Iveson publicly publishes five key issue transition memoranda for the future council to help inform Edmontons before heading to the polls.

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Ever wanted an inside look at the role of the mayor of Edmonton?

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Ahead of the October elections, outgoing Mayor Don Iveson issued transition memoranda on five key priorities the next leader will need to focus on in an effort to better inform Edmontons before going to the polls.

Posting the memos on his website on Friday morning, Iveson said the idea of ​​this “open transition project” is to provide information to candidates and the public on the key issues facing the city going forward and what they will be. the responsibilities of the council. Iveson focused on supportive housing, the city plan, fiscal policy, the energy transition strategy, and regional economic development.

The memoranda describe the progress made, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the council’s consideration on each topic.

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“After I announced my intention not to run for reelection, I received many inquiries asking if I could provide Edmontons with information on key policy issues they should consider when considering their options for a new mayor and council,” Iveson . he said during a media availability on Friday.

“These transition memoranda are intended to provide the public and future civic leaders with background on key files that will shape the direction of our city, such as climate change and our financial situation, so they can make informed decisions going forward.”

Typically, these transition memoranda are released after elections only to incoming elected officials, but Iveson said he wanted to be open and transparent about these key issues to ensure citizens are as informed as possible before casting their votes.

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“One of the strengths of local democracy is how open and transparent it is and how much information is shared with citizens to inform the debate,” Iveson said. “This open transition project is consistent with those democratic values ​​and I hope these memoranda will support informed debate before and after Election Day.”

Without giving any names, Iveson said he believes the best candidates to address these priorities are those who look at the complexity of the issues and take all factors into consideration before making a decision.

“I think the curiosity and the humility to look at them and the willingness to debate and test them and come up with alternative suggestions,” Iveson said of the qualities of the most suitable candidates to tackle these problems. “The ability to deal with complexity, I think that’s the most important thing.”

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One area where Iveson is skeptical about the success of the next council is a positive relationship with the provincial government. Supportive housing is a key priority as the city’s homeless population has increased by more than 1,000 since the start of the pandemic, but Iveson said the city is at a standstill with the province in obtaining funding to provide the integrated social supports.

“I’m not sure it’s possible to have a functional relationship with a dysfunctional government, and at this point the situation Alberta finds itself in is endemic to that,” he said. “There will be an opportunity for the next mayor to try to reboot with the Alberta Government, but from my perspective, despite many attempts, it has been very, very challenging to work with. So I don’t have a recipe for that in this election. “

In his supportive housing memorandum, Iveson presented an idea to the next council to bet the province that investing in supportive housing will save them money on the health and justice systems. If it does not, the city would support any additional costs in an effort to reduce the risk of the province’s investment.

The five notes can be found in the mayor’s website. Edmontons will go to the polls on October 18.

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