A strong Edmonton means a strong Alberta

Last week I had the privilege of delivering my sixth State of the City Address to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. A lot has changed in our city since I delivered my first address in 2014. We’ve seen the expansion of our LRT network, the continued revitalization of our downtown core, and a sustained population growth that will see us reach 2 million in the next few decades. We’ve also seen a lot of political changes: during my five and a half years as Mayor, I’ve dealt with the governments of two Prime Ministers and five different Premiers from all across the political spectrum. What has remained true throughout all these changes, and election results however, is the fact that a successful Edmonton makes for a successful Alberta – and that was the focus of this year’s address.

I think many of you would agree that we should be proud of how we’ve grown and what we’ve accomplished as a city over the years. Together we are building one of Canada’s great cities – one that is poised to help lead the way in our country. But while we have a lot to be proud of as Edmontonians, I also recognize there is cause for concern. I’ve heard from many of you that the recent provincial election results, and our under-representation at the provincial cabinet table, could mean Edmonton’s needs will be ignored and that we could become isolated. Much like we were in the 1990s, when other parts of the province were prioritized and Edmonton bore the brunt of deep cuts.

But we’re not the same city we were back in the mid-90s. We’ve grown, and we’ve matured. Over the past few decades, we’ve welcomed thousands of people from across Canada and all over the world. They come for work and better opportunities and they’re attracted by our great public schools and leading post-secondary institutions. Our economy has changed: we’ve learned about the importance of adding value to our products – from petrochemicals to food processing – and we’re carving out leadership in the new economy (think artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data and analytics). In 2018, Metro Edmonton generated 100 billion dollars towards Alberta’s GDP. That’s almost a third of Alberta’s economy. All of this is to say: we’re a far more resilient city now, compared to 25 years ago. It’s clear that we cannot be easily written off or ignored.

I also believe that the province that best leverages the power of its big cities will emerge as the winner in this country. So, if the provincial government is prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with us as a partner, we know we’ll be able to bring about greater prosperity for Edmontonians and greater prosperity for Alberta.

Our priority is making sure Edmonton has the necessary ingredients in place to thrive for generations to come. Having the necessary infrastructure and housing. Building climate resilience and regional prosperity, hand in hand with the provincial and federal governments, so that our children and grandchildren, don’t have to leave Edmonton, or Alberta, to find opportunities or a high quality of life. Partnerships are the key to building a stronger and more resilient Edmonton that is a cornerstone for a stronger and more resilient Alberta.