The Pulse: Sept. 15, 2021

Several mayors in the Edmonton region are speaking out about how an open letter advocating for a vaccine passport system was rolled out.

The letter was signed by 12 mayors and sent to the provincial government on Sept. 7, calling on Health Minister Tyler Shandro to introduce additional public health measures.

But since then, one mayor who didn't sign on has expressed frustration about how the initiative was organized. Three others said they didn't agree to the final version of the letter that was sent.

Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Gale Katchur was the only Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board (EMRB) member to not sign it. She said she chose not to because she didn't get a chance to review it with city council, and that she saw no reason why the letter couldn't have waited for that to happen first.

"I was very disappointed on how it went forward," Katchur said. "It wasn't sanctioned under the EMRB, it wasn't sanctioned under anybody. This was basically mayors … that made the decision to go out and do this on their own."

While Katchur didn't sign, Leduc County Mayor Tanni Doblanko's signature does appear on the letter. However, she said she only agreed to an earlier version, which only requested more COVID-19 data and not for the implementation of a vaccine passport system.

"I take very seriously a misrepresentation of anything that has to do with our municipality," she told Taproot. "I believe we were truly, grossly misrepresented in that letter and we needed to make sure that people understand that there was a mix-up."

Devon Mayor Ray Ralph and Beaumont Mayor John Stewart gave similar statements to Postmedia, saying they only agreed to sign an earlier version of the letter asking for more data.

• Eight doctors from the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association have penned an open letter in the Edmonton Journal saying that the health-care system is on the brink of collapse. The letter pleads for those who remain unvaccinated to get jabbed, and outlines three actions fully immunized people can take "in the absence of effective government leadership" to reduce infections.
• Students' unions welcomed the announcement that vaccines and proof of vaccination would be mandatory at the University of Alberta, MacEwan University, NAIT and NorQuest College.
• A shortage in yellow bus drivers is causing delays for public and Catholic schools. Edmonton Public Schools says the average delay is around 45 minutes for affected routes, while 5% of Edmonton Catholic Schools' routes are experiencing delays between five and 90 minutes.
• Warehouse workers have filed for a unionization vote at the Amazon warehouse in Nisku. They will be the first Amazon employees in Canada to hold a unionization vote, which is expected to occur before the end of the year.
• An Edmonton Catholic Schools teacher has been tapped for a role at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) in Winnipeg. As the CMHR's new educator-in-residence, Sarah Adomako-Ansah will focus on developing anti-racism resources and programs for youth.
• Alberta chief medical health officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw blamed the fourth wave on the province's Open for Summer plan. In a Zoom meeting with the Primary Care Network that was posted to YouTube, she says she "deeply" regrets her role in the decision to lift nearly all COVID-19 restrictions by July.
• Albertans will be able to print off a card-sized version of their vaccination record as of Thursday. The vaccine card will be available through MyHealth Records. Work is also underway on a QR code, which the NDP are saying should be paired with mandatory use for non-essential settings.
• Mayor Don Iveson has endorsed long-time city council colleague Ben Henderson, who is running as the Liberal Party candidate in Edmonton Mill Woods. According to polling data, the race in Mill Woods is neck-and-neck between Henderson and incumbent Tim Uppal. Edmonton Centre is also one to watch, writes Keith Gerein.

Taproot asked candidates to complete a 30-question survey based on what we heard when we asked what key issues people wanted the candidates to be talking about as they compete for votes in the 2021 municipal election.

Here are the answers we've received so far from the candidates in O-day'min:

• Gino Akbari
• Gabrielle Battiste
• Adrian Bruff
• Tony Caterina
• Naima Haile
• Mohammed Migdaddy
• Anne Stevenson
• Joshua Wolchansky

We have not yet received finalized surveys from Adil Pirbhai or Ibrahim Wado. We will update the links above when we receive them.

Want to see which candidates line up best with your own stances? Take the survey and find out.

For more coverage of the 2021 municipal election in Edmonton, visit edmonton.taproot.vote. And for more on the origins of this project, visit our People's Agenda page.

The University of Alberta-based Alberta Cell Therapy Manufacturing (ACTM) has partnered with The Ottawa Hospital's Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre (BMC) and BioCanRx to strengthen Canada's biomanufacturing industry and boost its capacity to produce medical treatments and vaccines.

"It takes teamwork to get biomanufacturing done and that's what we're doing. (This collaboration) with Ottawa puts us at the forefront in Canada," ACTM scientific director Dr. Greg Korbutt told Taproot. "This would allow us to maybe get good access to products that we produce."

ACTM is the only facility of its kind in Western Canada and is known for its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility and clean rooms, which offer the level of cleanliness and sterility required for manufacturing.

Korbutt said ACTM will help BMC with the fill-finish process, which involves filling vials with pharmaceutical drugs.

The U of A facility previously partnered with BMC and Entos Pharmaceuticals to manufacture a made-in-Edmonton COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Every week in the lead up to Edmonton's municipal election on Oct. 18, we're rounding up the news and announcements you need to know to stay informed.

Policies and campaign updates

• Mayoral candidate Amarjeet Sohi announced a public service policy on fiscal responsibility.
• Mayoral candidate Kim Krushell released her plan to improve local construction with new and emerging technology, evening construction, and improved coordination.
• Mayoral candidate Michael Oshry committed to creating a business friendly city hall by reigniting the Edmonton Made campaign. He also announced a policy to diversify Edmonton's economy.
• Ward Karhiio candidate Keren Tang posted a campaign video captioned by Ward sipiwiyiniwak candidate Giselle General, who offered captioning services to other candidates.
• Ward O-day'min candidate Gabrielle Battiste released six actions for the Blatchford development, annual reports, infill, climate, and more.
• Ward Anirniq candidate Erin Rutherford posted a video discussing Edmonton's back alleys and another on the city's sidewalks, lights, and road repairs.

Weighing in on the campaign trail

• Global Edmonton rounded up where some mayoral candidates stand on mandatory vaccinations for city employees, with Michael Oshry, Kim Krushell, Cheryll Watson, and Amarjeet Sohi in support and Mike Nickel in opposition. Later, the Edmonton Journal reported that Oshry's stance shifted at the Alberta Enterprise Group forum on Sept. 8. The article said that Oshry "doesn't believe people can be forced to take the COVID-19 vaccine, however if a city employee or citizen wants to use a city service or building, they will have to get tested every day at their own expense with a rapid test."
• Private mayoral forums have left some candidates feeling excluded. Mayoral candidate Diana Steele, who was not invited to the Alberta Enterprise Group forum, addressed this issue with Global News.
• Mayoral candidates Amarjeet Sohi, Kim Krushell, Michael Oshry, and Cheryll Watson fielded questions about affordable housing, permits and licensing from seven real estate groups at a forum moderated by Ryan Jesperson on Sept. 9.
• Last week, a series of focus group discussions hosted by pollster Janet Brown and CBC found that Edmontonians prioritize economic recovery, transit, and affordable core neighbourhoods. Brown's focus group also found that conversation and advertisements about the upcoming federal election are overshadowing the municipal races.
• A panel hosted by CBC's Edmonton AM invited three voters to share their concerns ahead of the municipal election.
• Mayoral and city council candidates can pledge to end misogynistic attacks on women in politics with the #LiftHerUpCampaign by the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS) in partnership with Equal Voice Alberta.
• Edmonton Journal columnist Keith Gerein wrote an opinion piece calling the city's municipal races "one of the most intriguing in decades."

Upcoming forums

• Rat Creek Press is hosting a series of virtual all candidates meetings on Facebook. Ward O-day'min candidates will be featured on Sept. 15 and Ward Métis candidates on Sept. 16.
• The Inglewood Community League of Edmonton will facilitate a forum for all candidates from Ward Anirniq on Sept. 18.
• Discovery Lab will host a mayoral candidate forum on economic growth with Kim Krushell, Cheryll Watson, Michael Oshry, and Amarjeet Sohi on Sept. 21.

A list of all of the candidates who have announced they are running in the Edmonton municipal election is available here. Learn more about Taproot's effort to ground our election coverage in what is important to Edmontonians on our People's Agenda page.

Photo: Kim Krushell, Cheryll Watson, Amarjeet Sohi, and Michael Oshry answered questions at the Alberta Enterprise Group forum. The other mayoral candidates were either not invited or, in Mike Nickel's case, declined the invitation. (Global News)