- At its meeting on Oct. 22, Edmonton city council discussed the 2025 municipal election, which will include significant changes because of Alberta's Bill 20, such as the formation of political parties and allowing unions, corporations, and third-party advertisers to contribute financially. Councillors raised concerns about unfair spending advantages for party-affiliated candidates, as spending limits have increased significantly. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said he is worried about external financial influences on local elections, calling Bill 20 a "bad, bad piece of legislation."
- Edmonton city councillors voted 11-2 against implementing a requirement for criminal record checks for municipal election candidates, an option made available because of provincial changes to municipal elections. Councillors raised concerns that introducing such a requirement could discourage candidates with past mistakes and disproportionately affect marginalized groups. They also noted criminal record checks aren't required for provincial or federal election candidates.
- Edmonton recorded a significant increase in frostbite-related amputations last winter, reaching 110 cases, which was the highest in more than a decade, CBC News reported. In contrast, Calgary saw a decline with only about a third of Edmonton's cases. Doctors and advocates suggest the discrepancy between the two cities may be influenced by Edmonton's aggressive encampment eviction policy, with more than half of the amputations in both cities affecting homeless individuals. Last month, a coalition of advocacy groups released a joint statement calling on Edmonton to halt encampment removals and for all levels of government to take urgent action on homelessness.
- Edmonton will shift to its winter curbside collection schedule beginning the week of Oct. 28. Food scraps will be collected biweekly and recycling will be collected weekly. Residents are reminded to clear snow and ice from their carts and ensure proper placement for easier collection.
- The Alberta government has intervened to prevent a strike by 3,200 Edmonton Public Schools support staff by appointing a disputes inquiry board to facilitate negotiations between the board and the CUPE Local 3550. The workers, who are advocating for better wages and benefits, had planned to strike beginning Oct. 24 due to stagnant wages over the past 12 years, but the inquiry board's establishment delays any strike action until the process concludes. Meanwhile, public school custodial workers represented by CUPE Local 474 have also voted in favour of a strike, although no strike notice has been issued.
- St. Albert is the latest municipality to consider leaving the regional economic development agency Edmonton Global, with concerns over rising costs and the return on investment. If the motion to withdraw is passed in November, St. Albert would still need to pay its dues for two years while the new council, set to be elected in October 2025, reviews the decision. The move follows similar actions by other municipalities that have questioned Edmonton Global's funding model and effectiveness in fostering regional economic growth.
- A man suspected of fatally hitting a 68-year-old pedestrian while riding an electric dirt bike on Oct. 11 was apprehended with the help of a local group of electric vehicle enthusiasts who recognized him and detained him until the Edmonton Police Service arrived. Johnathan Clarke, 25, faces charges of dangerous driving causing death, criminal negligence causing death, and failing to stop after an accident resulting in death.
- The City of Edmonton launched a shop local campaign in support of the city's small business community, which makes up 95% of Edmonton's more than 38,000 businesses. The campaign, launched as part of Small Business Week, is part of a matching grant from the Alberta government to "leverage $200,000 over two years towards small business support," the City said in a release.
- CTV News profiled Dash, a six-year-old springer spaniel vital in detecting and preventing bed bug infestations in Edmonton. Dash works with Orkin Canada Pest Control to inspect various locations, including Find Edmonton, a second-hand store supporting people transitioning out of homelessness. Dash and his canine partner, Heidi, are trained to detect bed bugs and signal their presence, helping to ensure items are bug-free.
- Edmonton's Marco Arop, an Olympic silver medallist and reigning 800-metre world champion, has become the first Canadian to sign with the new professional league Grand Slam Track, set to launch in 2025. The league, started by retired American sprinter Michael Johnson, will feature nearly 100 top athletes competing for $12.6 million in prize money across four annual events.
Headlines: Oct. 23, 2024
By Mariam Ibrahim