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October 22, 2025 100 mins

Will Mayor-elect Andrew Knack be able to improve Edmonton's relationship with the province? Is there reason to believe city council will operate more smoothly than it has over the past four years? Should Alberta consider defunding private schools in light of sustained budget pressures, or should the education portion of property taxes "follow the student"? We take on these big questions and more in this episode of Real Talk. 

This episode is presented by RapidEX Financial: https://rapidexfinancial.com/

5:30 | Sarah Hamilton is the only Edmonton city councillor (aside from Mayor Sohi) that did not seek re-election. She gives us the inside scoop on alleged "dysfunction" with the previous council, how she thinks Mayor-elect Andrew Knack will navigate relations with the provincial government, and what was behind her high-profile dispute with fellow councillor Jo-Anne Wright. Feature interviews on Real Talk are presented by Mercedes-Benz Edmonton West. 

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: talk@ryanjespersen.com 

MBEW: https://www.mercedes-benz-edmontonwest.ca/

38:30 | You've still got time to check out the Jasper Dark Sky Festival! We've got details on the upcoming (free!) TALK concert, dinner with former astronaut Robert Thirsk, and more in this week's #MyJasper Memories presented by Tourism Jasper. We also tee up the first-ever Halloween event in Jasper, Creatures Return, running October 31-November 2. 

JASPER DARK SKY FESTIVAL: https://www.jasperdarksky.travel/

CREATURES RETURN: https://rtrj.info/MyJasperCreaturesReturn

42:00 | More Albertans are debating funding for private schools in light of budget restraints relating to the teachers' strike. John Jagersma from the Association of Independent Schools and Colleges in Alberta (AISCA) lays out the argument for continued support for independent education in the province. 

AISCA: https://www.aisca.ab.ca/

1:36:00 | Real Talkers share their thoughts on private school funding in our Live Chat powered by Park Power. We hear what you have to say about Alberta's new proposed license plate design. 

SAVE on INTERNET, ELECTRICITY, and NATURAL GAS: https://parkpower.ca/realtalk/

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The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

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