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Headlines: March 11, 2025

· The Pulse
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  • Despite record ridership, a recent City of Edmonton report shows many Edmontonians still don't perceive transit as safe, though police data shows a 6% decrease in average crime severity at LRT stations and transit centres in 2024. The Edmonton Transit Service says that perceptions of safety are affected by cleanliness, environmental design, and connectivity. The City has finalized a 30-year deal with TELUS to bring cell service to all LRT tunnels and stations by spring 2026 and in 2022, council put forward the Enhanced Transit Safety Plan, involving the City, Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, and the Edmonton Police Service. Councillors are set to review more ways to improve LRT safety at a March 18 meeting.
  • The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton (SACE) has paused intakes for several clinical services on March 10, including child, youth, and adult counselling because of what it calls "significant and unexpected" funding cuts from the provincial government. SACE says services will continue for current clients and those on a waiting list or with booked intakes. The government said that Budget 2025, if passed, would invest more than $88 million for the prevention of family and sexual violence, including a $1.5-million increase for sexual assault centres across the province. The government says SACE receives nearly $2.1 million in operational funding, which has not decreased.
  • A total lunar eclipse will be visible over Edmonton from the night of March 13 until the following morning, according to TELUS World of Science - Edmonton. During the eclipse, the Moon will appear red due to sunlight refracting through Earth's atmosphere. Unlike a solar eclipse, no special equipment is needed to view it. The public can view the eclipse at Coronation Park from 10pm to 3am, weather permitting.
  • Edmontonians have until March 31 to vote for the city's official bird. The final candidates are the Boreal Chickadee, the Black-billed Magpie, and the Blue Jay. Bird Friendly Edmonton, a joint initiative between local nature groups, is running the vote to raise awareness and support Edmonton's biodiversity goals. In 2022, Edmonton became the eighth Canadian city to receive a bird-friendly city certification from Nature Canada.
  • The Edmonton Police Service reported a decrease in shootings in February, with eight incidents compared to 14 in February 2024. All eight shootings were believed to be targeted, six resulted in injuries, and four posed a risk to bystanders. Police say shootings caused five deaths in February.
  • Alberta's 2025-26 budget plans to exceed $10 billion in spending for pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 education and replaces the weighted moving average (WMA) funding model with a two-year average adjusted enrolment method. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said 70% of funding will be based on anticipated enrolment, and the remainder based on current student numbers. Edmonton Public Schools board chair Julie Kusiek said the change will reduce the number of unfunded students to the equivalent of 1,000, down from about 3,000.
  • Egale Canada and Skipping Stone Foundation were in court March 10 to challenge Alberta's Bill 26, which bans gender-affirming care for trans youth under 16. They argue the law is unconstitutional and are seeking an injunction to prevent its enforcement. The Alberta government defends the bill, as necessary to protect children's future fertility, while critics say it causes irreparable harm by forcing trans youth to undergo puberty based on their sex assigned at birth. Premier Danielle Smith has suggested she may use the notwithstanding clause to uphold the law.
  • The United Nurses of Alberta and several provincial health agencies, including Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health, reached a tentative agreement that will give registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses an immediate wage increase of approximately 15%, and an overall increase of about 20%. The new four-year collective agreement also includes increases to charge pay, on-call pay, and car allowances. The union negotiating committee is recommending members ratify the agreement in a vote on April 2.
  • Alberta plans to transfer EMS to Acute Care Alberta from Alberta Health Services as of April 1. Health Minister Adriana LaGrange also announced an additional $40 million investment to replace EMS vehicles. Budget 2025 increases operating expenses by 8% to $764 million to address staffing needs and increased demand. The increase is aimed at reducing EMS wait times by improving patient offload processes. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the changes "do nothing" to address long wait times.
  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province is working on a deal to send its unused children's pain medication to Ukraine. The medication, purchased in 2022 from Turkey through Edmonton-based MHCare Medical during a nationwide shortage, has been deemed a health risk for infants, leaving 1.4 million bottles unused since spring 2023. Alberta NDP critic Sarah Hoffman questioned why medication deemed unsuitable for Albertans would be sent to Ukraine, while Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said the medication is safe if administered properly. MHCare and CEO Sam Mraiche are currently at the centre of a controversy related to provincial contracting and conflict of interest.
  • Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi is calling on Premier Danielle Smith to cancel her scheduled appearance at a March 27 fundraiser for PragerU, a Florida-based conservative content company. Nenshi describes Ben Shapiro, who Smith is scheduled to speak alongside, as an "extremist," citing his past remarks about Arabs, Black people, and trans people, as well as his views on climate change. Smith's office says the event offers an opportunity to share Canada's message with a U.S. audience amidst ongoing trade tensions.