- Edmonton city council approved the new Public Spaces Bylaw on Feb. 25 after a lengthy debate and several amendments. The new bylaw, which consolidates multiple regulations into one to modernize public space management, introduces new permit rules for events, reinforces transit space usage, regulates visible drug use, and grants bylaw officers “Direction to Stop” authority for minor infractions. Advocates raised concerns that some provisions could disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, prompting revisions and a GBA+ review before the final approval, the City of Edmonton said in a release. The bylaw, which also updates rules for food trucks and sidewalk cycling, will take effect on May 12.
- Alberta Infrastructure Minister Pete Guthrie resigned from cabinet, citing concerns about government procurement practices. In a statement on Feb. 25, Guthrie said he had raised concerns about inconsistencies and recommended a financial oversight committee. Last week, Guthrie ordered an internal audit of a land purchase by his department from a numbered company led by MHCare Medical CEO Sam Mraiche, and notified the provincial auditor general. The NDP reiterated calls for a public inquiry into procurement practices, following allegations from former Alberta Health Services CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos regarding conflicts of interest and questionable contracts.
- About 400 support workers from the Parkland School Division, including educational assistants, custodians, and library staff, began full strike action on Feb. 25 after spending a week in a “work-to-rule” job action. The workers, represented by CUPE Local 5543, have been in negotiations with the school division since October 2024.
- The Edmonton Police Commission Ad Hoc Full-time Chief Hiring Committee hired Mullen Leadership Recruitment to find suitable candidates for the next chief of the Edmonton Police Service. As part of the search, Leger will conduct a public survey, including face-to-face engagement with underrepresented groups in Edmonton, to gather insights on desired leadership qualities and priorities for the new chief. The commission aims to hire a full-time chief by the end of 2025.
- Premier Danielle Smith faced questions about surgery costs at private facilities after internal documents obtained by The Canadian Press indicated that Alberta Surgical Group billed $8,300 for hip replacements, while estimates at public facilities were just more than $4,000. Smith said that Alberta Health Services was not accurately reporting surgery costs and that public facility estimates don’t include all costs, such as implant devices, facility fees, and imaging. Alberta Surgical Group said it could not disclose contract specifics, but cited data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information showing hip replacements in Alberta cost $10,474.
- Alberta is proposing changes to licensing for mental health and addiction services through Bill 37, the Mental Health Services Protection Amendment Act 2025, introduced by Mental Health and Addiction Minister Dan Williams on Feb. 25. The bill aims to create three distinct categories for bed-based addiction treatment: withdrawal management, intensive treatment, and non-intensive recovery. It also grants the minister the power to exempt specific providers from the framework in certain cases, such as for medical reasons or in the public interest, especially in remote or Indigenous communities. The amendments also include renaming supervised consumption sites to drug consumption sites and residential addiction treatment services to bed-based addiction treatment services, with the changes potentially taking effect in fall 2025.
Headlines: Feb. 26, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim