- Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi Coun. Jon Morgan, who chairs city council's audit committee, is calling to bring back vote tabulators following an interim audit report on Edmonton's 2025 municipal election. The report found that removing the machines, a change mandated by the Alberta government in 2024 that cost municipalities $4.8 million, made it impossible to certify the election. City auditor Janine Mryglod said a proper audit was effectively impossible under the new rules. Edmonton Elections returning officer Aileen Geisbrecht noted significant feedback about longer wait times and training gaps for election workers.
- The historic Paramount Theatre on Jasper Avenue has been listed for sale as part of insolvency proceedings for developer ONE Properties, Western Investor reported. The site at 10233 Jasper Avenue NW offers more than 335,000 square feet of buildable area in downtown Edmonton. The theatre opened in 1952 and closed in 2003.
- Amazon has acquired a large industrial property in northwest Edmonton with plans for a new fulfilment centre, Western Investor reported. The company bought 50 acres near 170 Street and Anthony Henday Drive for $39.7 million in late 2025. Amazon Canada confirmed the purchase in the second phase of Apex Business Park, a project led by Panattoni Development and Manulife Investment Management.
- A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta suggests Alberta's Bill 11 could establish a two-tier healthcare system. The legislation, which came into force on Dec. 18, 2025, allows doctors to work in both public and private systems, aiming to reduce wait times. Critics argue it diverts medical professionals to private practices. The provincial government dismissed the report, saying it is committed to a stronger publicly funded system.
- The African Canadian Civic Engagement Council (ACCEC) in Edmonton launched the Timbuktu Trailblazers, a 16-week employment and skills-building program, last year. The program helps young, Black jobseekers jump-start careers through paid eight-week internships, in-class coaching at the Timbuktu Innovation Hub on Alberta Avenue, and volunteer work at places such as Edmonton's Food Bank. Kelvin Ozorah of the ACCEC noted that 13 of 20 participants have secured employment since the program's inception.
- Tourism Jasper, in partnership with Edmonton International Airport and Knotty Pine Cabins, launched an immersive cabin experience at the airport's Gate 16. The full-scale, cozy Jasper-inspired cabin installation features rustic furnishings, a fireplace, and historic photographs, designed to offer travellers a relaxing pre-flight experience and an introduction to Jasper National Park.
- The Alberta government will table its provincial budget on Feb. 26, with the government warning of tough fiscal choices ahead. Finance Minister Nate Horner says falling oil prices and global trade uncertainty have strained the province's finances. Alberta is projecting a $6.4-billion deficit by the end of March, a sharp swing from an $8.3-billion surplus a year earlier.
Headlines: Feb. 5, 2026
By Mariam Ibrahim