Mayoral candidates unveil campaign promises

Two Edmonton Mayoral candidates were busy campaigning Thursday. David Dorward and Mayor Stephen Mandel both held events in the city.

At his headquarters, Dorward announced his platform, which includes offering seniors a property-tax rebate, an overall slow down of property tax increase, and reviewing projects such as the LRT expansion.

Under Stephen Mandel’s six years as Mayor, property taxes have increased by 38 per cent, according to Dorward. His plan to slow down this increase is to keep it at a rate consistent of the national inflation rate. Along with this, as mayor, Dorward would give seniors a tax rebate of $600 a year. This would save Edmonton’s 77,000 seniors $28 million per year.

Doward said that the city has to keep its spending under control, and said he would review, and slow down projects such as the LRT expansion if necessary. He referred to the 23rd Avenue interchange as an example of a city project that is financially out of control.

With a smile on his face, Dorward called himself a numbers guy.

Dorward said he would also set up a mayor’s council consisting of public health professionals, seniors’ advocacy organizations, and others to address seniors’ issues.

Meanwhile, Stephen Mandel was reaching out to the seniors at the Golden Age Manor. He announced that his platform would include looking into 1,000 new units of housing for seniors over the next three years, on available land from the city. There are over 5,000 people on waiting lists to go into homes in Edmonton according to Mandel, and he says that’s unacceptable.

Mandel spoke about needing people to be trained in senior-friendly thinking, and saying the city council, mayor, and administration have to be more proactive in dealing with seniors.

"It has to be a priority," Mandel said.

The first Mayor all-candidate forum will be held Thursday night in the theatre of Harry Ainlay Composite High School (4350 – 111 Street) starting at 7 pm.