I will commit to maintaining the Community League Operating Grant. It is critical that the City continues to fund and support Community Leagues in the delivery of community infrastructure and services across Edmonton. Community Leagues are critical partners to ensuring Edmontonians access the services they need to live, play, and thrive now but also in the decades to come. There needs to be a recommitment to Community Leagues and the role they play in our communities. However, I am deeply concerned by the Province of Alberta’s decision to cut the Community Facility Enhancement Program and other grants and funding opportunities that Community Leagues require to maintain and enhance community infrastructure. As Mayor, I would advocate for and with the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues to ensure that Community Leagues are able to access consistent funding sources from the Province to address their community infrastructure and programming needs. We need to work together to address these funding gaps to ensure that Community Leagues can continue to serve communities in Edmonton for another 100 years and beyond.

Yes. We also need to ensure partnerships between CL and other entities like senior centres to ensure we run all efficiently and have the greatest impact to neighbourhoods.

The operating grant is imperative and won't go anywhere if I am elected. As the current leader of the oldest community league in Canada (the league that founded Community Leagues), I will do whatever I need to do to protect Community Leagues.

If elected mayor, I will first meet with three reps of each Community League (President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Community League) Listen to their concerns and then call a general meeting with all the Community Leagues to discuss solutions to their common problems. Prior to the general meeting, the 3 reps from each league will have consulted with their general membership.

Community Leagues are the voice of community members and they should be at the forefront of providing input on the needs of their neighbourhoods. I'm pleased that Council recently passed a by-law in providing Community leagues more input into how they operate. I'm excited to see how that will take shape.

If I am elected Mayor, I will respect and strengthen the role of community leagues in the Tripartite Agreement. Community Leagues are one of the things that make Edmonton special, and I am committed to supporting both the larger federation and individual leagues as they seek to participate in City processes and engagements. Transparent communication, consistent feedback mechanisms, and strong relationship building from both Council and City staff are three key components of continuing to build the strong dialogue between the City and community leagues.

We need to involve CL in all decisions that effect neighbourhoods. Meaningful input.

As the President* of Crestwood Community League I understand the importance of the voice of all our Community Leagues. * Note: Diana Steele is on leave as president of Crestwood Community League during the election. - EFCL