- Home
- Our Priorities
Campaign Platform – Bassam Fares for City Council
City Budget – Spend Smarter, Save More
Review the city’s current capital projects and prioritize only the most urgent needs, postponing less important ones.
Increase “pay-as-you-go” funding from the operating budget by cutting waste, so Edmonton reduces its reliance on debt.
Ensure growth pays for growth: raise off-site levies so developers, not existing taxpayers, cover the true cost of new neighbourhood infrastructure.
Create a “shovel-ready” project shelf – completed designs that can immediately move forward when federal or provincial grant funding becomes available.
Establish a Capital Project Oversight Group to hold private contractors accountable, with clear deadlines, performance tracking, and bonuses/penalties for on-time or delayed work.
Construction – Faster and Fairer
Push for 24/7 construction (with noisy activities limited to daytime) to shorten project timelines.
Provide relief for small businesses impacted by construction (e.g. property tax breaks or interest-free loans).
Enforce tougher penalties on contractors for delays, and incentives for finishing early.
Require contractors to put money into warranty or trust funds to cover unforeseen shortfalls.
Conduct neighbourhood-level traffic studies before major projects to prevent bottlenecks (e.g. West Meadowlark Park surrounded by multiple projects).
Stagger construction schedules and prioritize projects based on urgency and community need.
Crime & Safety – Safer Communities, Smarter Responses
Install fare gates at transit stations, starting with problem areas like WEM, as a pilot project to reduce disorder.
Address social disorder and homelessness with a housing-first approach: when people are taken off the street, ensure we have shelters, treatment centres, or supportive housing ready.
Expand shelter space in existing areas or industrial zones, where they won’t compromise neighbourhood safety.
Allow police to focus on real crime, while social workers and community supports handle vulnerable individuals.
Increase public awareness campaigns so people know what to do if they see someone in distress.
Infill & Affordable Housing – Smarter Growth, Stronger Communities
Limit infill to 4-plexes or smaller to preserve neighbourhood character.
Adopt a neighbourhood-specific model: base citywide rules, but allow neighbourhoods to customize details with city administration.
Require community engagement before major projects, especially those opposed by residents (e.g. Wedgewood Heights surplus school site housing).
Ensure public spaces aren’t sacrificed for development without full consultation.
Support affordable housing, but balance it with neighbourhood character and livability.
Bike Lanes – Balance for Everyone
No loss of parking or driving lanes to make way for bike lanes.
Require comprehensive resident consultation before bike lane projects move ahead.
Maintain independence from provincial pressure – decisions should be local and resident-driven, not imposed.
Learn from past mistakes: dissatisfaction with Gariepy Neighbourhood Renewal and 95 Avenue Rehabilitation should be lessons for future planning.
Transit – Better Connections for West Edmonton
Build the planned Stillwater transit hub with direct links to Lewis Farms, WEM, and Windermere.
Increase bus service frequency in neighbourhoods West of Anthony Henday Drive, particularly routes 916, 917, 926, 930X, and expand service to Edgemont, the Uplands, and Stillwater.
Ensure new neighbourhoods get regular, reliable transit service from the start.
Schools – Building for Families
Advocate for the province to increase school funding so new schools can keep pace with growing communities.
Ensure school sites are ready to build so construction can start as soon as funding arrives.
Pressure the province to prioritize fast-tracking new schools in high-demand neighbourhoods.