Which of the following comes closest to your position on public funding for the arts?
Taproot Survey
Where do you stand on issues raised by voters in the 2025 municipal election?
Context:
The city funds the arts through the Edmonton Arts Council. In late 2024, EAC changed its funding strategy because its budget has been stagnant since 2021. The strategy update pauses multi-year funding for arts organizations until 2026. Artistic hubs are increasingly asking private citizens for donations to survive. From the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival to the Harcourt House Artist Run Centre to Grindstone Theatre, public dollars appear insufficient to keep the lights on. The EAC also oversees public art, and changed its finance model in 2021.
Candidate responses
A total of 66 candidates have responded to the survey. Here's how they answered this question:
a) Essential to quality of life and in need of stable funding.
Candidates that selected this response:
Ali Al Kassab Councillor
Candidate in
Anirniq
Paul Bakhmut Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Ronald Stewart Billingsley, Jr Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Joti Buttar Councillor
Candidate in
Karhiio
Annie Chua - Frith Councillor
Candidate in
Sspomitapi
Reed Clarke Councillor
Candidate in
Nakota Isga
Ramey Demian Councillor
Candidate in
Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi
Josh Doyle Councillor
Candidate in
papastew
Michael Elliott Councillor
Candidate in
pihêsiwin
Rob Fediuk Councillor
Candidate in
Anirniq
Giselle Quezon General Councillor
Candidate in
sipiwiyiniwak
Andy Andrzej Gudanowski Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Jimmy Clement Idi Councillor
Candidate in
tastawiyiniwak
Rozalia Janiszewska Councillor
Candidate in
papastew
Michael Janz Councillor
Candidate in
papastew
Andrew Knack Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Jackie Liu Councillor
Candidate in
pihêsiwin
Caroline Matthews Councillor
Candidate in
Métis
James Miller Councillor
Candidate in
O-day'min
Jon Morgan Councillor
Candidate in
Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi
Utha Nadauk Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Funke Olokude Councillor
Candidate in
Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi
Aaron Paquette Councillor
Candidate in
Dene
Jennifer Porritt Councillor
Candidate in
tastawiyiniwak
Nicholas Rheubottom Councillor
Candidate in
Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi
Ashley Salvador Councillor
Candidate in
Métis
Diana Steele Councillor
Candidate in
Nakota Isga
Anne Stevenson Councillor
Candidate in
O-day'min
Keren Tang Councillor
Candidate in
Karhiio
Olney Tugwell Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Aggripa Wajo Councillor
Candidate in
Anirniq
Michael Walters Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Jo-Anne Wright Councillor
Candidate in
Sspomitapi
b) An economic driver, so prioritize projects with measurable economic impact.
Candidates that selected this response:
Sara Awatta Councillor
Candidate in
pihêsiwin
Nurmaiya Brady Councillor
Candidate in
Anirniq
Tim Cartmell Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Tony Caterina Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Farhan Chak Councillor
Candidate in
tastawiyiniwak
Abdul Malik Chukwudi Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Vanessa Denman Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Stephen Hammerschmidt Councillor
Candidate in
O-day'min
Mark Hillman Councillor
Candidate in
papastew
Terrie Holgerson Councillor
Candidate in
papastew
Rahim Jaffer Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Harman Singh Kandola Councillor
Candidate in
Sspomitapi
Rajah Maggay Councillor
Candidate in
Nakota Isga
Thu Parmar Councillor
Candidate in
sipiwiyiniwak
Rupesh Patel Councillor
Candidate in
pihêsiwin
Erin Rutherford Councillor
Candidate in
Anirniq
Ashok Sui Councillor
Candidate in
Sspomitapi
Steve van Diest Councillor
Candidate in
Sspomitapi
Jesse Watson Councillor
Candidate in
Anirniq
c) Not a core responsibility, so prioritize funding essential services instead.
Candidates that selected this response:
Fidel Ammar Councillor
Candidate in
tastawiyiniwak
Jason Bale Councillor
Candidate in
Karhiio
James Gosse Councillor
Candidate in
Métis
Danny Heikkinen Councillor
Candidate in
sipiwiyiniwak
Roger Kotch Councillor
Candidate in
sipiwiyiniwak
Larry Langley Councillor
Candidate in
pihêsiwin
Omar Mohammad Mayor
Candidate in
City Wide
Fahad Mughal Councillor
Candidate in
Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi
Norm Paradis Councillor
Candidate in
Métis
Banisha Sandhu Councillor
Candidate in
Dene
Justin Thomas Councillor
Candidate in
Métis
Jordon Woodruff Councillor
Candidate in
Nakota Isga
d) I don't have a position on this issue
Candidates that selected this response:
Abdulhakim Dalel Councillor
Candidate in
Métis
Taproot Survey
Where do you stand on issues raised by voters in the 2025 municipal election?