- City council began discussions about a new funding formula for the Edmonton Police Service but ultimately decided it needed more time to understand and ask questions about it. City manager Andre Corbould took responsibility for the delayed release of the reports, which were only posted a few days before the meeting instead of the usual 10 days. "This is 100% my accountability as city manager," he told council. The issue will be discussed again on Friday, Oct. 7, though several councillors suggested it should be delayed further, until after the next Edmonton Police Commission meeting on Oct. 20.
- City council also questioned the Edmonton Police Commission about a perceived conflict of interest after it hired the Community Safety Knowledge Alliance — a non-profit organization whose chair and president is Edmonton police chief Dale McFee — for a report analyzing police funding. "Did no one stop to say, 'This might be problematic in the eyes of the public'?" Coun. Aaron Paquette asked during the meeting. The commission said in a statement that "in order to maintain the integrity of the report, police chiefs did not write, direct, or otherwise influence its contents."
- Edmonton is getting 24 new affordable rental units, including rent-to-own units, that will provide accessible off-reserve housing for members of Paul First Nation. According to Paul First Nation council member Myrna Rabbit, there are more than 500 members living in the city for education or due to a lack of housing on the reserve near Duffield. The provincial and federal governments will provide joint funding of $3 million for the project located at 165 Street and 100 Avenue, with the City of Edmonton providing a $1.5-million grant. Construction is expected to begin later this year.
- The Clareview Community Recreation Centre will be rebranded as the "Jumpstart Community Recreation Centre" after city council voted 8-5 to move ahead with a 10-year sponsorship agreement with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. As part of the agreement, both sides will work to improve access to marginalized and vulnerable groups.
- Mayor Amarjeet Sohi appeared on Global News to share his thoughts on the province's recently announced funding for addiction and homelessness in light of the upcoming UCP leadership vote. "The funding announced on Saturday is budgeted for already," said Sohi. "I would be surprised if the province doesn't move ahead on these very basic needs to help struggling Edmontonians get better."
- Lauren Skibinsky, a former constable with the Edmonton Police Service, has been given a 12-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to perjury for false comments made while on trial for forgery, a charge he was originally acquitted of before being incriminated by a new investigation. The sentence means that Skibinsky will have a criminal record, but avoids jail time.
- The province will invest $1 million into a new not-for-profit organization called the Alberta Bureau for International Education, which will exist as an independent board-governed entity at SAIT, for the purpose of showcasing Alberta's post-secondary system to international students and creating international learning opportunities for Albertans.
Headlines: Oct. 4, 2022
By Kevin Holowack and Mack Male