Nenshi hoping 2016 will bring Big City Charter in Alberta
Posted Jan 2, 2016 8:10 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
2016 could be the year the cities of Calgary and Edmonton are given new powers to govern.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi expects negotiations on a big cities charter will move ahead with the NDP government.
He tells 660 NEWS, it’s time a city with more people than five of Canada’s provinces had the flexibility to address issues civic leaders in small communities don’t have to deal with.
“The province and the cities – Calgary and Edmonton – have figured out this can’t work on issues like decision making around environmental remediation, on issues like how we manage affordable housing. It’s just not working,” stressed Nenshi.
“So we’re sitting down, the Mayor of Edmonton, the Premier and I, really thinking about how we can craft this new relationship.”
He admits it will likely involve a new fiscal framework that could give Calgary and Edmonton new tax powers. He says the aim is to have predictable and sustainable long-term revenue.
