Headlines

Feb. 7, 2022 · The Pulse
By Mack Male and Doug Johnson

Martin Garber-Conrad will retire from his position as chief executive officer of the Edmonton Community Foundation, effective June 30. Garber-Conrad has held the position since 2005, stewarding the growth of the organization's assets to more than $700 million.
The city received more than twice the number of complaints about snow on sidewalks last month compared to January 2021, up from 957 to 2,184. The number of tickets issued grew by 24% over the same time period.
The city could expand or enhance up to 678 kilometres of multi-use trails over the next decade, according to an implementation guide for the Edmonton Bike Plan. Cost estimates range from $12.7 million to $19 million per year, CBC reports.
The planned Metro Line LRT extension from Castle Downs to St. Albert has been de-prioritized in the city's new mass transit plan. Extending the Capital Line LRT further south past Ellerslie Road is now the first priority, though ultimately the decision will be up to city council.
Hundreds of people converged on Edmonton for the second straight weekend, honking and clogging up roads as part of a truck convoy calling for an end to COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates. "This convoy is not about truckers or about freedom," said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. "I understand and share the worries and frustrations of Edmontonians. These protests are disrupting their daily lives, particularly of those living and doing business in the Downtown core and surrounding communities."
Driver shortages due to COVID-19 are causing Edmonton schools to face bus delays. One service said that it has between 10% and 15% fewer drivers — some students are arriving up to one and a half hours late.
Most of Edmonton's homeless shelters have been struggling against the fifth wave of COVID-19, and are working to ramp up vaccination efforts. In some cases, operators have had to choose between keeping people warm during cold snaps or keeping occupancy down to lower the risk of infection.
Immunocompromised Albertans are expressing concern about the relaxation of public health restrictions. Health experts have also expressed concern that the province is planning to lift the restrictions exemption program too quickly.
Critics are also concerned about Premier Jason Kenney's suggestion that the province could restrict municipal governments from enacting their own public health restrictions. "It's a remarkably heavy-handed manoeuvre from the province, one that has sometimes touted the benefits of a local governance," said Eric Adams, a law professor at the University of Alberta. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said he expects the province will allow cities to enact their own rules. "I know that Premier Kenney appreciates each jurisdiction's autonomy and each order of governments' ability to make their own decisions," he said. "I believe that his government will not restrict our ability to take actions to keep our fellow Edmontonians safe."
In-person learning will begin again at the University of Alberta as of Feb. 28. Pre-existing safety measures such as vaccine passport checking and enhanced ventilation systems will remain.
A new Angus Reid poll suggests that 73% of Albertans are disillusioned with the federal government. Around 61% of Albertans surveyed said they disagree with the idea that the country's system of government works.