City of Edmonton Councillor Jennifer Rice Phone: 780.496.

8132
Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi Fax: 780.496.8113
Jennifer.Rice@edmonton.ca
2nd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7

December 1, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Some very troubling allegations about me and how I run my council office have been making the news in
the last several days. I take this matter very seriously.

I was the only Edmonton City Councillor who voted against the municipal operating budget — a budget
that will raise the taxes of Edmontonians by 6.6 per cent for 2024 during difficult economic times.
Multiple news articles came out - literally at the same time where I was standing up for people who are
facing affordability challenges. The timing of these articles is concerning, as this was an unfortunate
distraction from the city’s budget affordability crisis.

Like anyone, I am not a perfect person and there has been a learning curve in my first term on council.
Since I was elected, creating and building a value-based professional work environment to ensure
taxpayers always receive the best services from my office has always been my standard, and at the same
time, creating and building a safe and welcoming work environment for everyone has always been my
intent. I’m saddened to learn through these news articles that some people felt they did not have a good
employment experience, and if this is their perception, I am sincerely sorry. I am in the process of
making arrangements to engage in workplace training and will invite my current staff to attend.

Having said that, I feel the way I have been portrayed in recent media reports is inaccurate.

As a Chinese immigrant, caring and loving for one another and working hard are fundamental principles
for me as an individual and a city councillor. Speaking loudly at times is a cultural trait as my first
language involves many different tones. I have improved my English since coming to Canada, but it is
not always perfect. I ran for public office because I love this city and its people and I want to make a
positive difference by giving back to the city where I was embraced with a big heart. I want to help
make Edmonton a better and more beautiful city for all its residents and visitors — from those
experiencing homelessness to our wealth creators. I will continue to work tirelessly to represent people
in Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi and endeavour to keep costs down for all Edmonton residents.

Recent news reports indicate that a number of staff members have cycled through my office – without
adequate context. The staff I have had includes temporary support staff to help out when needed and
staff who were hired under contract for a limited time. In addition, I have provided casual and summer
employment opportunities to a number of students to help support their career development. I have
enjoyed working with some very good staff but I am unable to provide more detailed information
because that would violate their privacy.

This will be my final comment on this matter.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Rice
City Councillor for Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi