I’ve watched Edmonton wrestle with this grocery store puzzle for years now. The frustration is real for neighbors stuck without nearby food options. Mayor Andrew Knack is taking another swing at solving a problem that’s haunted our city since at least 2007.
Council voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to push the province on restrictive covenants. These legal tools let grocery chains block competitors from empty buildings they’ve abandoned. The vote was 12-1, with only Ward tastawiyiniwak Councillor Karen Principe voting against.
The issue hits close to home for many Edmonton families. Imagine having a perfectly good building sitting empty in your neighborhood. It used to be a grocery store. But now nobody can open another one there because the previous owner attached legal strings.
Knack didn’t mince words during the council meeting. He’s dealt with this headache three times during his tenure. The solution is simple but completely out of municipal hands. Only the province can untangle this mess through changes to the Land Titles Act.
Ward papastew Councillor Michael Janz brought the motion forward. He’s had candid conversations with representatives from all three major grocery players. What he learned surprised him. Loblaws, Sobeys and Metro would all consider ending restrictive covenants if everyone played by the same rules.
The grocery companies know how this looks to regular Edmontonians. Nobody wants to appear anti-competitive. But they’re locked in a standoff where no single company wants to give up an advantage.
Janz believes the industry is ready for change. They just need a regulator to level the playing field. That regulator is the provincial government currently led by the United Conservative Party.
Edmonton wants Alberta to follow Manitoba’s lead. The Manitoba New Democratic Party passed the Property Controls for Grocery Stores and Supermarkets Act. This legislation forbids grocery chains from creating new restrictive covenants and voids existing ones.
Manitoba gave grocery chains six months to apply for exceptions. Forty-six applications came in. The system is working there. Edmonton believes it could work here too.
Support at council was nearly unanimous. Ward Nakota Isga Councillor Reed Clarke has personal connections to local grocery businesses. He couldn’t vote against a measure aimed at improving food access across Edmonton.
Our city’s battle against restrictive covenants goes back further than most people realize. When Sobeys bought Safeway in 2019, they cancelled plans for a new Griesbach store. Knack sent a letter asking about their intentions. The company never responded.
The roots dig even deeper into Edmonton’s political history. Don Iveson, before becoming mayor, brought forward a motion in 2013. He wanted the city to contact the Competition Bureau about this exact problem. The bureau’s response was disappointing. Municipal governments lack authority here. Only the provincial legislature can act.
Before Iveson’s attempt, then-mayor Stephen Mandel wrote the Alberta government in 2007. He asked for rules preventing restrictive covenants on grocery properties. Nearly two decades later, Edmonton is still waiting for an answer.
Ward pihêsiwin Councillor Mike Elliott highlighted the real-world impact. Dead zones exist across Edmonton where residents lack reasonable grocery access. These aren’t tiny gaps. They’re significant areas where families struggle to buy fresh food nearby.
A 2023 Competition Bureau report revealed eye-opening numbers. The three main grocery players earned over $3.6 billion in profits during 2022. That’s billion with a ‘b’. The report concluded that more competition could lower grocery prices for everyone.
I’ve walked through neighborhoods transformed into food deserts. Empty storefronts that once buzzed with shoppers now collect dust. Seniors who used to walk to the store now need rides. Young families drive across town for milk and bread.
Ward Dene Councillor Aaron Paquette supported the motion but tempered expectations. He’s studied this issue for years. His prediction? The UCP probably won’t budge. But he believes advocacy remains important even when success seems unlikely.
Paquette acknowledged room for improvement exists. That alone justifies pushing the province. He could be wrong about the outcome. Sometimes persistence pays off in unexpected ways.
The economics make sense from multiple angles. More grocery competition means lower prices for Edmonton families. Empty buildings get filled. Neighborhoods regain vital services. Jobs get created. Tax revenue flows back to the city.
But the political landscape complicates matters. Provincial priorities don’t always align with municipal needs. The UCP faces pressure from various stakeholders. Grocery chains carry significant economic weight. Legislative changes take time and political capital.
Edmonton council has shown remarkable consistency on this file. Different councils, different mayors, same problem. The message to the province has remained clear across administrations. Remove the legal barriers letting grocery chains create food deserts.
What happens next depends entirely on provincial willingness to act. Edmonton has done everything within its power. The ball sits firmly in Alberta’s legislative court. Mayor Knack will advocate as directed. Council has spoken with one voice.
I’m watching this story with personal interest beyond my professional role. Edmonton deserves better than abandoned grocery buildings gathering cobwebs. Our neighbors deserve convenient access to affordable food. The tools exist to fix this problem.
Manitoba proved change is possible. Their legislation works without destroying the grocery industry. Companies adapted. Competition increased. Communities benefited. Alberta could achieve similar results.
The question isn’t whether Edmonton needs this change. Council answered that question Tuesday with a 12-1 vote. The question is whether provincial leadership will listen to municipal concerns and act accordingly.
Time will reveal if this advocacy effort succeeds where previous attempts failed. Edmonton keeps pushing because the issue matters deeply to everyday residents trying to feed their families.
