- The Alberta government invoked the Charter's notwithstanding clause in back-to-work legislation introduced on Oct. 27, compelling public school teachers to end their provincewide strike, which began Oct. 6. Premier Danielle Smith, speaking in Edmonton, said the move aims to prevent further "damage" to students, after teachers rejected a tentative agreement in late September. The legislation imposes the rejected deal, offering a 12% raise over four years and committing to hire 3,000 teachers and 1,500 educational assistants, despite the demands from the Alberta Teachers' Association for class-size limits. Classes could resume as soon as Oct. 29. Non-compliant teachers face $500 daily fines, and unions up to $500,000. The Alberta Federation of Labour warned of an "unprecedented response," and NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called the legislation the "nuclear option." Nenshi clashed with Smith during Question Period in the legislature, and accused Smith of engineering the strike and lowering per capita public education funding.
- CBC News published an explainer after Alberta invoked the notwithstanding clause on Oct. 27 in legislation to force striking teachers back to work. The rarely used Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows a legislature to override certain fundamental, legal, and equality rights for five years. The clause was a compromise in 1982 to secure provincial agreement for the Charter. Provinces like Quebec and Saskatchewan have used it recently, and Alberta previously used it in 2000 for anti-same-sex marriage legislation. The Supreme Court of Canada affirmed the right to strike in 2015.
- Edmonton Mayor-elect Andrew Knack outlined his top three priorities for his first 100 days in office: public safety, affordability, and addressing homelessness. He emphasized the urgent need to find day shelter spaces for unhoused residents ahead of winter and said the City of Edmonton must take leadership on homelessness. He said the City should consider redirecting existing funds and using vacant properties to establish shelters that offer financial assistance and medical care. He also noted that improving safety, particularly in the core, requires a holistic approach, including increasing downtown residency.
- In an opinion piece published in Postmedia, Kayode Southwood, a policy analyst with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), highlights new city councils in Edmonton and across Alberta must prioritize small business concerns. Southwood wrote that a CFIB survey found that 71% of small business owners feel municipal leaders neglect their needs, facing issues like rising costs, crime, and red tape, as seen with construction disruptions on Edmonton's Stony Plain Road. Businesses in Edmonton and Calgary also carry an unfair property tax burden, paying significantly more than their residential counterparts. The CFIB urges councils to limit spending, ensure predictable tax increases, and prioritize safety services to support economic competitiveness.
- A multiplex infill building under construction in Edmonton's Belgravia neighbourhood went up in flames late Oct. 26. Edmonton Fire Rescue Services responded to the second-alarm blaze, bringing it under control by 12:37am, with no reported injuries. The unoccupied fourplex, built by Everfor Studio, was in its lock-up stage. Fire investigators are determining the cause. This incident follows another infill home fire in the area in November 2024.
- The Law Society of Alberta has reduced the suspension for Edmonton lawyer Ajay Juneja on Oct. 27, after he appealed a 2022 conviction for six counts of professional misconduct. The charges stemmed from a 2018 "brawl" at an after-hours club, failure to be candid, and breaching a 2015 agreement to abstain from drugs and alcohol. The appeal panel overturned one conviction, finding the initial committee erred in deeming him "ungovernable" and by discounting his mental health treatment and positive references. The society had sought disbarment, but the panel noted Juneja's work as counsel in more than 15 homicide trials.
- The Edmonton Oilers hold a 4-4-2 record after 10 games, with coach Kris Knoblauch's frequent line changes potentially affecting team chemistry and five-on-five offence, sports journalist Daniel Nugent-Bowman wrote in The Athletic. While Connor McDavid has 12 points despite just one goal, his strong underlying stats suggest his performance will improve. The defensive pairing of Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm has struggled, leading to their separation, Nugent-Bowman wrote. Goaltending remains a concern, though Stuart Skinner has a .903 save percentage, while Calvin Pickard's recent starts have been weak. Zach Hyman's return from injury is anticipated, and the team will seek a top-nine winger before the trade deadline.
Headlines: Oct. 28, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim