Edmonton Journal has reported:

Edmonton city council has asked the Alberta government to provide, as soon as possible, a written directive explaining Premier Danielle Smith’s order to rescind the city’s zoning bylaw. Eight days after Smith announced the order, councillors said they still did not know how to carry it out. Council voted 12-1 on Friday at the first of what could be several emergency meetings; Ward tastawiyiniwak Coun. Karen Principe opposed the motion.

Mayor Andrew Knack said the written direction should have been provided with the announcement. “It’s silly that I actually have to make a motion like that, that should have been part of the announcement eight days ago,” Knack said. “Every day added is a day we can’t do proper engagement on these issues.”

City administration told council that the province had indicated the changes it requires apply only to the small scale residential, or RS, zone. Administration said the province had not requested data before making its decision. The city offered to send data to cabinet ahead of last week’s announcement, but the offer was declined.

Under the decree, council must hold a public hearing within three months. The earliest possible date is Jan. 8, with notices for the hearing scheduled to be mailed Dec. 23. A public hearing on a zoning change would normally take six months to organize.

Knack has previously questioned how councillors could approach a public hearing with an open mind if the province has already decided their vote. City solicitor Michael Gunther told council that the Municipal Government Act allows the minister to order councillors to set aside their obligation to remain open-minded. Edmonton has not received an indication that the province will use that provision.

Administration said Edmonton was on track to meet its goal of having 50 per cent of new builds within Anthony Henday Drive by the time the city reaches a population of two million. That outcome could change depending on what the province directs council to do. The city is also awaiting demographic figures from the 2026 federal census, due for release in 2027.

Knack said the intervention raised concerns about municipal independence. “This is probably, by far and away, the most significant line crossing that we’ve ever seen in our local government across Alberta in our history,” he said. He cited recent provincial actions affecting municipalities, including the removal of a tool for making streets safer, direction on how libraries should operate and an expected role in planning transportation networks.

“We are seeing a clear and repeated pattern of severe violations of local autonomy,” Knack said. “Any decision we make can be overturned by this provincial government - you don’t want to create a situation whether it’s a UCP government, a NDP government, whoever, you don’t want to have to be dictated to by a provincial government because what’s the purpose of a local election then? That’s a troubling philosophical question we have to answer but let’s get through the referendum first.”

Administration estimates that next year Edmontonians could lose between $420 million and $610 million in construction business, and that more than 2,000 row house dwelling units would not be built. A 2025 State of the Region report by BILD Edmonton Metro found the city’s construction industry generated $3.2 billion in permits that year.

The change would also affect city finances. Administration said six per cent of total city revenue would be cut, and projected that planning and development reserves could fall from $40 million to $25 million by 2030. The city would need to raise property taxes to cover the difference.

Revising the zoning bylaw to satisfy the province’s demands is expected to cost between $5 million and $10 million, according to administration, and delay several other files. Those include a planned urban tree protection bylaw and proposed changes to the now-defunct zoning bylaw covering solar systems, wildfire resistance, floodplain protection, landscaping and new rowhouse design guidelines.

The city can still proceed with planned enforcement measures for existing and approved infill projects, including a dedicated infill liaison team. Set to launch next January, the work includes detailed reviews of project implementation plans, proactive inspections, mandatory builder training and a structured cost recovery program. Under the Municipal Government Act, however, the city still cannot deny a permit to a problem developer.