The Better Edmonton Party is committed to addressing the issues that matter most to Edmontonians — focused on practical solutions that will make a real difference in your daily life.
Our Priorities for Edmonton
Safe Streets
Let's create safer streets — through smarter policing, cleaner spaces, and real support for those in crisis.
Public safety has emerged as one of the top concerns for Edmonton voters. Many parents won't let their children take the LRT to hockey practice. Seniors feel anxious walking to the store. Business owners arrive at work to clean up needles and broken glass before they can open their doors.
We cannot build a thriving, vibrant city if people don't feel safe walking through any part of it. While crime is down in some categories, disorder is up. The feeling of fear is up. And that's what defines whether or not a city is safe.
Our Action Plan:
Create a Safe Streets Strategy that targets hotspots with inter-agency coordination
Work with frontline police officers to ensure a visible presence in key areas
Enhance transit safety through fare gates and increased security
Strengthen partnerships with the province to get people with mental health and addiction issues the care they need
Support bylaw enforcement and community peace officers so our neighborhoods aren't neglected
Advocate for clear, enforceable standards for vacant properties and empty lots
Tough On Taxes
Let's make every tax dollar count — spending only where it grows our economy and improves life in Edmonton.
Over the past three years, Edmontonians have experienced a cumulative property tax increase of 21.3%. Despite these substantial tax increases, our city continues to struggle with a $1.7 billion infrastructure maintenance backlog while simultaneously pursuing new projects with uncertain returns.
When you sit at your kitchen table to balance your budget, you start with your income and then you make choices. That's what we will do at City Hall. We will build only what we can afford — and maintain what we already have before dreaming up what comes next.
Our Action Plan:
Create a Blue-Ribbon Committee to conduct a comprehensive, line-by-line review of the municipal budget
Implement zero-based budgeting for the 2027-2030 budget cycle
Create a Council-led Budget and Finance Committee
Prioritize infrastructure maintenance over new projects
Establish clear metrics for measuring program effectiveness
Address the fundamental flaws in Edmonton's taxation and assessment system
Built it Better
Let's modernize our roads, transit, and public spaces — so every neighbourhood runs smoothly and feels like home.
Edmonton was the fastest growing city in Canada last year. We added more than 100,000 people to our population. That should be a good thing — it means opportunity, vitality, energy. But we're not planning for it. And we're not building for it.
Our infrastructure — sewage, water, roads, potholes. Our transit — more frequency, better service, running on time. Our protective services—by-law, police, fire. These aren't glamorous. They don't make flashy headlines. But they're the foundation of a functioning city. And they're what you, the taxpayers of Edmonton, deserve.
Our Action Plan:
Create an Infrastructure Committee with private sector expertise
Implement a coordinated approach to major project management
Reform Complete Streets Design Standards for practicality and cost-effectiveness
Accelerate permit approvals through performance benchmarks and public tracking
Partner with builders and non-profits to unlock more affordable housing units
Prioritize infill and density in areas that already have the infrastructure to support it
100 Day Action Plan
Edmonton was the fastest growing city in Canada last year. We added more than 100,000 people to our population. That should be a good thing — it means opportunity, vitality, energy. But we're not planning for it. And we're not building for it.
Our infrastructure — sewage, water, roads, potholes. Our transit — more frequency, better service, running on time. Our protective services—by-law, police, fire. These aren't glamorous. They don't make flashy headlines. But they're the foundation of a functioning city. And they're what you, the taxpayers of Edmonton, deserve.
Immediate Service Prioritization
We'll focus on the basics that matter most: safety, cleanliness, and transit reliability. These aren't glamorous, but they're what make a city function for its residents.
Project Reassessment
A full halt on any capital project that is over budget or behind schedule until it is reassessed. No more runaway spending on projects that fail to deliver value.
Daily Leadership Meetings
Tim Cartmell will hold daily working meetings with senior leadership to triage and advance key files. This hands-on approach ensures accountability and keeps progress moving.
Public Accountability Dashboard
We'll launch a public dashboard so Edmontonians can track our progress in real-time. Transparency builds trust, and you deserve to see exactly what your government is doing.
Safe Streets Strategy Launch
We'll begin implementing our Safe Streets Strategy that balances enforcement with compassion to make Edmonton feel safe again for everyone.
Blue-Ribbon Budget Committee
We'll establish a Blue-Ribbon Committee with experts from various sectors—finance, governance, business, non-profits, and community advocacy—to conduct a comprehensive, line-by-line review of the municipal budget.
Infrastructure Committee
We'll create an Infrastructure Committee with private sector expertise to bring a comprehensive, city-wide perspective to infrastructure planning and ensure projects are completed on time and on budget.