Speaking Municipally

Administration released its proposed operating, capital, and climate budgets for 2027–2030. We take a look at what's proposed, what's left out, and what it could mean for the next four years.

(00:00) - Introduction

(07:25) - How the budgets work

(15:28) - Property taxes and city services

(19:19) - Early reactions to the budget

(22:47) - What community groups asked for

(25:30) - Unfunded projects and services

(33:21) - Police spending and the funding formula

(37:50) - The climate budget

(42:50) - Low Level and High Level bridges

(44:55) - Transit fares and user fees

(49:17) - Budget dates and how to have a say

(51:08) - Close

Here are the relevant links for this episode:The proposed 2027–2030 budgets
A look at how Edmonton's budget stacks up so far
Proposed operating budget and plans (PDF)
Proposed capital budget (PDF)
Climate budget (PDF)
City of Edmonton budget and finances
CityNews on the proposed property tax increases
Global News on the proposed taxes, services and capital projects
Early reactions to the budget
Taproot's Nov. 4 roundup of council's early reactions
Edmontonians react to the proposed tax increases
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce responds to the proposed budget
Unfunded projects and services
Coun. Erin Rutherford on unfunded service packages in Episode 357
Sport Edmonton's Speak 4 Sport campaign
YEG Bike Coalition's 2027–2030 budget priorities
Prioritize Whyte Ave's case for pedestrian and transit improvements
Edmonton Heritage Council's funding requests and stories of impact
Police spending
Edmonton police request another $61.6 million for capital projects
Edmonton Police Commission's budget statement
Council policy C604B (PDF)
Climate, bridges and transit
Edmonton's 2027–2030 climate implementation priorities
Low Level Bridge replacement survey, open through Nov. 30
High Level Bridge to close in 2027 for urgent repairs
Valley Line Southeast and the transition from TransEd to Edmonton Transit Service
Budget dates and how to have a say
Mayor Andrew Knack's budget Ask Me Anything on Reddit, Nov. 10 from 7 to 8 p.m.
Taproot's Nov. 5 roundup, including the mayor's budget AMA
Council's budget meeting begins Nov. 23. The Utility Committee is scheduled to consider the utility budgets on Nov. 26.
Council and committee meetings and the Request to Speak form
City Clerk's guide to speaking at a meeting or submitting written comments
Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton. We deliver reliable intelligence about the Edmonton region. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!
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Edmonton city council learned that the province's order to roll back infill rules won't be simple to carry out. Plus, Alberta's referendum results are in, and council is seeking more municipal autonomy.

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:46) - Rolling back infill rules

(08:07) - Restoring parking requirements

(10:15) - Infill amendments and deadlines

(12:18) - Edmonton's push for municipal autonomy

(17:01) - Knack meets with the province

(21:46) - Alberta's referendum results

(26:43) - Stevenson leaves the police commission

(30:26) - Council's seats on the police commission

(32:31) - The four-year budget

(34:34) - Ad: Taproot membership

(36:33) - Close

Here are the relevant links for this episode:Infill
Order in Council 353/2026 (PDF)
City council hears report on upcoming infill zoning bylaw amendments
Infill discussion on Instagram
Municipal autonomy
Edmonton to push for more municipal autonomy
'Rebuilding trust': Knack meets with premier, ministers
Aaron Paquette's post on municipal autonomy (Instagram)
Referendum
Alberta referendum tallies reveal rural-urban divide on ‘the 9’
Nopes to the nine? Blue walls? Five takeaways from Alberta's referendum results
Interactives: Referendum results highlight Alberta's rural-urban and partisan divides
Dark Phoenix: The Rise, Fall, and Re-emergence of Danielle Smith, by Jeremy Appel
Craft Politics Episode 81 - Dave Cournoyer: Alberta voted to stay. What now?
Police commission
City councillor Anne Stevenson leaves role on Edmonton police commission
Edmonton city councillor Anne Stevenson resigns from police commission
Councillor Stevenson resigns — Edmonton Police Commission
Edmonton Police Commission meeting — Nov. 19, 2026
Budget
A five point plan for budget... — Michael Janz
City of Edmonton budget and finances
Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton. We deliver reliable intelligence about the Edmonton region. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!
Reach the Edmonton region with Taproot. Explore advertising and sponsorship opportunities to connect your organization, opportunity, or message with people who choose Taproot to stay informed and connected.

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Adam Dyck, the comedian behind the viral LRT Takes videos, joins us to discuss how he brings fun and thoughtful critique to Edmonton. Plus, we have an update on the Army and Navy building: it's actually happening!

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:14) - Army and Navy building update

(05:15) - Introducing LRT Takes with Adam Dyck

(09:14) - Transit pride and local voices

(14:08) - Finding guests and bridging political differences

(19:28) - Groat Road and speed limits

(21:17) - The donair and pizza debate

(23:46) - Edmonton's creative community

(25:50) - Adam's hot take on YEGwave

(27:14) - Where to find Adam and what's next

(29:15) - Reflecting on LRT Takes

(31:10) - Close

Here are the relevant links for this episode:Army and Navy building
Whyte Avenue's old Army and Navy building starts welcoming new tenants
Adam Dyck and LRT Takes
CTV News on LRT Takes
Adam Dyck on Instagram
Adam Dyck on Facebook
Underdog Comedy Show
Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton. We deliver reliable intelligence about the Edmonton region. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!
Reach the Edmonton region with Taproot. Explore advertising and sponsorship opportunities to connect your organization, opportunity, or message with people who choose Taproot to stay informed and connected.

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We look at reaction to the Alberta government's directive to roll Edmonton's zoning bylaw back to its pre-2024 rules. Plus, advance voting is open for the referendum, and we examine the impact of agencies, boards and commissions in 2025.

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:15) - Ad: Inclusive Transportation with Veronica O. Davis

(01:53) - Zoning bylaw directive

(04:33) - Legal challenges and council's response

(10:48) - Councillors react

(14:38) - Business uncertainty

(16:27) - Referendum advance voting

(19:26) - Paula Simons on why voting matters

(25:07) - Agencies, boards and commissions

(26:53) - Council-directed funding and Station Lands

(30:18) - ABCs by the numbers

(34:39) - Close

Here are the relevant links for this episode:
Zoning and municipal autonomy
On the agenda: Municipal autonomy, funding outcomes, rezonings
Keith Gerein: Premier Smith's edict is in — Edmonton is not allowed to be Edmonton
Edmonton could be taking province to court over infill decree
City of Edmonton may challenge provincial infill order in court
Reaction to the infill directive
Coun. Erin Rutherford's reaction on Bluesky
Coun. Ashley Salvador's reaction on Bluesky
Coun. Karen Principe's statement on Facebook
Coun. Thu Parmar's statement on Facebook
Coun. Thu Parmar's provincial infill update
Coun. Mike Elliott's statement on Facebook
Edmonton Neighbourhoods United's post on Facebook
Alberta referendum
Elections Alberta: 2026 referendum voter information
Your turn: Referendum mail-in ballots due, advance polls open soon
Elections Alberta: Notice of voting location closing time changes
Vote on Alberta's future brings together former premiers who once sparred in legislature
Carney to attend 'Forever Canadian' rallies in Alberta days before referendum
ABCs
Oct. 14 council agenda: Municipal Funding Arrangements Outcome Reporting — 2025
Station Lands
This episode is brought to you by the Office of Councillor Michael Janz. Join Veronica O. Davis, author of Inclusive Transportation, on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. to explore how transportation can connect communities and what better transit could look like in Edmonton's next four-year budget. Proceeds will go to Edmonton Transit Riders. Get your ticket today.
Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton. We deliver reliable intelligence about the Edmonton region. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!
Reach the Edmonton region with Taproot. Explore advertising and sponsorship opportunities to connect your organization, opportunity, or message with people who choose Taproot to stay informed and connected.

★ Support this podcast ★

The provincial government is forcing Edmonton to amend its zoning bylaw and restore minimum on-site parking requirements to appease infill critics. Plus, a study found that apartment and condo dwellers are only sorting a third of their waste correctly.

(00:00) - Introduction

(01:00) - Ad: Citadel Theatre

(02:22) - Zoning and parking rollback

(10:41) - Infill and municipal democracy

(20:17) - Edmonton's response and next steps

(26:40) - Waste sorting in apartments and condos

(32:10) - Single-use items and the bag fee

(35:50) - 2027-2030 budget process

(38:28) - Bike plan funding

(41:39) - Sidewalk cycling and the public spaces bylaw

(45:11) - Edmonton's car-free mayor

(47:09) - Close

Here are the relevant links for this episode:
Zoning and parking
Growing neighbourhoods responsibly — provincial announcement
Growing responsibly — Oct. 8, 2026 news conference
2026 Q3 Edmonton building permit report — Jacob Dawang
Open Option Parking — City of Edmonton
Municipal autonomy and accountability
Councillor Accountability and Recall Advisor job posting
Modernizing municipal legislation across the province
Waste sorting
City council agenda and attachments for the waste characterization study
Apartment and condo waste collection — City of Edmonton
On the agenda: Waste, budget process, city manager's power
Single-use items and the bag fee
Bag fee for Edmonton businesses kept alive by narrow council vote
Budget planning
Edmonton's budget and finances, including the 2027-2030 budget
Cycling and public spaces
Edmonton Bike Plan
Public Spaces Bylaw — City of Edmonton
This episode is brought to you by Citadel Theatre. Our Little Secret is a new musical based on Noam Tomaschoff's true story: a DNA test revealed that he had dozens of siblings. After hits at the Toronto and Edinburgh fringes, the show comes to the Maclab stage from Oct. 15 to 25. Get your tickets today.
Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton. We deliver reliable intelligence about the Edmonton region. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!
Want to reach the smartest, most-engaged people in the Edmonton region? Learn more about advertising with Taproot Edmonton!

★ Support this podcast ★