Headlines: March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024 · The Pulse
By Kevin Holowack

Premier Danielle Smith told reporters she is concerned about Edmonton's finances and stability, citing the turnover of seven senior executives, including city manager Andre Corbould, and that the province is "on standby to help" if asked. Postmedia opinion columnist David Staples wrote that "should it be required, the province will step in to stabilize the city and audit the finances and corporate culture," but Smith said that no firm plans are in place. In a statement, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said the city is complying with its guiding legislation, and it was "clear from the premier's comments today that there are no inspections or audits planned for the City of Edmonton."
Edmonton's spring waste collection begins on April 2, moving green food scrap cart collection to a weekly schedule. Black garbage cart collection will continue happening every two weeks, and recycling will still be collected weekly. Yard waste collection days run Mondays from April 22 to June 17. Every curbside residence will get two yard waste collection days. Also starting April 2, Eco Stations will move to summer hours of 8am to 6pm seven days a week.
The city has launched a new Truth and Reconciliation Dashboard to share its progress on addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action. The dashboard shows city projects and initiatives active as of December 2023 are connected to 34 calls to action, and the city's TRC Municipal Response Plan includes 90 commitments connected to 39 calls to action.
Alberta's first commercial hydrogen fuelling station has opened at Blackjacks Roadhouse along Highway 2 in Leduc County. The station is a collaboration between the Alberta Motor Transport Association, Nikola Motor Canada, Leduc County, Emissions Reduction Alberta, and Blackjacks Roadhouse. At the opening, Premier Danielle Smith discussed the government's $100 million investment into the hydrogen sector, which has supported the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence and the Edmonton Hydrogen Hub. She also reiterated the province's commitment to the 5,000 Hydrogen Vehicle Challenge.
Crown prosecutors have declined to charge three St. Albert RCMP officers who arrested a non-verbal autistic youth in October 2022, despite the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team finding the officers' actions met the standard for unlawful confinement and possibly assault. The Crown said it found no reasonable likelihood of conviction were the case to go to trial. The youth's mother said the "damage of this decision is insurmountable" to the victim and the family.
Edmonton woman Jean Henderson has received the Governor General of Canada Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers, the highest honour for volunteer service in Canada, at a ceremony on March 27. Henderson has been volunteering in the Edmonton area for more than 45 years, including with the Edmonton Police Service crime and trauma-informed support services unit, Habitat for Humanity, and the Alberta SPCA.
The TELUS World of Science is inviting Edmontonians to a safe telescope viewing of a partial solar eclipse on April 8, which will be visible if skies are clear. The free viewing will take place from 11am to 2pm at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Observatory in Coronation Park.
The city is preparing to open municipal golf courses for the 2024 season. Victoria Driving Range will open March 28, while the Riverside, Rundle, and Victoria golf courses will open once the snow clears.