Aaron Paquette 🍁🇨🇦🏒🥅

Aaron Paquette Re-elect Aaron Paquette for Ward Dene

You can learn more or get involved by visiting my website: aaron4dene.ca

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I’ll be updating it throughout the coming months with more about the work we’ve done and what’s ahead.

It’s time to slow down on the big, disruptive projects for a while and focus on maintaining and repairing what we already have — roads, sidewalks, parks — everything that needs attention. You deserve good governance and steady leadership and that’s what I’m here to give to you.

My name is Aaron Paquette, and I’m running for re-election as your city councillor in Ward Dene, our home.

After bringing record investment and growth to our Ward, I am focusing on making this city work for you.

10/ I think I’ll have beer.

And maybe, I’ll have another.

Who am I kidding? It’ll be a magnesium drink and off to bed. But you get the point!

tl;dr: Money’s good. Credit’s up. Keeping it tight.

9/ We’ve still got work to do, but this is one of those really clear and strong signs that we’ve turned the corner. Things are looking up.

The next few years are going to only get brighter.

8/ It’s not the kind of news that normally turns heads but to me it is an absolute milestone.

And it’s worth acknowledging.

Through a tough few years, an exhausting three and a half years working to get back to AA+, Edmonton held the fiscal line (despite what you may have heard!).

7/ I want to stress that this positive rating upgrade didn’t happen overnight.

It’s the result of years of financial discipline, smart planning, and a ton of very unglamorous work behind the scenes. Especially from our finance team, led by an incredible Chief Financial Officer.

6/ It helps protect taxpayers. When we can borrow more affordably, we reduce pressure on property taxes. We also gain more flexibility when we need to invest or respond to unexpected challenges. And that has happened with greater frequency in recent years - no surprise to anyone looking back.

5/ It signals stability. This upgrade means outside experts can trust Edmonton to manage its finances responsibly. That’s a huge deal after years of economic shocks, inflation, and rising costs due to punishing cuts from other levels of government.

4/ The better the credit rating, the LOWER the interest rate. That can save us millions over time. And those savings stay in public services instead of going to paying for higher interest rates.

3/ If you’re wondering, “why should I care?” well, fair question. Here’s why:

It saves money. Cities borrow to build things. Roads, transit, pipes, fire stations, etc.

2/ Of cities of a million people or more, none have the highest rating possible, but a handful of smaller cities do.

The only other cities our size or larger with AA+ are:

Toronto

Calgary

Ottawa

Awesome thread:

1/ This week, S&P Global (one of the major international credit rating agencies) upgraded the City of Edmonton’s credit rating from AA to AA+.

That puts us just one step below the highest possible rating (AAA), and above most other Canadian cities.

#yeg #yegcc

YouTube video by CBC News Alberta Why does Edmonton keep building bike lanes?

“It absolutely saves taxpayer’s money…study after study in city after city, have proven it conclusively. It (building bike lanes) saves money, it helps local business, it promotes health and we have far less collisions” - @aaronpaquette.bsky.social

youtu.be/OF4-Hc0x9bM?...

I missed seeing your message! Cross your fingers and whisper! ;)

This video represents the soul of Ward Dene – its residents. How their resolve remains constant as our Ward grows and changes. 

Thank you to all those who contributed.

Please find the full video on my website aaronpaquette.ca 
OR on my YouTube: (youtu.be/_5FMsR_Wuro?...)
#yeg #yegcc #warddene

As ever - forgive the typos!

(The average tax rate referred to is during my time on Council)

Council has, year after year, fallen behind the population + inflation formula.

Otherwise, they are counting, perhaps, on the wool being pulled over your eyes as they tell you what you want to hear with no actual workable and detailed pan to ACHIEVE it.

So when you see a Councillor or candidate talk about taxes, be informed, be aware, and be armed to ensure you can ask the RIGHT questions. Challenge them.

After all, if they want your vote, they should have incredible answers, right?

Btw, your income taxes also increase due to pop. growth + inflation, it’s just that it is hidden whereas municipally it is open, transparent, and reported.

That keeps municipal governments ACCOUNTABLE in ways the province and Feds are not.

What would actually help is if we recognized that that APPROACH is dysfunctional.

We need a better way.

I developed a better way and it is AWESOME - but that’s for another thread.

2. This is where it really is BROKEN:

- when your taxes go up (and they will every year of population and interest growth) but your services go DOWN because of the need to keep the tax increase as LOW as possible then:

Higher taxes - Lower services.

You are not imagining it.

It’s a PROBLEM.

But we don’t collect that because everyone wants to keep taxes low.

2 points:

1. Edmonton has the lowest average tax increase by percent in Canada except a very close OTTAWA (our nation’s capital)

And we have shouldered MASSIVE provincial cuts.

Edmonton already collects about a billion LESS than Calgary for operating budget. 3.5b/yr vs 4.5d/yr, give or take.

Can you IMAGINE the quality of services Edmontonians would enjoy with an extra BILLION per year? The entire EPS budget is half a billion.

Thats a massive city to city difference.

YES, we all want the lowest tax rate possible. OF COURSE. Political careers depend on it.

So when taxes go up higher than the average we are used to, is it due to Councillors being clueless, or is it due to inescapable need?

We are talking the BIG stuff, as the small stuff has very little impact.

3. Did they have a better ALTERNATIVE that would sway Council and the public because of how undeniably better it was?

4. If not, these lapses are understandable for a FIRST term Councillor, but not one who should know the ropes.

Here’s what you need to know when you hear a Councillor say they voted against the city budget:

1. If the budget vote fails, it reverts to the ADMINSTRATION proposed amount. Which is usually HIGHER.

2. Did they do the work of COLLABORATING and LEADING to get a different result? Or was it for show?

@hunterathome.bsky.social was absolutely amazing in that magpie suit - which SHE made!!

@naturealberta for your vote that crowned the magpie the Bird of Edmonton.
#yeg #yegcc