Edmonton's mayor is taking a leave of absence to run federally. What happens next?

Madeleine Cummings · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 24, 2025 7:50 PM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

Edmonton metropolis assembly granted Mayor Amarjeet Sohi's petition Monday day for an unpaid permission of lack portion helium runs for the Liberals in the national election.

Sohi announced connected Sunday helium is running successful Edmonton Southeast, a caller riding that covers portion of the country helium utilized to correspond arsenic the MP for Edmonton Mill Woods. 

Sohi's permission volition beryllium successful effect until the time the authoritative results of the predetermination are released. Canadians spell to the polls connected April 28. 

"I deliberation this is being respectful of the payer dollar, that the permission without wage is portion of the motion," said Coun. Jo Anne Wright during Monday's peculiar council meeting. 

She said this people of enactment volition besides assistance marque it wide to voters that implicit the coming weeks, Sohi volition beryllium acting arsenic a campaigner and not connected behalf of the City of Edmonton.

Sohi has said that helium volition travel backmost to the mayor's seat and service the remainder of his word if helium loses the national contention but helium volition not tally for re-election municipally successful the fall.

In the meantime, metropolis councillors volition instrumentality turns filling successful arsenic lawman mayor. Ward tastawiyiniwak Coun. Karen Principe has the presumption until April 21 and Ward O-day'min Coun. Anne Stevenson takes implicit aft that.

If Sohi wins the national seat, helium volition resign arsenic politician and metropolis assembly volition sermon filling his role, perchance with an interim politician oregon continuing with the lawman rotation.

Coun. Tim Cartmell, who recused himself from Monday's gathering due to the fact that helium is moving for mayor, told CBC News an interim politician would amended service the city. 

He says Sohi's permission puts metropolis assembly successful limbo and the politician should person alternatively resigned.

"Part of the relation of politician is seat astatine a batch of the meetings, and you know, astir of my colleagues tin seat a gathering — it's who responds to different levels of government," helium said. 

He besides said Sohi aligning himself with the Liberal Party is simply a "gamble" that could wage disconnected if Edmonton has a nonstop way of connection with the national authorities but could besides extremity up hurting the city.

Sohi told CBC News helium is pursuing an established process by going connected permission and helium is assured metropolis assembly volition transportation connected enactment good without him.

"This assembly is 1 of the strongest councils that I person ever worked with," helium said.

He besides said he'll proceed to play a relation to physique a amended Edmonton whether helium is successful authorities oregon not.

Sohi's departure from municipal authorities means the mayor's contention won't person an incumbent.

Cartmell said helium is continuing to enlistee candidates for his governmental party, with announcements to travel aboriginal successful the spring, erstwhile the national predetermination is done.

Ward Nakota Isga Coun. Andrew Knack, who has announced helium volition not tally arsenic a metropolis councillor again, said helium is going to earnestly see moving for mayor. 

He said helium has been getting calls, emails and texts from radical asking if he's reasoning astir running. 

"A week ago, I had nary thought that this could adjacent beryllium thing that could beryllium connected the table," helium said.