I have been sitting on this for a few months now, but thought I would share some information with the Forum. After the spring 2024 announcement of the GoA's $330M funding for the new YYC Events Center (and my resulting temper tantrum) I decided to look further into GoA funding for YYC vs Edmonton. This past spring, as I was reading through the Provincial Government's 2024/2025 Budget document, I noticed what appeared to be a large discrepancy in the capital funding for Edmonton and Calgary provided by the Province. In short, after some work sorting through the budget document, I calculated a 28% difference in PER CAPITA capital funding provided by the Province to the cities of Calgary and Edmonton, with Edmonton coming out on the short end (surprise, surprise). I also determined that if the Province were to correct this massive difference and equalize the PER CAPITA capital funding for the two cities, it would equate to an additional $660 million in capital funding for the City of Edmonton over the 3 year budget period (2024/2025-2026/2027. Can you imagine how much an extra $220M per year in capital funding over the next 3 years would help this City???
I also pointed out the following discrepancies in specific infrastructure in the two cities (further evidence of a Provincial bias towards YYC): (1) $330M for YYC events center vs $0 for Rogers Place; (2) $1.4B for the brand new YYC Cancer Center vs the aging and shabby Cross here in Edmonton; (3) a standalone Southern Alberta Children's vs the Stollery, which is crammed into the UofA hospital; (4) $250M for the YYC Courts Center vs. the aging and dilapidated Edmonton Courts buildings. There are other examples.
I sent my analysis to the Finance Minister (cc'd the Premier and Minister Turton) on July 24 and received no answer. I resent the email in late September. Still no response.
I am now pursuing this with other parties who have good connections with the GoA and who have told me they will follow up with their contacts. Stay tuned.