Sustainability & Inclusivity in Healthcare

Edmonton’s healthcare system must be as dynamic and diverse as the city itself. The current system, dictated by outdated policies, fails to account for the wealth of talent and experience offered by individuals from around the globe. We are a city that welcomes people from nearly every country, yet the Canadian education system restricts healthcare worker entry to only a handful of nations. This exclusionary approach limits our healthcare workforce and directly impacts the accessibility of care.

Sustainability in healthcare means ensuring we have the capacity to meet the needs of a growing, diverse population—now and in the future. To do this, we must reform the system to:

• Streamline recognition of international credentials, enabling skilled healthcare workers from around the world to contribute their expertise here in Edmonton.

• Promote diversity in the workforce, reflecting the multicultural fabric of our city and ensuring that all communities feel heard, understood, and represented in their healthcare needs.

• Build a resilient healthcare system that focuses on long-term sustainability by diversifying talent, embracing innovation, and adapting to the future demands of healthcare.

• Create accessible employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that those who are often overlooked have equal opportunities to contribute and thrive within the healthcare system.

• Integrate alternative and holistic medicine alongside conventional approaches, recognizing that "Western" medicine is not the only solution to healthcare. Light therapies, vibration energy healing, and other holistic practices can complement traditional treatments and offer Edmontonians more options for healing, balance, and wellness.

Inclusivity is a core pillar of a truly sustainable healthcare system. We must embrace the fact that the future of Edmonton’s health and well-being lies in the contributions of every individual—no matter where they come from, their physical abilities, or the type of healing they believe in. By reforming the system to allow for the full integration of globally educated professionals, providing accessible employment for individuals with disabilities, and expanding our approach to include alternative medicine, we don’t just improve healthcare access—we create a system that works for everyone.

Sustainability & Inclusivity in Infrastructure

Edmonton's infrastructure should reflect the needs and values of its people, not the unchecked ambitions of developers whose sole focus is profit. Far too often, we see decisions made by developers and builders that prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability, creating noise, disruption, and urban sprawl that ignore the basic needs of our communities.

Sustainability in infrastructure means designing cities that are not only beautiful and functional, but also environmentally responsible, energy-efficient, and built to last. It’s about creating neighborhoods where:

• Green spaces are prioritized, offering residents peace, nature, and an escape from the noise and chaos of development.

• Energy-efficient, sustainable buildings are integrated into communities that consider the environment, with solutions like green roofs, solar panels, and innovative waste management systems.

• Noise reduction is factored into urban planning, ensuring that the health and well-being of residents aren’t disrupted by ongoing construction or long-term environmental stress.

Inclusivity in infrastructure means giving communities a seat at the table. Far too often, development decisions are made in boardrooms without consideration of the people who actually live in these areas. Residents are being left out of the conversation, their concerns about infill projects, the aesthetics of their neighborhoods, and the disruptions caused by construction ignored.

• We need community-led planning processes where Edmontonians can voice their concerns, collaborate on solutions, and ensure that new developments are in line with what they want for their own neighborhoods.

• Aesthetic preservation is key to maintaining the character of our neighborhoods, ensuring that new developments enhance—not alter—the charm and cohesion of our communities.

• We must shift the narrative so that urban development doesn’t just consider profit margins but also the collective well-being of Edmontonians. By holding developers accountable and prioritizing people over profits, we can create a city that thrives sustainably for generations.

In order to move Edmonton toward its true potential, we must build infrastructure that serves both the environment and the people who live here. It’s time to put the power back in the hands of the residents, to involve them in shaping their cities, and to ensure that new infrastructure works for everyone—now and in the future.

Sustainability & Inclusivity in Housing and Homelessness

A truly sustainable city is one where every person has a safe and stable place to call home. Housing is not just about buildings — it’s about dignity, security, and opportunity. Edmonton cannot align with its true potential if thousands of residents are left behind without access to housing or the supports they need.

Sustainability in housing means building systems that last:

• Affordable, energy-efficient housing that lowers long-term costs for residents while reducing environmental impact.

• Mixed-use, mixed-income communities where housing is integrated with transit, green spaces, and services so people don’t just live — they thrive.

• Supportive housing models that recognize people experiencing homelessness often face complex challenges such as mental health, addiction, or disability, and need wraparound services for long-term stability.

Inclusivity means making sure housing works for everyone:

• People experiencing homelessness must be included in solutions, not treated as problems to be moved out of sight. Their voices and lived experiences are critical to shaping effective, compassionate policy.

• Immigrants and newcomers need affordable housing pathways that reflect Edmonton’s diversity.

• Individuals with disabilities must have accessible housing options designed with their needs in mind.

• Community-driven development — residents should help shape how housing looks and functions in their neighborhoods, ensuring that infill and new developments enhance, not erase, community identity.

When homelessness is ignored, the cost to society grows — in healthcare, policing, and human suffering. But when housing is treated as a human right and designed sustainably, the entire city benefits: safer communities, stronger local economies, and healthier, more resilient people.

The bottom line: Sustainability and inclusivity in housing means moving beyond temporary fixes and profit-driven development. It means committing to long-term, community-centered solutions that ensure every Edmontonian has a place to rest, recover, and belong.

Sustainability & Inclusivity in Budget Accountability and Affordability

A city aligned with its true potential must use its resources wisely. Edmontonians deserve to know that every tax dollar is spent with purpose, creating lasting value for people and communities — not just short-term fixes or projects that don’t serve them.

Sustainability in budgeting means:

• Energy-Efficient Retrofits: Instead of endlessly patching old, inefficient city-owned buildings that waste energy, we can invest in retrofits with solar, better insulation, and modern systems. This lowers utility costs for decades, saves taxpayers money, and reduces Edmonton’s carbon footprint.

• Preventive Housing Solutions: Every year, Edmonton spends millions responding to homelessness through policing, healthcare, and emergency shelters. Investing in permanent supportive housing costs less in the long run and produces better outcomes — saving taxpayer dollars and restoring dignity.

• Smart Infrastructure Planning: Projects like the LRT expansions have seen cost overruns and delays. By demanding transparent reporting and performance benchmarks, we ensure these massive investments are delivered on time and on budget — reducing waste and restoring public trust.

Inclusivity in budgeting means:

• Transit Affordability: Affordable, reliable public transit ensures seniors, students, newcomers, and low-income Edmontonians can access work, education, and services. This reduces social inequities and strengthens our economy by connecting people to opportunity.

• Community-Led Development: Instead of developers dictating growth, residents should have direct input into how funds are spent in their neighborhoods. This keeps projects aligned with community needs and avoids costly backlash or redesigns later.

• Accessible Infrastructure: Every dollar spent on infrastructure should consider inclusivity — from universal design in public spaces to noise reduction near residential areas — because a city that works for the most vulnerable works for everyone.

The bottom line: Budget accountability and affordability are about respect — respect for taxpayers, respect for communities, and respect for future generations. By prioritizing sustainable investments that lower long-term costs and making budgeting inclusive of all voices, Edmonton can grow stronger, fairer, and more affordable for everyone.