NEWS RELEASE: Rahim Jaffer Releases Plan to Lower Taxes and Save Edmonton Families $3,600 Over Four Years
EDMONTON, Alta. — Sept. 9, 2025 — Today, Edmonton Mayoral Candidate Rahim Jaffer announced his policy to save Edmonton taxpayers money and make sure City Hall is focused on effective, efficient and accessible services. Edmonton homeowners have faced nearly 40 per cent hikes to their property taxes in just nine years, while life has gotten less affordable and homes are less accessible than ever before.
“City council after city council has voted to take more of your money, while our services have gotten worse, while our communities have become less safe, and you can’t even pay for parking without an app,” said Mayoral Candidate Rahim Jaffer. “It’s time for real change. That’s why I am proposing bold reforms to have city hall do what every household in our city has to do: live within our means.”
If elected Edmonton’s Mayor, Rahim Jaffer will work with the new council to roll back municipal taxes. Jaffer’s ambitious plan will see Edmonton revert back to the 2021 tax rate – before this current council let things get completely out of control.
Tim Cartmell joined forces with Andrew Knack to hike taxes in Edmonton by 23% in just the last three years
Michael Walters voted to raise taxes 11% on Edmontonians during his last term on city council
Since 2017, Edmonton City Council hiked taxes 37% and are on track to hit 45% next year
The Jaffer plan can be broken down to three simple steps:
Scrap the planned 6.4% Cartmell/Knack tax hike, immediately saving Edmonton’s taxpayers from the 45% increase city council is trying to force on taxpayers since 2017.
Roll back taxes a full 23%, undoing the damage Edmonton’s city council has caused over the last three years.
Finally, give Edmonton’s taxpayers confidence and consistency by implementing a four year tax freeze
“This is about letting families keep more money in their pockets at a time when everything else is getting more expensive,” Jaffer added. “It’s time to undo the damage city council has caused, freeze the greed in city hall, and ensure we’re spending money on what matters: the services Edmontonians depend on.”
The Jaffer plan saves Edmonton’s families up to $3,600 over four years. It also focuses on protecting and enhancing front line services – including hiring 500 new police officers – while cutting waste and ending ineffective programs.
To ensure savings are found, within 60 days, financial and performance audits will commence of city spending, including arms-length corporations, councils, and agencies to find $400 million or more in savings. Spending will be capped at population growth plus inflation, putting an end to runaway budgets and wasteful programs.
“We need to take a page from families across our city: pay for what matters. We need to make sure our streets are safe and clean, our garbage is picked up, snow is cleared and potholes are filled,” said Jaffer. “We need to have accessible libraries and parks, not “forest bathing” programs or bike lanes to nowhere. It’s time to live within our means, and get our city back on track – for all of Edmonton.”
