Edmonton spent $9.4M helping Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees
Michelle Bellefontaine | CBC News | Posted: September 6, 2016 9:16 PM | Last Updated: September 6, 2016
While city finances in good shape overall mid-year, heavy snowfall could change that
Relief efforts for evacuees of the Fort McMurray wildfire cost the city of Edmonton $9.4 million, new figures released by the city Tuesday show.
Northlands incurred another $1.9 million in costs, bringing the Edmonton total to $11.3 million. The city has reimbursed Northlands $1.2 million of its costs.
Northlands housed thousands of fire evacuees at the Expo Centre in the spring, which forced the convention centre to cancel or move events. About 25,000 people visited the reception centre at Northlands, with 2,000 staying overnight at the peak of the evacuation.
- Northlands reception centre for Fort McMurray evacuees closes
- Wildfire rages in Fort McMurray as evacuees settle in Edmonton
The city expects to recover most of its costs from the province, Mayor Don Iveson said.
But $500,000 in staff costs might not be recoverable due to eligibility issues. Northlands may face the same situation for the remaining $700,000 of its costs. Still, Iveson said he's holding out hope most of the money will be recovered.
"I had personal assurances from the premier and from [Municipal Affairs] Minister (Danielle) Larivee ... that the city would be treated fairly and that Northlands would be treated fairly through this process," Iveson said.
"So I'm reasonably confident from those assurances that, once all of the paperwork has gone through, that the city will more or less be whole."
The Fort McMurray numbers were released as part of the city's mid-year financial update, which covers the period up to June 30.
City budget in the black overall
The city is ahead by $35.3 million overall thanks to last winter's lack of snow, unfilled job vacancies and lower fuel costs.
A couple of items tilted the balance the other way. Edmonton Transit is seeing a drop in monthly pass sales and in cash fares, a change attributed to the poor economy
More people are contesting traffic tickets issued by Edmonton police to avoid earning demerit points, meaning less money is flowing into city coffers.
Administrators reminded city councillors that a heavy snowfall could yet dramatically change the city's financial position.
Council was also given an update on project delays. Out of 98 capital projects,16 are considered code "red," meaning they are either more than 10 per cent over budget and/or more than 10 per cent behind schedule.
The list includes the Metro Line LRT, the Walterdale Bridge, and the 102nd Avenue Bridge over Groat Road.
Four new items made the list this update: neighbourhood renewals in Queen Mary Park and Westmount, the transit Smart Fare payment system and the Galleria pedway.
The Smart Fare project was delayed due to confusion from the province as to whether it was an operating or capital expenditure and the need to make a deal between three municipalities .
The ciity expects to choose a vendor for the project by the end of the year.
The Galleria pedway is half completed but the city needs the province to approve a local improvement bylaw before getting necessary funding.