Tim Cartmell to launch budget panel, safe streets strategy if elected Edmonton mayor

Tim Cartmell is promising to prioritize basic services, have a panel of interdisciplinary experts scrutinize the city's budget and create a safe streets strategy if elected mayor of Edmonton in October. 

Cartmell presented his vision for the future of the city at a sold-out paid lunch event at the Edmonton Convention Centre Thursday. Organizers said more than 600 people were in attendance.

The Ward pihêsiwin city councillor announced he would be running for mayor in November and that he would be forming his own political party.

With the federal election over, some council candidates have started campaigning in earnest. Edmonton's Oct. 20 mayoral race is wide open since Amarjeet Sohi, who tried but failed to get elected as a Liberal MP, has announced he will not run for mayor in the fall.

During his speech Thursday, Cartmell emphasized his background as a professional engineer, saying he didn't set out to become a politician and is not a spotlight seeker but "the guy you hired to solve a problem and make every dollar count."

Cartmell has been a city councillor since 2017 but distanced himself from his council colleagues during the campaign event, saying he understands the machinery of municipal government but has a different vision. 

When answering questions after the speech, he said the city's revamped zoning bylaw should be modified — not killed — and that he was proud of his work to expand Terwillegar Drive but regretted decisions to spend large sums of money on recreation centres.

"Frankly, I think that some of us felt an urgency to get moving on the recreation master plan and build a couple more facilities, and didn't look long enough at the effects of COVID on supply chain, inflation and that kind of thing," he told reporters.

Cartmell said if elected, his blue-ribbon budget panel would include business, labour, arts and non-profit experts. The panel would conduct a line-by-line review of the city budget to identify inefficiencies, cost-saving opportunities and reinvestment areas. 

Cartmell also promised to release a 100-day action plan the day after the election, prioritizing public safety, snow clearing and a road construction review.

As part of his safe streets strategy, Cartmell said he would advocate for enforceable standards for vacant properties and empty lots, care for main streets like Gateway Boulevard and Kingsway Avenue, strengthen partnerships with the province, and push for coordinated city-led relationships with other groups to address the opioid crisis.

He is also planning to introduce a "standing partnerships table" through which he would invite residents, builders, entrepreneurs and Indigenous leaders to share their ideas and work on solutions.

"Let's restore pride in our city — let's get shit done," he said in his speech. 

Cartmell used that four-letter-word five times on stage during the event, including as an answer to how he would describe the city's current relationships with the provincial government.

Omar Mohammad, a pediatric dental surgeon, is also running to lead the city.

Similar to Cartmell, he has said on his website that the city is suffering from "the effects of irresponsible overspending" and that he stands for a "common-sense approach."

Ward Nakota Isga Coun. Andrew Knack has said he is considering a mayoral run but has not filed a notice of intent with Edmonton Elections. 

Tony Caterina, who was a city councillor from 2010–2021, has declared he is running.

Caterina, who reviewed a press release summarizing Cartmell's campaign announcements Thursday, described them as "typical cut-and-paste, generic statements." 

Caterina said as mayor he would rein in spending, focusing only on necessary projects, stick to issues in municipal jurisdiction, rebuild relationships with the province and police commission, and add numbers to wards' names.

Unlike Cartmell, he said he will not be running as part of a political party and opposes their introduction in Edmonton and Calgary.

"My biggest concern is that municipal governments are supposedly independent," he said.

One political party, Principled Accountable Coalition for Edmonton (PACE), and one slate, Edmonton First, have been registered so far.

Slates are temporary groups of candidates during one election cycle while political parties may continue running over multiple election cycles.

Cartmell said his party will be called Better Edmonton and it will consist of "an aligned group of smart leaders" pushing for change.

He said candidates in the party will be announced next month.