Latest news with #CRL
Calgary Herald
16 hours ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Levy extension debate ongoing as Edmonton council considers motions on OEG deal
City council is considering two motions that could delay a decision on extending Edmonton's community revitalization levy (CRL), as debate continues Friday amid uncertainty over whether the province will approve the plan without including two controversial projects tied to Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG). Article content The extension of the CRL would allow the city to borrow against future tax revenue until 2044, funding major revitalization projects in the city's core. Article content Article content Article content Two motions on the table Article content Article content The first motion, introduced during Friday's public hearing, would refer Bylaw 21158 back to administration and direct the mayor to seek written confirmation from the Government of Alberta on which of the listed catalyst projects must be included for the province to support the revised CRL. Article content If no response is received by July 31, administration is to return with the bylaw as currently drafted for a final council decision. Article content A second motion, added during the debate, would also refer the bylaw back — this time directing administration to return after council has considered the master agreement between the City of Edmonton and OEG. The agreement outlines the terms of their public-private partnership and is central to understanding the commitments tied to the proposed developments. Article content OEG projects at the centre of dispute Article content The moves come as councillors continue to grapple with public and political pressure around the $624-million Downtown revitalization package. Article content Article content While the proposal includes a broad range of projects, from transit infrastructure and attainable housing incentives to the Winspear Centre expansion, the two OEG-related projects, a $250-million event park and infrastructure for the Village at Ice District, have divided council and the community. Article content Article content Supporters urge action Article content Despite the controversy, supporters of the bylaw continued to make their case during Friday's public hearing, with speakers urging council not to let the momentum for Downtown revitalization slip away. Article content Joumana Ghandour, general manager of the Westin Edmonton, called the bylaw 'a smarter, more affordable way to revitalize our core,' emphasizing the economic ripple effect of cultural and public-space investments Downtown. Article content 'Projects like the Winspear expansion and Oilers Fan Park aren't just cultural venues. They're drivers of Downtown's comeback directly impacting my day-to-day business,' she told council. 'Any further delay risks losing hard-won momentum, and with it the surge in potential occupancy for my business, jobs, investment and community vibrancy that this development will deliver.'
Edmonton Journal
17 hours ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Levy extension debate ongoing as Edmonton council considers motions on OEG deal
Article content City council is considering two motions that could delay a decision on extending Edmonton's community revitalization levy (CRL), as debate continues Friday amid uncertainty over whether the province will approve the plan without including two controversial projects tied to Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG). The extension of the CRL would allow the city to borrow against future tax revenue until 2044, funding major revitalization projects in the city's core. Article content Two motions on the table The first motion, introduced during Friday's public hearing, would refer Bylaw 21158 back to administration and direct the mayor to seek written confirmation from the Government of Alberta on which of the listed catalyst projects must be included for the province to support the revised CRL. If no response is received by July 31, administration is to return with the bylaw as currently drafted for a final council decision. A second motion, added during the debate, would also refer the bylaw back — this time directing administration to return after council has considered the master agreement between the City of Edmonton and OEG. The agreement outlines the terms of their public-private partnership and is central to understanding the commitments tied to the proposed developments. OEG projects at the centre of dispute The moves come as councillors continue to grapple with public and political pressure around the $624-million Downtown revitalization package. Article content While the proposal includes a broad range of projects, from transit infrastructure and attainable housing incentives to the Winspear Centre expansion, the two OEG-related projects, a $250-million event park and infrastructure for the Village at Ice District, have divided council and the community. Supporters urge action Despite the controversy, supporters of the bylaw continued to make their case during Friday's public hearing, with speakers urging council not to let the momentum for Downtown revitalization slip away. Joumana Ghandour, general manager of the Westin Edmonton, called the bylaw 'a smarter, more affordable way to revitalize our core,' emphasizing the economic ripple effect of cultural and public-space investments Downtown. 'Projects like the Winspear expansion and Oilers Fan Park aren't just cultural venues. They're drivers of Downtown's comeback directly impacting my day-to-day business,' she told council. 'Any further delay risks losing hard-won momentum, and with it the surge in potential occupancy for my business, jobs, investment and community vibrancy that this development will deliver.' Article content Similar support came from Beryl Bacchus, executive director of iHuman Youth Society, who highlighted the impact spaces like the Winspear Centre have on at-risk youth. 'It is more than a concert hall. It's a gateway to connection, culture and understanding,' she said. 'Being a friendly neighbour means more than just sharing space. It means opening doors for young people from marginalized, computed communities.' Viet Nguyen, founder of Boodang Music Canada, said Downtown Edmonton's lack of flexible outdoor event spaces is frustrating 'not just for us, but for the hotels, restaurants and shops that depend on those thousands of visitors.' 'On a festival weekend, we bring up to 7,000 to 10,000 people a day. That kind of foot traffic is rare in most Canadian cities outside of Toronto or Vancouver, and it makes a tangible difference,' he told council. 'So saying no to investment isn't a strategy.' Article content Cheryll Watson, chairwoman of the Downtown Revitalization Coalition, echoed that sentiment, urging council to rise above ideology. 'Unfortunately, the majority of the speakers opposed to this decision have not had the benefit of being educated about how this proven investment mechanism works,' she said. 'What we need from council right now is not ideology, but sound investment judgment.' What the CRL has funded so far Created in 2015, the CRL allows the city to borrow against projected increases in property taxes in a defined area to help fund strategic redevelopment. The current CRL is set to expire in 2034. The proposed 10-year extension would push that to 2044, allowing the city to finance new 'catalyst' projects and finish existing ones. City administration said the CRL has already helped drive more than $4.7 billion in private investment Downtown, including three new office towers and thousands of residential units. But with construction costs rising and post-pandemic recovery stalling, officials argue additional investment is needed to maintain momentum. Article content However, councillors including Andrew Knack and Michael Janz have previously pushed back against the inclusion of the OEG projects, questioning whether public funds should be used to support private developments linked to a billion-dollar company. That's the heart of the current motion — to determine whether the province's support is conditional on the full slate of projects or, if some, like the OEG developments, could be removed without sinking the deal. Previously, administration cautioned that changing the project list could restart the entire provincial approval process, potentially delaying implementation and putting the extension at risk. Kalen Anderson of BILD Edmonton Metro told council on Thursday that the deal 'is a package. Picking and choosing pieces could cost us the whole thing.' Awaiting further clarification The province has already amended regulations to extend the CRL through 2044 and updated its guidelines to allow for the inclusion of the new projects. However, no formal statement has been made on whether all the projects listed in Schedule A must remain intact. Article content Latest National Stories
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
UPPRPB final result for Head Operator recruitment 2022 out at uppbpb.gov.in: 936 candidates selected, download PDF here
UP Police announces final result for Head Operator recruitment 2022 UP Police Head Operator result 2025: The Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) has officially declared the final selection result for the Direct Recruitment-2022 of Head Operator / Head Operator (Mechanical) posts under the UP Police Radio Cadre. A total of 936 candidates have been selected for appointment based on a multi-stage recruitment process. As per the announcement made on the Board's website the final selection has been carried out in strict adherence to the reservation policies and procedural guidelines established by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The selection result is now available for candidates to download by entering their registration number and date of birth. Recruitment received over 76,000 applications The recruitment drive was initiated via Notification No. PRPB One-3 (34)/2020, dated January 6, 2022, for filling 936 posts. A total of 76,516 online applications were received. The online written examination was conducted across 11 districts in three shifts on January 30 and January 31, 2024. Due to the multi-shift format, the Board implemented normalisation of scores, as mentioned in the notification and relevant service rules. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The all new SP125 that comes with advance technology & features Honda Learn More Undo Following this, 9,807 candidates—approximately ten times the number of advertised vacancies—were called for document scrutiny and physical standard tests, which were held from March 24 to March 30, 2025. The physical efficiency test, designed to be egoistic in nature, took place between May 20 and May 28, 2025. Final selection based on normalised merit and reservation policy The final list has been prepared on the basis of candidates' merit after normalisation of written exam scores, performance in physical tests, and document verification. In total, 936 candidates have been selected, including 482 from the Other Backward Class (OBC) category, 211 from the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, and 18 from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. Additionally, 186 female candidates have been declared successful. IIT Kanpur verified written exam data To maintain transparency, the data from the online written exam was sent to IIT Kanpur for thorough validation. The Board also provided clarification opportunities to candidates, taking appropriate action wherever necessary, based on CRL and supporting data. Final cut-off marks for all categories Below is the final category-wise cut-off for the selected candidates: Category Vertical Reservation Freedom Fighter Dependent Female Candidate Unreserved (UR) 328.16751 242.69954 304.87272 Economically Weaker Section (EWS) 317.0527 — 289.13254 Other Backward Class (OBC) 319.53008 — 296.33112 Scheduled Caste (SC) 299.92947 — 277.29555 Scheduled Tribe (ST) 276.30554 — 247.79711 How to download UP Police Head Operator final result PDF Candidates can follow these steps to download their result: Step 1: Visit the official UPPRPB website: Step 2: On the homepage, locate the link titled 'Final Result – Head Operator / Head Operator (Mechanical) Recruitment 2022' Step 3: Click on the link to open the result page Step 4: Enter your registration number and date of birth as required Step 5: Submit the details to view and download your result PDF Direct link to download the Radio Cadre 2022 final selection result PDF For more updates and future notifications, candidates are advised to regularly check the UPPRPB official website. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Debate rages at city hall over Oilers event-park funding in hearing on future of tax levy
Edmonton city council is divided over a directive from the province to use money from a special tax levy on projects on land owned by the Oilers. It was the Edmonton Oilers arena debate all over again at city hall on Thursday with a slightly different flavour. Most city councillors and business leaders agree a special tax program in the core is vital for the future prosperity of downtown. The sticking point is a directive from the provincial government to spend tens of millions of public dollars to build projects on land owned by the Oilers. City councillor and mayoral candidate Andrew Knack wants to halt a $250-million event park beside Rogers Place, the home of the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), which owns the site, is using it as their outdoor Fan Park. The event park is listed as one of the so-called catalyst projects city money would help fund through the downtown Community Revitalization Levy (CRL). 'I do support downtown revitalization, but I will not support a bad deal,' Knack, who represents the west-end Ward Nakota Isga, told media on Thursday morning. 'We don't even know if we need an event park yet ... there's just this assumption that something new and shiny will solve everything.' Event park rendering Conceptual rendering of the event park in downtown Edmonton. (Oilers Entertainment Group) The CRL was introduced in 2014 as part of the deal to build Rogers Place, which opened two years later with a final price tag of $613.7 million. The city paid $312 million of it in cash and through the levy, the team paid $165.5 million and the rest came via a ticket surcharge, the federal government and MacEwan University. The home arena of the Oilers opened in 2016, replacing Rexall Place, following years of debate and negotiation after Daryl Katz bought the National Hockey League team in 2008 from the Edmonton Investors Group for a reported $200 million. As the area within its boundary is redeveloped, the CRL is meant to reinvest that extra tax revenue into downtown. City staff have crunched the numbers and say extending the 20-year levy by an extra decade is worthwhile. Event park site The site of the proposed downtown Edmonton event park, right, that's currently being used by the Oilers Entertainment Group as its Fan Park, with Rogers Place in the background on June 26, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton) 'It is a comprehensive approach to developing downtown Edmonton, encompassing underground utilities, beautification of our streets and parks, creation and expansion of event spaces, improvement to transit stations and incentives for attainable housing,' Brett Latchford, the city's director of strategy and emerging economy, said at Thursday's public hearing. Kris Sims, the Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, drove to Edmonton from Lethbridge to express her concerns about the deal along with those from several others. 'That's fine, go ahead and revitalize the downtown … but why are you tying it to one element of corporate welfare?' Sims said. 'That is not fair, and it's not right.' The provincial government has final say over the CRL. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams says it won't be approved unless it includes the event park and site servicing for the housing planned north of Rogers Place. The province said it would contribute more than $100 million for those projects. CRL hearing People in attendance for a public hearing at Edmonton city hall about the future of the downtown Community Revitalization Levy on June 26, 2025. (Jeremy Thompson/CTV News Edmonton) Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said he understands why Edmontonians are upset but believes the deal would fall apart without the event park, which he says would be a major missed opportunity for downtown. '(The province is) a major funder of this, a major enabler of this plan, so they're definitely going to have a say in this,' Sohi told media between hearing sessions. 'Anyone who believes that we can find $175 million of new revenue or $103 million of grant funding I think is not living in reality.' A representative of the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), which operates Rogers Place and the Ice District plaza as well as the NHL team among other sports and entertainment enterprises, said the corporation is proud of its contributions to the CRL. Edmonton Rogers Place downtown skyline spring/summer overcast An aerial image of Rogers Place in downtown Edmonton on June 17, 2025. (Cam Wiebe / CTV News Edmonton) 'It has been a powerful tool for revitalizing Edmonton's downtown core and helping to strengthen our education, arts, housing, and business districts,' Tim Shipton, OEG's executive vice-president of external affairs, said in a statement to CTV News Edmonton. 'The CRL has supported critical public infrastructure, attracted billions in private investment and created safer, more vibrant spaces for all Edmontonians. The MOU (memorandum of understanding) signed with the city and province represents a transformational city building opportunity, focused on additional housing when it's needed most, and a one-of-a-kind community event facility with vibrant public realm spaces — developments that will not just benefit downtown, but the city as a whole.' The public hearing is expected to be held all day Thursday and Friday. Edmonton city council Edmonton city council on June 26, 2025. (Jeremy Thompson/CTV News Edmonton) Michael Janz, the city councillor for south-side Ward papastew, told CTV News Edmonton he believes the deal isn't really about downtown, rather how a 'provincial tax grab' is going to be distributed, asking would it 'go back to Edmontonians, or is it going to go to one private business?' 'We don't even know the other options, because this was decided behind closed doors in a private negotiation between one business and our premier with the city of Edmonton along for the ride,' Janz said. 'When you can't walk away, when you're being told you have to accept this deal on terms acceptable to the OEG, that's not a negotiation.'
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
CRL Intensification: A Wake-Up Call For Everyday Investors
AUCKLAND, 27 July 2025 — The Auckland Property Investors Association (APIA) cautiously welcomes this week's announcement of intensified zoning around Auckland's City Rail Link (CRL) stations, calling it a 'necessary progression' in the city's infrastructure journey and urging small-scale investors to recalibrate their strategies in light of the rapidly evolving market. 'Linking housing growth to public transport is a no-brainer,' says APIA General Manager Sarina Gibbon. 'If we're going to invest $5 billion into the CRL then it makes sense to enable people to actually live around it.' The question is: Who gets to shape the next chapter of Auckland's property market? The scale and ambition of the new CRL zoning, up to 15 storeys in some areas, signals a development environment likely to favour corporate players and large capital-backed builders. 'Let's be real, we are entering a phase of urban development that most ma-and-pa investors can't keep up with. That doesn't mean they are shut out of the game (and gains), it just means that for these investors, the playbook is changing,' says Gibbon. Instead of resisting change, APIA urges small-scale investors to explore new pathways to participate: Joint ventures or other co-investment models with established and experienced developers, Build-to-rent partnerships, Prefab and modular constructer to lower costs and increase speed, Reinvestment opportunities with windfalls from zoning triggered value uplifts. 'CRL developments are high-stake plays with big risks and big price tags. They are not for the faint-hearted and certainly not for investors who are stuck with old models. But if you are willing to re-benchmark your expectations and explore co-ownership, syndication, or other shared equity models, there could still be plenty of opportunities to build wealth in these high-value pockets of Auckland.' The Association is also calling for robust and transparent implementation frameworks to ensure that private landowners are given clarity and opportunity, and that Auckland's zoning tools are not solely captured by large institutional players. 'Density done right can still deliver access and diversity,' Gibbon says. 'This isn't the death of investing oft the everyday Kiwi, it's a chance to move up the value chain if you are prepared to act smarter.'
