Headlines: Sept. 3, 2024

Sept. 3, 2024 · The Pulse
By Mariam Ibrahim

The Edmonton Police Commission has requested that city council remove its two councillor positions from the commission and replace them with community appointees, citing potential conflicts of interest and the need for broader community representation. Council is expected to consider the proposal during its Sept. 10 meeting. The recommendation comes amid strained relations between the council and the commission following disputes over access to audit plans and recent provincial appointments to the commission.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the appointment of Daryl Fridhandler and Kristopher Wells as independent senators for Alberta. Fridhandler, a corporate lawyer and long-time federal Liberal supporter, and Wells, an advocate for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, were selected despite not being on Alberta's recent Senate election ballot, sparking criticism from Premier Danielle Smith. The appointments have reignited discussions about the need for Senate reform in Canada.
Residents of Edmonton's Ottewell neighbourhood are frustrated with ongoing construction that began in summer 2023 and is expected to last until fall 2026. Postmedia spoke to residents who expressed frustration about a lack of communication, unmarked construction zones, speeding vehicles, and disrupted school bus routes. Coun. Ashley Salvador acknowledged the concerns and is working with City of Edmonton administration to improve safety measures and communication.
Edmonton Coun. Andrew Knack and the non-profit Paths for People are raising safety concerns with the Alberta government's decision to ban photo radar on provincial and numbered highways. The changes, which would restrict photo radar to playground, school, and construction zones, could have an effect on Edmonton's efforts to reduce speed-related fatal crashes, according to a council memo.
Edmonton's Valley Line Southeast LRT has recorded 15 vehicle-train collisions and three pedestrian incidents since opening in November, including a recent partial derailment. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi emphasized the need for drivers to obey traffic rules to avoid such accidents. Transit planner David Cooper of Leading Mobility suggested that as people adjust to the new LRT, incidents will likely decrease.
Edmonton Coun. Aaron Paquette appeared on Global Edmonton to speak about his idea for a financial plan aimed at avoiding further budget cuts or tax increases. The plan highlights strategic adjustments and reallocations to maintain city services without additional financial burdens on city residents. Paquette said his plan would also ensure that the EdTel Endowment Fund, which was created in 1995 to hold the proceeds from the sale of Edmonton telephones to TELUS, would be allowed to grow, ultimately providing Edmonton with sustainable finances.
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi published a video on social media criticizing the Alberta government for not paying its full share of property taxes on provincial buildings in Edmonton. Sohi said this has resulted in an $80-million shortfall for the City's finances, which has forced Edmonton to increase property taxes on other property owners to cover the deficit. Sohi also highlighted a decline in provincial infrastructure grants since 2008.
Opioid-related overdose deaths in Alberta have significantly decreased, with May 2024 seeing the lowest monthly count since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Alberta recorded 431 deaths between January and May of this year, compared to 788 during the same period last year, marking a 55% decrease. Despite the positive trend, advocates and medical professionals remain concerned about future overdose numbers. Hundreds gathered at Victoria Park in Edmonton on Aug. 31 to mark International Overdose Awareness Day during an event organized by Moms Stop the Harm to support those affected by overdose and raise awareness of the crisis.
A team of 80 volunteers from the Edmonton and Area Land Trust are relocating a den of at-risk red-sided garter snakes to a safer area west of Edmonton to prevent them from being run over by vehicles. The team constructs artificial hibernacula using cinder blocks and paving stones to provide a new habitat for the snakes, which help control the rodent population and also serve as prey for other species. Last year, nearly 400 snake deaths were reported in Alberta.
Former Alberta MLA Doug Main has announced the formation of a new municipal conservative party, the Principled, Accountable Coalition for Edmonton (PACE), ahead of next year's municipal elections, Dave Cournoyer reported on his Daveberta blog. Provincial legislation is set to permit the establishment of political parties at the municipal level. Other groups that have emerged include Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson's TAPYEG party and Abdul Abdi's Edmonton Forward advocacy group.
Security personnel at the Alberta legislature in Edmonton are now authorized to carry firearms. The change, which was put forward by the province in December 2022 and came into effect on Sept. 1, designates these officers as peace officers under the Criminal Code. The move aligns Alberta with other Canadian jurisdictions and includes comprehensive training and equipment for the officers.
Edmonton entrepreneur Bradley Pierson founded Trouvay in 2022 to use genetic genealogy technology to help people identify their families, and has since expanded to help law enforcement with cold cases. He is also collaborating with Indigenous communities to address historical injustices and identify residential school victims. Pierson, who presented his project at the Edmonton Unlimited StudentPreneur showcase, aims to make Trouvay a leader in investigative genetic genealogy across Canada.
Alberta MLA Scott Cyr is criticizing Edmonton city council's decision to oppose the relocation of the Camrose Casino to south Edmonton. Cyr argued that the relocation would benefit northern and north-central Alberta charities, which face long wait times and smaller revenues. Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi stood by council's position, saying the relocation would negatively impact local charities and infrastructure.
Global Edmonton celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sept. 1, marking half a century since it first signed on-air as ITV in 1974. The station is featuring on-air celebrations all week.