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Headlines: Nov. 15, 2022

· The Pulse
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  • City staff presented council the 2023-2026 operating budget during a Nov. 14 meeting and indicated the city would need to raise taxes by nearly 3% each year to retain the same service levels as recent years. At least one councillor, Ashley Salvador of Ward Métis, expressed concern that the budget falls short on climate investment. "I worry that if we don't start now we're actually not going to have enough runway to do what we said we needed to do," Salvador said. Public hearings on the budget are scheduled for Nov. 28 and 29. Council is expected to hold more thorough deliberations from Nov. 30 to Dec. 16.
  • The Edmonton Social Planning Council released its 2022 Living Wage Report, which says a living wage in Edmonton is $21.40 an hour, up from $18.10 in 2021. "A living wage is rooted in the belief that individuals and families should not just survive, but live with dignity and participate in their community," the authors wrote. It is defined as "the hourly wage that a primary income earner must make to provide for themselves, their families, and reach basic financial security." Minimum wage in Alberta is currently $15 an hour for workers 18 and older.
  • Children's hospitals in Alberta are experiencing an influx of kids infected with viral illnesses including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, the common cold, and COVID-19. The Stollery Children's Hospital has seen wait times rise to 16.5 hours since late September, while the number of children triaged as needing urgent, emergent, and critical care has increased 5.5%. "The Stollery and Alberta Children's Hospital (in Calgary) have been overwhelmed," including by seriously sick kids and pre-teens, said Dr. Sam Wong with the Alberta Medical Association. "They're ending up in ICU requiring intubation and blood pressure support. So it's a serious illness." Meanwhile, Premier Danielle Smith reiterated the province will not introduce mask mandates.
  • Dr. Deena Hinshaw has been replaced as Alberta's chief medical officer of health after serving in the role since January 2019 and overseeing the province's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Mark Joffe, an Alberta Health Services vice president, took over the position effective Nov. 14. "I have always put the needs of my patients first and foremost throughout my career, which will continue as I take on this new challenge," Joffe said in a news release. Replacing Hinshaw was among Danielle Smith's first promises after being sworn in as Alberta premier.
  • A shigella outbreak primarily impacting Edmonton's "inner-city population" has doubled in about a month, reaching 163 reported cases on Nov. 14. In a statement, Alberta Health Services said the bacteria is affecting groups "including but not limited to Edmonton's vulnerable and houseless population" and advises everyone to practice hand hygiene even if the risk to the "general public" remains low. AHS has created a task force involving the city, shelters, and Alberta Community and Social Services to address the outbreak.
  • The Edmonton Police Service is reallocating resources this week to fulfill its plan to move 62 more officers to the front lines and create a 10-squad patrol model, a move first announced in October. The change will have service impacts including the closure of the front counter at the northwest police station and reduced hours at other stations. As of Nov. 13, front counters in all remaining EPS divisions are closed on weekends except for the downtown division, which is open 8am-8pm every day. Counters in the southeast, southwest, west, and northeast divisions are open 9am-5pm on weekdays.
  • Parisa Ghanbari, an international student from Iran completing her master's at Concordia University of Edmonton, is raising awareness of common scams in Canada after she lost $10,900 needed to cover tuition for the upcoming semester. The scams in question can involve fake government agents, threats to immigration status, and general coercion. The Concordia Students' Association said information about scams should be included in new student orientation and reminders sent through emails and social media. Ghanbari has created a GoFundMe to help cover her tuition. "Provided the current situation in Iran, my family is afraid that they will not be able to arrange the money again within two months," she wrote.
  • Downtown Edmonton restaurant Tres Carnales Taqueria says it will reopen for business Nov. 15 after addressing issues raised in a recent Alberta Health Services inspection report and closure order. "We are so sorry to everyone we have let down. Thanks to our fast and thorough crew, AHS now reports that every single deficiency point has been addressed to meet their stringent satisfaction," the restaurant said in an Instagram post.
  • The 2022 AC Awards, hosted by Diversity Magazine, took place on Nov. 12 to celebrate the achievements of African Albertans and Albertans with African roots. "It means a lot because it comes from the community — from folks who have for several years perhaps watched my public engagement on issues that they care about," said University of Alberta criminology and sociology professor Temitope Oriola, who was recognized in the "Professional of the Year" category. Diversity Magazine published a full list of recipients.
  • Many Edmontonians are gearing up to watch Team Canada compete in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The team has brought on Edmonton soccer star Alphonso Davies, who plays for Bayern Munich, banishing fears he would be sidelined by a hamstring injury earlier this month. Canada faces Belgium in its first group match on Nov. 23.