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Headlines: March 7, 2025

· The Pulse
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  • Police issued tickets to the driver of a semi-truck that crashed into a Sherwood Park Freeway overpass on March 4. Police also ticketed the company that owns the truck. The driver was issued 13 tickets totalling nearly $25,000 and will be required to appear in court. The company received nine tickets totalling about $13,000. The freeway has since reopened, but northbound and southbound traffic on 34 Street have been reduced to one lane.
  • About 100 people held an emergency rally outside the Alberta legislature in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine. The federal government said Canada is prepared to offer troops to Britain and France's "coalition of the willing" peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire.
  • Postmedia columnist Keith Gerein's latest piece discusses the potential for a 10-year extension to the Downtown Community Revitalization Levy, which would allow millions of public dollars to go to a host of "catalyst projects," including remediating brownfield sites on Village at Ice District land and developing an "event park" next to Rogers Place. Business groups supported the idea, but some councillors questioned it for being "corporate welfare" or not serving the public good. Gerein wrote that the "overriding message to council" has been that "this is probably as good as it's going to get — especially at a time of financial distress." Council is set to review a report on the topic on March 18.
  • Municipal officials from across the province discussed how U.S. tariffs could affect their communities during the Alberta Municipalities conference in Edmonton this week. Local leaders also asked the province to start collecting education property taxes, which are going up 4.5% over two years, instead of having municipalities collect them as part of their property taxes. Premier Danielle Smith is scheduled to speak at the conference on March 7.
  • The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission announced it has suspended the import of U.S. liquor starting at 12pm on March 6 as part of the province's response to U.S. tariffs. Stores are allowed to sell their remaining inventory but not reorder, and AGLC won't accept returns. Meanwhile, Premier Danielle Smith appeared on American television networks to respond to the tariffs and defend the province's actions. U.S. President Donald Trump announced March 6 he will pause tariffs on some Canadian goods until April 2.
  • Rajah Maggay, a staff member for Coun. Andrew Knack, announced she is running in Ward Nakota Isga in the Edmonton municipal election, set for Oct. 20. Knack announced last year that he isn't running again. Meanwhile, Coun. Karen Principe said she would run for the Conservative Party of Canada in the riding Edmonton Griesbach, making her unlikely to run again in Ward tastawiyiniwak. Municipal commentator Troy Pavlek is keeping an up-to-date list of people running for local office. Dave Cournoyer, who runs Daveberta.ca, is keeping a list of federal election candidates in Alberta.
  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released its 2025 housing market outlook, which says Edmonton will continue to have an active resale market in 2025 due to migration and relative affordability, although not as active as 2024, which saw historic transactions and housing starts. CMHC said it expects a gradual increase in rental vacancy and slowing rent increases, after monthly average rates for a two-bedroom rose to $1,536 last fall.
  • The Nonprofit Chamber, which focuses on policy issues related to the nonprofit sector in Alberta, published highlights from the 2025 Alberta budget, which it says makes "a few new major investments" and changes how funds are spent, but "doesn't make many waves." The Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations also released a list of budget highlights, while the Edmonton Social Planning Council released a fact sheet.
  • The RCMP has launched an investigation into allegations against Alberta Health Services based on a complaint it received Feb. 6. Since former CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos filed a lawsuit against AHS for wrongful dismissal on Feb. 12, her allegations have sparked an investigation from Alberta's auditor general and a third-party investigation led by former judge Raymond E. Wyant, while the Opposition NDP has called for a full public inquiry. No statements of defense have been filed, but Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said she'll file one in the "coming weeks," CBC reported.
  • Anna Bajwa-Zschocke wrote an opinion piece for The Gateway suggesting low voter turnout in the 2024 University of Alberta Students' Union elections is reflective of a broader voter turnout problem. Just 16.88% of students voted last year, down 9.7% from 2023. Meanwhile, the 2021 federal election had a 62.6% voter turnout, while turnout for Edmonton's 2021 municipal election was just 37.6%. "Change is possible, and it starts by getting involved with bodies of government that directly impact your day-to-day," Bajwa-Zschocke wrote.
  • Strathcona County council appointed Stacy Fedechko as chief administrative officer effective March 3, replacing Darrell Reid, who retired in January. Fedechko has been the county's associate commissioner for infrastructure and planning services since 2020. She is the first woman to serve as chief administrative officer in the county's history.