Tuesday's letters: Smith should stick to provincial issues

I am disgusted with our premier that she would override our recently elected municipal government in order to satisfy a small bunch of noisy Edmontonians who obviously were disappointed in the outcome of the recent election. Instead of working with city council in the ongoing process for better infill, they are cheering for a rural-based UCP to impose their view on all of us.

It is clear that the premier didn’t have a clue what she was doing with her ad hoc pronouncement and now she has created a great deal of chaos and confusion. The premier should stick to fixing the areas that the province is responsible for, such as health, education, environment, rather than meddling in municipal affairs.

Gerhard Henkemans, Edmonton

Infill is a controversial and stressful problem in many Edmonton neighbourhoods at the moment; nevertheless, Edmontonians can reflect on the broader pattern of behaviour that frames Premier Smith’s involvement. In his timely opinion piece, Keith Gerein describes Smith’s practice as “jurisdictional imperialism.”

The term fits Ms. Smith’s approach to governing Alberta on many issues. Conservatives have traditionally favoured local decision-making and small central government for decades. With the backing of the largest cabinet in Alberta history, Ms. Smith exercises top-down control over a range of issues: She can screen academic grants for alignment with her idea of “Alberta values;” dismiss duly elected local councillors; enforce content policy on public libraries; reject recommended electoral boundaries, and more. She might never choose to dismiss a municipal councillor or cancel a valuable research grant, but by giving herself that power she has altered Alberta fundamentally and perhaps permanently.

The temptation to present herself as a champion of the people who stands up to local government may be irresistible for Ms. Smith. Unfortunately, this self-representation puts democratic values at risk.

David Gay, Edmonton

I have a confession to make. I feel conflicted. On one hand, I see the astonishing irony of our premier announcing the province’s intent to override the City of Edmonton’s current zoning bylaw and direct a diversion from the six- and eight-plex storm we’ve been facing in our mature communities at the same time as she continues to denounce Ottawa’s intrusion into Alberta’s affairs.

On the other hand, as a longtime resident of one of those communities, I’m overjoyed to hear that this step is being taken and the destruction of communities caused by the zoning bylaw will end. At the end of the day, (having recently driven east on 95 Avenue between 149 and 142 Streets and witnessed what can only be described as block after block of row housing and boxy, black and white apartment buildings in what used to be an established, single-family community, I’m prepared to live with my hypocrisy. Thank you, Premier, for doing this one thing right.

Jon Rossall, Edmonton

I’ve been an avid Edmonton cyclist since the early 1990s, riding year-round in many of those years. I support bike lanes, transit and walking — but not every project.

On 106 Street, a once-straightforward route resembles a slot-car track, weaving around curbs and sidewalks. Left-side and two-way tracks can force awkward crossings to turn. Near Whyte Avenue, overlapping routes displace residential parking. Snowbanks worsen matters. Victoria Promenade’s poor design eventually prompted the city to restore 19 parking and loading spaces.

Drivers who intimidate cyclists legally sharing streets are dangerous. So are cyclists who ignore four-way stops, ride ordinary sidewalks, claim pedestrian right-of-way while cycling through crosswalks, or neglect bells and hand signals.

Edmonton’s winters, distances and accessibility needs demand practical choices, not ideology. Neither removing every lane nor building them everywhere makes sense. Design coherent routes, preserve access, measure use and enforce rules for everyone.

Trevor Stenson, Edmonton

We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 150 words is preferred. Letters must carry a first and last name, or two initials and a last name, and include an address and daytime telephone number. All letters are subject to editing. We don’t publish letters addressed to others or sent to other publications. Email: letters@edmontonjournal.com

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal |The Edmonton Sun.