In a decision that has left business owners feeling unsupported, Edmonton City Council has voted against compensating businesses affected by the ongoing west-end LRT construction. The proposal, which would have provided payments of $2,500 to business owners along the Valley Line West LRT route on Stony Plain Road, was turned down during Tuesday’s meeting at City Hall.
Councillor Andrew Knack, representing Ward Nakota Isga, where much of the $2.6 billion LRT project is taking place, championed the idea of a $250,000 grant program specifically for businesses severely impacted by the construction. Knack argued that the businesses on Stony Plain Road have faced “the greatest level of impact by any major construction project” he has witnessed during his time on the council.
Knack highlighted the irony that while the more complex parts of the Valley Line West project are on or ahead of schedule, it’s the roads and sidewalks that remain unfinished, causing ongoing disruption to businesses. He suggested that the compensation program, though modest, would be a starting point to demonstrate the city’s support for its local business community.
However, the majority of councillors, along with Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, opposed the program, citing financial constraints and the potential precedent it could set for future construction projects across the city. Mayor Sohi emphasized that while the idea of compensation was considered, the proposed amount would not have a meaningful impact on the businesses’ bottom lines.
The council’s decision reflects a broader concern about stretching city finances too thin, especially in a time when every dollar counts. While the decision may be pragmatic from a budgetary standpoint, it leaves many west-end businesses to weather the financial storm of construction disruptions without any additional support from the city.
