JASON LAFACE

​​Affordability Plan for Edmonton Southeast

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1. Targeted Cost-of-Living Tax Credits

Policy:

Introduce a "Western Affordability Credit" (WAC), a refundable tax credit of up to $1,500 annually for individuals earning less than $60,000 and families earning under $100,000, phased out at higher incomes. Prioritize Edmonton Southeast and similar ridings with significant working-class and immigrant populations.

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Rationale:

Property taxes (up 8.9% in 2024) and inflation hit southeast Edmonton hard. This credit offsets costs without relying on municipal budgets, unlike Sohi’s service-focused tax hikes, providing direct relief for groceries, utilities, and rent.

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Impact:

A family of four earning $80,000 could see $3,000 yearly, easing pressure in a riding where 2021 census data (pre-realignment) showed median household incomes around $85,000 in the former Edmonton Mill Woods area.

 

2. Accelerated Affordable Housing Investment

Policy:

Expand the National Housing Strategy with a $500 million "Edmonton Southeast Housing Accelerator Fund" over five years, fast-tracking 5,000 new affordable units in the riding. Offer federal grants to developers who commit to rent caps (e.g., 30% of median income) and prioritize southeast-specific projects.

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Rationale:

Housing demand outpaces supply, with southeast’s growth straining availability. Sohi’s municipal efforts (e.g., Blatchford) are slow and city-wide, not riding-focused. Federal muscle can cut red tape and deliver faster than local partnerships.

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Impact:

Units could house 10,000+ residents, targeting new Canadians and young families, bolstered by Edmonton’s 2024 vacancy rate hovering around 3%, signaling tight markets.

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3. Energy and Utility Cost Relief

Policy:

Launch a "Prairie Winter Relief Program," providing a $300 annual rebate per household on electricity and heating bills from November to March, funded via a windfall tax on energy companies profiting from 2025 tariff uncertainties.

 

Rationale:

Edmonton winters amplify utility costs, and failed municipal investments (like Sohi’s electric bus debacle) don’t address home heating. A federal rebate directly lowers bills, contrasting Sohi’s indirect service promises.

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Impact:

In southeast Edmonton’s 40,000+ households (estimated from pre-2025 riding data), this saves $12 million annually, freeing up income for other essentials.

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4. Small Business and Job Support Amid Tariffs

Policy:

Create a $100 million "Edmonton Southeast Economic Resilience Fund" to offer low-interest loans and tax deferrals to small businesses and manufacturers threatened by U.S. tariffs post-Trump’s 2025 inauguration. Pair with a retraining program for 2,000 workers in energy and trades.

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Rationale:

Sohi’s anti-tariff stance is rhetorical; this fund provides concrete aid to southeast’s industrial and retail base (e.g., South Edmonton Common area). Job security matters in a riding tied to Alberta’s economy.

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Impact:

Protects 500+ businesses and retrains workers, stabilizing employment where 2021 unemployment in Edmonton Mill Woods was 9.1%, higher than the city’s 7.8%.

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5. Transit Affordability and Infrastructure Boost

Policy:

Allocate $200 million from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to finish the Valley Line Southeast LRT by 2027, two years ahead of schedule, and subsidize fares at $2/ride for low-income residents (under $40,000/year) via federal transfers.

 

Rationale:

Southeast commuters need reliable transit, delayed under Sohi’s watch. Federal funding and fare relief outpace his municipal promises, directly benefiting working families.

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Impact:

Serves 50,000+ daily riders by 2027, with subsidized fares saving eligible households $600 yearly, per Edmonton Transit usage stats.

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6. Grocery Price Stabilization Partnership

Policy:

Negotiate a federal-provincial "Fair Food Pricing Agreement" with Alberta, capping price increases on staples (bread, milk, meat) at 2% annually for two years, backed by $50 million in subsidies to local grocers and co-ops in Edmonton Southeast.

 

Rationale:

Inflation-driven grocery costs (up 20% since 2021 nationally) pinch southeast budgets. Sohi’s municipal scope can’t touch this; federal-provincial leverage can.

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Impact:

Saves a family of four $400-$500 yearly, based on average Canadian food spending trends, supporting diverse southeast communities reliant on local stores.

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