- Edmonton's new city council learned of a looming 6.4% property tax increase during a Nov. 17 orientation meeting. The projected increase is part of a four-year budget, compensating for slow property tax growth during the COVID-19 pandemic and significant population expansion. Mayor Andrew Knack noted the city added 200,000 people to its population in the last four years. The draft budget will be released Nov. 20 and presented Nov. 25 and 26, with deliberations scheduled for Dec. 1 to 4.
- Coun. Andrew Knack said that Edmonton city council should not avoid private partnerships for public projects. Knack emphasized the potential benefits of collaborating with private entities to deliver essential infrastructure and services more efficiently within the city. Knack said the City will likely have around $1.4 billion in capital funding in the upcoming four-year budget cycle, which is less than in previous budgets. "We shouldn't shy away from getting an idea if there is interest in that," Knack said. "What we need to be very careful of is that we're protecting the service itself, and that we're not losing those services or losing control over those services."
- The City of Edmonton is working to address traffic safety in the Edgemont neighbourhood in west Edmonton, in response to residents who have expressed feeling unsafe. This initiative comes as a direct response to community feedback regarding the ongoing issues. "As the community is growing, a lot of residents have had concerns, and we've had unfortunately fatal accidents in the community," said Connor Hastey-Palindat of the Edgemont Community League.
- Edmonton and Red Deer will co-host the 2027 world junior hockey championship, running from Dec. 26, 2026, to Jan. 5, 2027. Rogers Place in Edmonton will host 17 games, including the semifinals and medal games, while Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer will stage 14 games.
- WestJet will launch new non-stop seasonal service from Edmonton International Airport to Reykjavik, Iceland, starting next June. John Weatherill, Executive Vice-President at WestJet, said the investment reaffirms its commitment to Edmonton's global connections. James Jackson, Vice President of Air Service and Business Development at YEG, called it a win for travellers, tourism, and Alberta's economy.
- The Alberta government has introduced legislation to invoke the notwithstanding clause to protect three controversial bills affecting transgender youth and athletes from legal challenges. The move shields legislation restricting gender-affirming care for youth under 16, requiring parental consent for gender identity changes in schools, and mandating assigned-female-at-birth participation in female-only competitive sports. Justice Minister Mickey Amery said the legislation aims to terminate current court actions and suspend Charter challenges for five years, plus Alberta Bill of Rights and Human Rights Act applications indefinitely. Bennett Jensen of Egale Canada called the move cynical and chilling.
- The Alberta government unveiled its new "Strong and Free" licence plate design. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally announced that Albertans, after casting more than 240,000 votes, selected Moraine Lake in Banff National Park as the backdrop. This marks the province's first licence plate design change since 1984, updating the slogan from "Wild Rose Country" to "Strong and Free" while incorporating the wild rose symbol. The new plates will be available mid-2026 for a $28 fee to replace existing ones, or at no cost when renewing vehicle registration.
- Alberta United Conservative Party MLAs voted down Bill 201, rejecting a proposed minimum wage increase. Introduced by Calgary-Mountain View NDP MLA Kathleen Ganley, the bill aimed to raise the $15 per hour minimum wage by $1 annually for three years, eliminate the $13/hour youth differential, and protect service workers' tips. Alberta's minimum wage is currently the lowest in Canada and has not increased in seven years. In a recent report, the Alberta Living Wage Network found that a living wage in Edmonton is $22.30.
Headlines: Nov. 19, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim