Edmonton will suffer if this levy goes dry, say local business groups
Edmonton city council will hear from the public on Thursday and Friday before making a decision on whether it will extend the community revitalization levy (CRL) for another 10 years, bringing significant consequences for future investments in Downtown.
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'Extending the CRL is about making a generational investment in our city, and it directly responds to what we're hearing from local businesses. A vibrant Downtown isn't a nice to have. It's a must have,' said Edmonton Chamber of Commerce (ECC) president and CEO Doug Griffiths.
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If the importance of the issue wasn't clear, the city's decision to allow two days of public hearings ahead of its vote on extending CRL is a strong signal of what's at stake. Proponents say it's the future of Downtown's revitalization, carrying implications for the future of the city as a whole. Opponents say the accompanying Oilers Event Park that's currently slated to come with the deal pumps public money into private businesses.
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The community revitalization levy allows municipalities to borrow money against future property tax revenues to help foster the development of critical infrastructure in a specific region.
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According to the city's downtown action plan, Edmonton has used CRL funds to support the construction of Rogers Place, Warehouse Park, streetscape improvements and other city upgrades. In all, it said that funds invested from the CRL spurred billions in private investment, largely concentrated in the Ice District.
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The CRL's extension is important to the city because it is vital to moving forward with its downtown investment plan that largely hinges on the extension being approved. The city isn't the only ones who think the CRL is important to the future of the city, with the chamber, Edmonton Downtown Business Association, and Downtown Revitalization Coalition all announcing on Monday that the extension is paramount to the future of the city.
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'Since 2015, the CRL has helped drive over $5 billion in Downtown investment,' said Heather Thomson, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce's vice-president of economy and engagement.
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'Edmonton is in competition right now with cities across Canada and North America for investment and businesses and people and talent, and right now we're losing, we're not winning. Extending the CRL is smart, responsible and urgent. I would like to urge city council to approve this extension to help Edmonton be at its best,' she said.
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Supporters urge action Despite the controversy, supporters of the bylaw continued to make their case during Friday's public hearing, with speakers urging council not to let the momentum for Downtown revitalization slip away. Joumana Ghandour, general manager of the Westin Edmonton, called the bylaw 'a smarter, more affordable way to revitalize our core,' emphasizing the economic ripple effect of cultural and public-space investments Downtown. 'Projects like the Winspear expansion and Oilers Fan Park aren't just cultural venues. They're drivers of Downtown's comeback directly impacting my day-to-day business,' she told council. 'Any further delay risks losing hard-won momentum, and with it the surge in potential occupancy for my business, jobs, investment and community vibrancy that this development will deliver.' Article content Similar support came from Beryl Bacchus, executive director of iHuman Youth Society, who highlighted the impact spaces like the Winspear Centre have on at-risk youth. 'It is more than a concert hall. It's a gateway to connection, culture and understanding,' she said. 'Being a friendly neighbour means more than just sharing space. It means opening doors for young people from marginalized, computed communities.' Viet Nguyen, founder of Boodang Music Canada, said Downtown Edmonton's lack of flexible outdoor event spaces is frustrating 'not just for us, but for the hotels, restaurants and shops that depend on those thousands of visitors.' 'On a festival weekend, we bring up to 7,000 to 10,000 people a day. That kind of foot traffic is rare in most Canadian cities outside of Toronto or Vancouver, and it makes a tangible difference,' he told council. 'So saying no to investment isn't a strategy.' Article content Cheryll Watson, chairwoman of the Downtown Revitalization Coalition, echoed that sentiment, urging council to rise above ideology. 'Unfortunately, the majority of the speakers opposed to this decision have not had the benefit of being educated about how this proven investment mechanism works,' she said. 'What we need from council right now is not ideology, but sound investment judgment.' What the CRL has funded so far Created in 2015, the CRL allows the city to borrow against projected increases in property taxes in a defined area to help fund strategic redevelopment. The current CRL is set to expire in 2034. The proposed 10-year extension would push that to 2044, allowing the city to finance new 'catalyst' projects and finish existing ones. City administration said the CRL has already helped drive more than $4.7 billion in private investment Downtown, including three new office towers and thousands of residential units. 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Awaiting further clarification The province has already amended regulations to extend the CRL through 2044 and updated its guidelines to allow for the inclusion of the new projects. However, no formal statement has been made on whether all the projects listed in Schedule A must remain intact. Article content Latest National Stories
