Platform Position: Reduction of EPCOR Distribution Costs

The Problem

Since the privatization of Alberta’s electricity market in 1996, EPCOR has operated as a private monopoly over electricity distribution in Edmonton. This lack of competition has led to unchecked growth in distribution rates—now making up nearly 50% of the average utility bill.

Edmontonians are not just paying for power—they’re paying exorbitantly for its delivery.

Why This Matters

• Unjustified Costs: Distribution is infrastructure, not energy. It shouldn’t cost as much as (or more than) the electricity itself.

• Limited Oversight: EPCOR’s current rate-setting and operations function without meaningful public accountability.

• Affordability Crisis: Families and small businesses are bearing the burden of corporate rate structures that do not reflect the realities of daily life in Edmonton.

My Commitment as Mayor

I will take immediate steps to rebalance power and pricing in Edmonton’s utility system:

✅ Demand a Full Audit of EPCOR’s distribution cost structure.
✅ Investigate Municipal Tools to challenge and reduce unjustified rate increases.
✅ Push for Transparency in how distribution fees are calculated and approved.
✅ Advocate for Citizen Oversight on major utility decisions.
✅ Engage Edmonton’s People in open conversations around utility fairness and options for reform.

The Business Intuitive Perspective

As a Business Intuitive leader, I see through systems designed to benefit few at the expense of many. This is a moment to shift from reactive acceptance to proactive leadership—realigning EPCOR’s role with the public good.

We deserve a utility system that works for Edmonton—not just in it.

Vanessa Denman
Candidate for Mayor of Edmonton
Intuitive Leadership. Grounded Action. People First.

Platform Position - Increase Minimum Wage & Deflation in Goods & Services

The last time Alberta increased its minimum wage was in October 2018—just before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted lives, livelihoods, and economies. Since then, we’ve faced the highest cost-of-living spike in over 40 years. In 2022 alone, inflation reached 6.8%, deeply impacting affordability in food, gas, rent, insurance, and utilities.

The current minimum wage no longer reflects reality. It doesn’t stand up to the daily financial demands faced by Edmontonians—especially when inflationary costs continue to outpace stagnant wages.

A "Living Wage" study is released annually, which suggests that an individual in Edmonton needs to earn around $22.00/hour to live. But this figure is misleading and incomplete. It omits core financial burdens such as:

• Car financing
• Insurance (home, auto, health)
• Credit card and personal debt
• Student loan repayments
• Rising food and housing costs
• Annual average inflation of 3.9%, not the 2% cited

A Personal Reflection

As a longtime Edmonton resident, I’ve watched the cost of living unfold over decades. One of the clearest comparisons I can draw comes from personal experience: the price of cigarettes.

• In 1996, when I was 16, minimum wage was $5.00/hour, and a pack of cigarettes cost $5.25.
• By 2014, minimum wage had climbed to $9.95/hour, and cigarettes were $10.00/pack.
• In 2018, the minimum wage hit $15.00/hour—and cigarettes rose to $15.40/pack (for a smaller pack).

This reveals a direct, undeniable correlation: the price of consumer goods is rising in lockstep with wages, if not faster.

The Vision Forward

If I could wave a wand today, I would:
✅ Raise minimum wage to $25.00/hour, aligning with actual cost of living and modern financial demands.
✅ Work toward deflation in goods and services—because wage increases are futile if every dollar is instantly swallowed by inflated pricing.

This isn’t just about survival—it’s about dignity, fairness, and sustainability. A prosperous Edmonton means people can thrive—not just scrape by.

Platform Position

Remove All Gambling, Casino, and Betting Apps and Commercials from Local Media

Thousands of children under the age of 18 enjoy watching Oilers games—whether at Rogers Place or on television from home. And yet, we are constantly bombarded with gambling advertisements:

• On the big screen at games
• During TV commercials
• Embedded in family shows and local programming

This is not entertainment—it’s conditioning, and our children are the audience.

Where Is the AGLC?

The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) claims to regulate gambling and ensure social responsibility. According to their mandate, they are responsible for:

• Maintaining accountability in Alberta's gaming activities
• Ensuring integrity and social responsibility in all operations
• Managing liquor and cannabis supply chains
• Generating revenue for the Alberta government

Yet, somehow, gambling ads flood the airwaves, unregulated in terms of age-appropriateness, content saturation, or timing.

They enforce ID checks at liquor stores for anyone under 40—yet gambling apps, promoted as "gaming," are pushed onto our screens, into our homes, and into the minds of the next generation of Edmontonians. Where is the consistency? Where is the responsibility?

Ask Yourself

When was the last time you saw a commercial for:

• Cigarettes? (Banned)
• Beer? (Rare and strictly monitored)
• Cannabis? (Almost non-existent)

Now ask:
What’s being advertised all the time?
➡️ Gambling.
➡️ Casino apps.
➡️ Sports betting.

This isn’t harmless fun—it’s targeted monetization of addiction. It's messaging that normalizes risk-based, dopamine-driven behavior as part of daily life.

My Position Is Clear

✅ Remove all gambling, casino, and betting apps and commercials from local Edmonton media.
✅ Demand that AGLC actually enforce its mandate, particularly the pillars of integrity and social responsibility.
✅ Protect our children and youth from being groomed into lifelong gambling dependencies.

If we can restrict cannabis, cigarettes, and alcohol advertising—we can restrict gambling too.

The City of Edmonton should not be passively complicit in this messaging. We can, and must, stand for better.

Platform Position: 50% Reduction in Insurance Premium Rates for Cars, Homes, Condominiums & Health

The Problem

Insurance has become a mandatory gateway to essential aspects of life—transportation, housing, and health. Yet, instead of providing balanced support, the industry functions like financial entrapment.

• You must have insurance to drive or finance a vehicle.
• You must have insurance to mortgage a home.
• Condo corporations face insurance-related fee hikes of over 60% since 2011.
• Even health and life insurance premiums continue to climb—regardless of usage.

Meanwhile, Canada's top insurance companies report record-breaking profits:

• Aviva: Over $3 Billion per year
• Intact: Over $2 Billion per year
• Manulife: Over $6 Billion per year
  All reported over 50% profit increases in 2019 alone.

And what happens if you actually use your insurance?
Your premium goes up. Every claim, every ticket—even minor events—are used against you. It’s a win-win for insurance companies and a lose-lose for everyday Canadians.

Why This Matters

• Premiums are calculated based only on past events and projected inflation—not on real-time behaviour or individual merit.
• Young people, especially male teenagers, are quoted upwards of $5,000+/year for vehicle insurance—just to get started in life.
• This structure locks Edmontonians into high fixed costs just to access basic needs like shelter, mobility, and health.

My Commitment as Mayor

While insurance is regulated provincially and federally, municipalities have power through advocacy, coalition-building, and consumer protections. I will:

✅ Advocate for a 50% reduction in insurance premiums across all essential categories.
✅ Unite Alberta municipalities to demand reform in premium structure and pricing logic.
✅ Call for real-time, behaviour-based pricing models, not projections rooted only in risk and inflation.
✅ Push for a cap on youth insurance rates to enable financial freedom for future generations.
✅ Champion transparency and fairness in how rates are set—and how claims impact them.

The Business Intuitive Perspective

The numbers don’t lie—but they are manipulated. Insurance has drifted from its original purpose: risk-sharing and peace of mind. Now it is a profit-first machine.

It's time to interrupt this pattern with courageous leadership.
As Mayor, I will fight for a system that protects rather than penalizes the people of Edmonton.

Vanessa Denman
Candidate for Mayor of Edmonton
Intuitive Leadership. Grounded Action. People First.

As a Business Intuitive and candidate for Mayor of Edmonton, I recognize that infill development in mature neighborhoods is not just a zoning or density issue—it’s about integrity, livability, and legacy.

Guiding Principle: Respect the Wisdom of Place

Mature neighborhoods carry deep historical, social, and economic value. Infill must enhance, not erode, the character and function of these communities. Growth should never come at the cost of community well-being or intuitive balance.

My Position

✅ Smart Infill, Not Just More Infill
I support strategic, community-aligned infill that reflects the actual needs and energy of the neighborhood—not imposed density quotas. Infill must add value—economically, aesthetically, and socially—while preserving the integrity of established communities.

✅ Respectful Integration
New builds should be architecturally and environmentally respectful, blending with the existing streetscape. I will champion design guidelines that honor community input and prioritize quality over volume.

✅ Community-First Consultation
Residents must be seen as partners, not obstacles. I will ensure mature neighborhood voices guide infill decisions through transparent and intuitive engagement—not token feedback loops.

✅ Infrastructure Comes First
Infill without supporting infrastructure leads to breakdown. I will advocate for proactive upgrades to drainage, parking, green space, and transportation before infill is approved.

✅ Economic Wisdom
Infill can stimulate local economies and housing diversity when done right. I will ensure policies attract ethical, community-minded builders, not speculative developers with short-term visions.

Reframing the Infill Question

I actually don't know if infill building in neighborhoods is good or bad. In some neighborhoods, they look good; in others, it completely destroys the aesthetics and harmony of the area. Maybe we need to look at this through a different lens. For example, if we have to upgrade our communities every 50 years, should we be building with different materials altogether? Wood is the standard, but is it the wisest long-term choice?

When revitalizing older neighborhoods, perhaps the community—as a collective—should make the decision. That said, in some cases, the municipality may need to override local opposition if there is a clear community benefit. This should not, however, be driven by developer profit motives. Instead, we should ask: what are the right questions to ensure a fair playing field for current homeowners and aggressive developers? Whose voice carries weight? How do we center long-term value instead of short-term gain?

These are the types of deeper, intuitive questions I will bring to the table as your mayor.

Bottom Line

As Mayor, I will not allow infill to become a tool of disconnection or displacement. Instead, I will lead with intuitive strategy and business sense to ensure infill becomes an opportunity for renewal, not a disruption to what makes Edmonton’s mature neighborhoods thrive.