- Edmonton saw a nearly 9% decrease in automated photo radar tickets at intersections this summer compared to previous years, with about 7,500 fewer tickets issued, according to City of Edmonton data. The data also shows that 7,007 red light tickets were issued this summer compared with 5,850 last summer, an increase of nearly 20%. Across the city, three intersections accounted for 30% of all photo radar tickets: 170 Street at 118 Avenue, Mark Messier Trail at Campbell Road, and Gateway Boulevard at 34 Avenue. The Alberta Motor Association says summer is typically the most dangerous driving season of the year.
- Mental health resources at the Edmonton Remand Centre are "completely inadequate," a fatality inquiry into the 2020 death of inmate Jonathan Anderson has found. Anderson died after not receiving timely mental health treatment at the facility, which has a backlog of mental health requests and is understaffed, the inquiry found. In her report, Justice Marilena Carminati recommended increased staffing and changes to monitoring protocols to prevent similar incidents. A spokesperson for Alberta Health Services said Recovery Alberta is reviewing the recommendations, "and will implement additional measures where possible."
- The City of Edmonton's shift to citywide land-use policies could undermine the unique character and needs of individual neighbourhoods, Rob Smyth, a former city deputy manager, argued in an op-ed published in Postmedia. Smyth wrote that while the city's new approach, through efforts like the Zoning Bylaw Renewal, the City Plan, and District Policy, aims to address issues like housing affordability and climate change, it could neglect the needs of local communities. "Big citywide visions and plans are essential building blocks for our city," Smyth wrote. "But so too are neighbourhood plans that tailor city policies to neighbourhood contexts."
- More than 200 Edmonton educational staff gathered outside the Alberta legislature on the weekend to protest for better wages and working conditions in schools. CUPE 3550, which represents educational assistants and other staff, is in negotiations for a new contract. Union local president Mandy Lamoureux said the province's mandated 2.75% wage increase is inadequate amid inflation and cost of living pressures.
- A Maru Public Opinion poll done for CityNews found that cost of living is a top concern for residents in Alberta's two largest cities, with 77% of Edmontonians and 80% of Calgarians struggling to make ends meet. Groceries, housing, and utilities were named as the most significant financial burdens.
- The City of Edmonton highlighted Edge Fund recipients in the life sciences sector to mark Life Sciences Week, which runs from Sept. 23 to 27. Entrepreneurs and ventures supported by the fund include Future Fields, 48Hour Discovery, and OligomicsTX. Life Sciences Week is supported by Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API), and features more than 60 events to showcase Alberta's leadership in life sciences innovation. "It's a massively growing sector in the province," API CEO Andrew MacIsaac told Global News.
- Alberta doctors are accusing the provincial government of delaying a promised new payment model for primary care physicians, despite repeated public commitments from Health Minister Adriana LaGrange. The Alberta Medical Association has pushed for a year to secure the new model, which would allocate an additional $200-$250 million annually to support family doctors and rural generalists. While the government says it remains committed to finalizing the deal, doctors say immediate action is needed to address the family doctor shortage.
- Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane will be sidelined for the start of the NHL season after undergoing surgery in New York last week to repair both abductors, two hernias, and two abdominal tears. The 33-year-old is expected to take five to six months to recover. Kane will complete his rehabilitation in Edmonton, where Oilers medical staff will monitor him.
Headlines: Sept. 24, 2024
By Mariam Ibrahim