Mayor Andrew Knack delivered his State of the City address on Thursday, sparking both agreement and tension with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, particularly over the issue of mandatory in-person work for city office workers.
Disagreement on Remote Work
Chamber president Doug Griffiths, along with Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams and BILD Edmonton Metro CEO Kalen Anderson, urged Knack to require city employees to return to the office full-time. They argued that more downtown workers would enhance vibrancy and improve safety in the city core.
“If you’re going to address downtown issues around safety and around prosperity and around beautification, safety starts with people being present,” Griffiths said.
However, Knack opposed the mandate, citing a cost of $5 million to $10 million for additional office space. He emphasized that funds would be better allocated to the city’s downtown action plan. Knack also noted a letter of understanding with the city workers’ union and expressed a preference for creating a culture that attracts employees voluntarily rather than through compulsion.
“We want to be a magnet for our employees to come downtown. We don’t want to have a mandate,” Knack said.
Alignment on City Pride
Despite the disagreement, both leaders found common ground on fostering civic pride. Griffiths presented a world map centered on Edmonton, declaring, “Edmonton is actually at the center of everything. This is the way we need to view the world.”
Knack, six months into his four-year term, outlined the city’s new priorities: economic development, growth management, quality services, and safety. These priorities were announced by the council in February and align closely with the chamber’s goals.
Griffiths expressed optimism about the council’s progress, noting that two of the chamber’s key requests—economic growth and safety—matched the mayor’s agenda. His third request called for Edmonton to become “unmistakably investable,” a goal that remains under discussion.
Context and Background
The annual State of the City address, hosted by the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, serves as a platform for the mayor to discuss goals, make announcements, and address pressing issues. Last year, then-mayor Amarjeet Sohi did not attend, instead participating in a panel with business leaders and the city manager. Griffiths had previously noted that Edmonton lacked a pro-business brand, but this year he felt “encouraged” by the council’s direction.
The debate over remote work continues to be a focal point as the city navigates post-pandemic recovery and downtown revitalization efforts.
