shop and socialize. We must protect the things that make our neighbourhoods special and unique. City Council can do this by including communities in decision making, committing to creating and standing by neighbourhood plans and developing design standards that protect community integrity.

Quality of life

We must support and strengthen those things that make Edmonton a vibrant and modern city: affordable housing, volunteerism, arts, festivals, libraries, parks, sports and recreation. We must take pride in and support our diversity: differences of culture, sexual orientation, generation and ability. If our city is a place where individuals and families want to live, a city that attracts and keeps people and businesses, then we must not sacrifice its very livability.

Protection of our environment

We must defend the things that make Edmonton a healthy and sustainable city. We must be vigilant in protection of our air and water. We must protect our green spaces, including our unique natural areas. We must maximize the environmental efficiency of city-owned vehicles and facilities. We must take the lead in banning the use of harmful herbicides and pesticides in our parks and public spaces. Every citizen is entitled to clean air, clean water and proper land use planning.

Public transportation

We have become too large a city to depend on private vehicles to solve our transportation problems. We struggle to maintain the roads, let alone build newer and bigger ones. We need another solution. Public transportation works when it is more convenient and affordable than alternatives. It must be properly planned and financed so it becomes a preferred choice for how we travel within the city.

Affordable housing

Edmonton is growing by leaps and bounds, while housing for many continues to worsen. Creating opportunities to own a home or pay reasonable rent, or simply ensuring that everyone can have a roof over their head, is a challenge we must address with our provincial and federal partners. City Council must take the lead and make the tough choices like setting mandatory minimums of affordable housing in new development. Affordable housing must be integrated throughout the whole city and not ghettoized. Everyone deserves an opportunity to share in our growth and prosperity.

The River Valley

A special aspect of our quality of life and environment is our river valley and ravine system.. It is the core of what makes our city livable and attractive. We must protect and support this valuable resource and commit to a ‘Top of the Bank’ policy to preserve vistas, public access and ensure no harmful ecological impact.