Edmonton city council is dissolving seven long-standing public committees, but Mayor Andrew Knack emphasizes that the city remains committed to engaging with marginalized communities. The move, announced on April 23, 2026, is part of a broader overhaul to align city operations with four strategic priorities.
Committees Being Retired
The committees ceasing operations on April 30 include the anti-racism advisory committee, the Edmonton Historical Board, Edmonton Salutes Committee, the Edmonton Transit Service Advisory Board, the Energy Transition Climate Resilience Committee, and the Women's Advisory Voice of Edmonton committee. The City of Edmonton Youth Council will stop meeting after August 31.
Mayor's Statement
Knack stated that the changes are not budget-driven and the city will not save significant money. Instead, the goal is to modernize engagement methods. “Council set our strategic priorities earlier this year. With that we’re going through the entire organization and setting up different ways of doing things,” he said. “We are going to continue to hear from those voices, it’s just about doing it in a different way.”
Councillors who previously served on these committees will contact members about next steps on a case-by-case basis. There is no set timeline for establishing new frameworks for each group. Knack noted that the decades-old committee structure limited feedback opportunities. “Is setting up a council committee the right way to bring in youth voices? Or do we work with groups like the Edmonton Student Alliance or the student senate of the public school board to make sure you’re hearing from as many youth voices as possible?” he asked.
Remaining Committees
Five committees will remain active: the Accessibility Advisory Committee, the Community Services Advisory Board, the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission, the Edmonton Design Committee, and the Naming Committee. Knack said it “made sense” for these boards to continue under the current system.
Official Decision
The council will officially vote on the changes at its April 28 meeting. Knack assured that the city is not abandoning its diversity commitments but is reimagining how it communicates with stakeholders. “I worry we’ve been a bit complacent of just saying, ‘We’ve engaged’ because we have this one group. Meanwhile there’s 10 other organizations representing those voices as well. How do you make sure they’re included?” he said.
