Calgary - On Thursday, Alberta’s Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen asked the City of Edmonton to cancel an ongoing bike lane project, citing traffic concerns.
Ward 7 city council candidate David Barrett says Dreeshen’s political interference in Edmonton’s bike lane project is a warning for Calgary.
“Alberta’s transportation minister has decided he belongs in city planning discussions,” says Barrett. “That won’t stop at Edmonton.”
Dreeshen is continuing the province’s pattern of meddling in municipal affairs.
“Minister Dreeshen can’t be trusted with city transportation projects,” says Barrett. “It’s not his job, and even if it were, he can’t be trusted to deliver. He jeopardized Calgary’s Green Line and cost our city billions. He now feels he can veto any local project. He needs to stay in his lane.”
Provincial governments should stay out of local bike lane decisions—because cities know their communities best.
Edmonton, Calgary, and other Alberta municipalities understand their unique transit needs, from traffic patterns to neighbourhood safety.
When the province interferes, it slows progress, politicizes infrastructure, and ignores the voices of residents who actually use these streets.
“Instead of trying to undermine local democracy, the minister should reinvest our property tax dollars into vital projects our cities need,” says Barrett.
Bike lanes reduce congestion, cut emissions, and make cities more livable—but local councils, not disconnected politicians, should drive these choices.
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