- While U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods have been delayed, Edmonton politicians and business leaders are discussing how to address them. City manager Eddie Robar said the tariffs would be "highly disruptive" to the local and regional economies. Municipal officials discussed diversification, supply chains, infrastructure investment, and other issues with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and Edmonton Global, and have plans to meet with the Edmonton International Airport, EPCOR, and Explore Edmonton.
- Edmonton city council voted 9-4 to allow administration to sell 11 surplus school sites at below market value in order to build more affordable housing. Administration said the sites could accommodate 1,800 new units, of which 900 would be affordable units. Some residents in communities with surplus school sites, including Wedgewood Heights, have raised concerns about a lack of public engagement and the loss of green space.
- Edmonton Elections is holding an online information session on Feb. 7 about campaign finances for candidates running in the 2025 municipal election. The session will also include information for people who submitted a 2024 notice of intent to run for council or school board trustee. Candidates with campaign disclosure statements for 2024 must submit them by March 3 or face fines and potential ineligibility.
- Edmonton city council discussed a proposal from Coun. Andrew Knack to introduce a pilot program to tow vehicles that remain on the street during winter parking bans and street sweeps. Knack, who suggested "maybe 5% of people" who aren't moving their vehicles are affecting core services for everyone else, asked administration to look into creating a "zero net cost" program. A report is expected later this year.
- The Edmonton Police Commission cancelled its Feb. 20 public meeting to instead hold a training and team-building session. "With half our board being new commissioners, it is important to get everyone up to speed on police governance and work towards building a strong and cohesive team," commission chair Ben Henderson said in a release. The next public meeting is scheduled for March 20.
- Four weeks into the education support worker strike, the Edmonton Public School Board and CUPE Local 3550 have yet to reach an agreement. In a letter to parents, the school board said union leaders have left the bargaining table, and the two sides "remain far apart on wages."
- The Alberta government is suing Contentment Social Services for $140,000 in losses and damages that the province incurred by taking over the care of several vulnerable clients in 2024 when the non-profit moved people discharged from hospital into hotel rooms instead of a long-term care facility. The province said it is assessing allegations of financial abuse and inadequate client care, and the Edmonton Police Service is investigating a report of a fraud.
- With U.S. President Donald Trump calling for Canada to address fentanyl and illegal migration over the Canada-U.S. border, Premier Danielle Smith said her government will increase police and provincial resources to target fentanyl labs and dealers. Meanwhile, RCMP in Edmonton held a news conference about three cases where officers in Alberta and Manitoba stopped people entering illegally into Canada. Data shows that both the amount of fentanyl and the number of people who illegally cross the Canada-U.S. border are tiny compared to the Mexico-U.S. border.
Headlines: Feb. 6, 2025
By Kevin Holowack