The Pulse: March 10, 2025

This week, council committees will debate whether the city should expand the Coronation Eco Station, discuss the end of curbside Christmas tree collection, and review candidates for advisory boards and committees.

There is a city council meeting scheduled for March 10, a community and public services committee scheduled for March 11, and an urban planning committee meeting scheduled for March 12. There is also an executive committee meeting scheduled for March 12 and a utility committee meeting scheduled for March 14.

Here are key items on this week's agenda:

• Administration recommends expanding Coronation Eco Station to restructure traffic flow, increase the number of waste drop-off bins, and incorporate more climate-resilient infrastructure. A report scheduled to be presented to utility committee on March 14 said visits to eco stations increased by 22% between 2021 and 2024. The proposed expansion is budgeted at $13.5 million, with funding reallocated from a previous project that was cancelled. If council approves the expansion, construction is expected to start by the end of 2025 and finish by mid-2027.
• The city will no longer collect natural Christmas trees from in front of homes starting next holiday season. Curbside Christmas tree collection started in 1990, but city crews collected only 6,400 trees in 2025, a 51% decrease from 2015, according to a report that is scheduled to be presented to utility committee on March 14. Instead, residents will be able to drop off trees at recycling depots, eco stations, or the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. The change will save about $120,000 annually, which will be reinvested back into waste operations, the report said.
• City council is scheduled to meet to discuss the 2024 annual reports and work plans for its advisory boards and committees.
• Council committees are scheduled to meet in private for various discussions:
  • Community and public services committee will meet to discuss the membership reports and new members of the Community Standards and Licence Appeal Committee, Edmonton Combative Sports Commission, Edmonton Public Library Board, Accessibility Advisory Committee, Community Services Advisory Board, Edmonton Historical Board, and the Women's Advisory Voice of Edmonton Committee.
  • Urban planning committee will meet to discuss the membership reports and new members of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, Edmonton Transit Service Advisory Board, Edmonton Design Committee, and the Naming Committee.
  • Executive committee will meet to discuss the membership reports and new members of the Assessment Review Board, Energy Transition Climate Resilience Committee, Edmonton Salutes Committee, and GEF Seniors Housing Board.
  • Utility committee will meet to discuss a funding opportunity for the Blatchford renewable energy utility.

Meetings stream live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.

• The Alberta government, the City of Edmonton, and the Oilers Entertainment Group are nearing an agreement to fund an event park beside Rogers Place, build 2,500 housing units, and demolish the aging Coliseum. Premier Danielle Smith expressed confidence in reaching a deal, emphasizing that revitalizing downtown Edmonton will enhance public safety, increase affordable housing, and create more recreational spaces. The province plans to contribute up to $183.4 million, while the city will provide $137.8 million and OEG Sports and Entertainment will invest $87 million. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi emphasized the importance of downtown development while OEG aims to attract year-round visitors. If finalized by August, funding will come through grants and the Edmonton Downtown Community Revitalization Levy.
• In an opinion piece published in Postmedia, authors Jay Scherer and Andy Grabia urge Edmonton city council to reject a proposed deal that would provide public funding to billionaire Daryl Katz's OEG Sports and Entertainment for "catalyst projects," including $68.2 million for the Village at Ice District, as well as $250 million for an event park beside Rogers Place. The authors criticize the Alberta government for pressuring city council into using public money for private projects, arguing it's unfair to subsidize a billionaire when the province faces a $5.2-billion deficit and Edmonton has increased property taxes.
• Some Edmonton public schools are rotating students between in-person and at-home learning due to the ongoing education support worker strike. The move follows a ministerial order prioritizing in-person learning for students with specialized needs. Thousands of support workers employed by Edmonton Public Schools, including educational assistants, have been on strike since January, advocating for better wages. Parents and education advocates criticized the rotating model, citing concerns over its impact on student learning and inadequate notice for families.
• The City of Edmonton and CUPE Local 30 have reached a tentative agreement after months of negotiations. The union will now hold a ratification vote with its members. Details of the agreement will remain confidential until the process is complete.
• Edmonton's housing market remains strong despite concerns that U.S. tariffs could increase construction costs and slow sales. Low inventory and high demand are driving multiple offers on homes, with affordability attracting buyers from across Canada, the REALTORS Association of Edmonton told CTV News. Experts warn that prolonged trade tensions could raise building costs and delay new projects, potentially increasing home prices by up to $10,000. However, lower interest rates may help offset some of these effects by keeping housing more affordable.
• A ceremony at Edmonton city hall on March 7 celebrated the graduation of 50 new police officers and two police dogs from recruit training class 161. The class includes officers from Edmonton, Camrose, and Lakeshore, with some officers joining from international locations. The Edmonton Police Service aims to address staffing shortages and provide better community service by continuing to graduate large classes, with 150 officers expected to graduate in 2025.
• The Edmonton Oilers announced that Evander Kane will not return for the rest of the 2024-25 regular season, instead remaining on long-term injured reserve. Kane had successful abdominal surgery in September and is currently recovering in Edmonton under the care of the Oilers medical team. Last season, the 33-year-old forward recorded 24 goals and 20 assists in 77 regular-season games, along with four goals and four assists in 20 playoff games.
• Sound artist Nicolas Arnaez has created a sound experience at the Mill Woods stop on the Valley Line Southeast LRT line. Arnaez wanted the music to function as "furniture" in the space, CTV reported. "We are trying to build a city that is embracing sound art," Arnaez said. The Edmonton Arts Council commissioned the work, titled Sendero a lo Próximo (Path to the near).
• Edmonton Screen has named Luke Azevedo as its new CEO, effective April 21. Azevedo, who was previously with Calgary Economic Development, helped spur the growth of Alberta's creative industries and played a key role in attracting HBO's The Last of Us to the province. In 2023, Edmonton's film, television, and video gaming industries drove $18.3 million in production volume and supported more than 1,500 full-time jobs.
• Mark Carney won the Liberal Party leadership race in a landslide victory and will become Canada's next prime minister. Despite never holding elected office, he secured more than 85% of the vote, far ahead of Chrystia Freeland and Karina Gould. Carney, a former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor, emphasized his outsider status and economic experience in his campaign. He takes office amid trade tensions with the U.S. and has vowed to keep Canadian tariffs in place "until the Americans show us respect."
• Premier Danielle Smith confirmed last week that Alberta will proceed with its tariff response despite the U.S. temporarily pausing some tariffs. She criticized the uncertainty caused by shifting American trade policies, which have disrupted businesses and created administrative burdens. Alberta's countermeasures include halting the purchase of U.S. alcohol and VLT machines while prioritizing Canadian suppliers. Smith urged Canadians to support domestic businesses and called for reducing internal trade barriers to strengthen the national economy.
• Premier Danielle Smith avoided questions about an RCMP investigation into Alberta Health Services after a press conference in Edmonton on March 7. The investigation focuses on allegations involving political interference in health contracts at the provincial health authority. Smith did not comment on the investigation and deflected to broader concerns about alternative service providers. The Premier's office referred further inquiries to the RCMP, saying that commenting on an ongoing investigation would be inappropriate.
• The Enoch Cree First Nation has secured a $100-million loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to support a major development project in the community. The investment will fund essential infrastructure, including water and wastewater systems, roads, and utilities, as part of a 256-acre mixed-use development that will include retail, commercial, healthcare, and housing facilities.
• As of April 1, the provincial government will transfer ownership of about 700 structures and 380 land titles, including hospitals and care centres, from Alberta Health Services to Alberta Infrastructure, and lease them back to health entities at no cost. Premier Danielle Smith has said this centralization, enabled by the Real Property Governance Act passed in 2024, will allow the province to choose operators and repurpose properties as needed. Alberta NDP critic Sarah Hoffman raised concerns about the potential privatization of health care due to the change.
• Alberta's ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) removed Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair from its caucus after he publicly opposed the government's proposed budget. Sinclair criticized the budget's deficit and its focus on funding for major cities rather than addressing rural needs like infrastructure and healthcare.

The executive committee's recommendation that Edmonton City Council should extend the downtown community revitalization levy for 10 years beyond its current 2034 expiry date may not yield decent returns on investments, the co-hosts of Episode 298 of Speaking Municipally said.

The CRLs are tools for municipalities to rejuvenate underdeveloped areas by allowing public infrastructure investments to attract private investments that can repay the public investment. Edmonton has used the downtown CRL to help build the 103A Avenue Pedway (set for completion in 2026) and invest in Warehouse Park (construction should be done this year), among other things.

But council will soon consider whether the CRL should be extended, along with a proposal for the levy to help subsidize the OEG's hoped-for new indoor and outdoor Fan Park, directly east of Rogers Place, as well as Village at ICE District, a housing, retail, and hospitality development from the company.

"This event park, like the arena itself, would be owned by the City of Edmonton. It's projected to cost $250 million, which is just an insane amount to me," co-host Mack Male said. "A third of its time would be reserved for public use. Let me just underline that again — another publicly owned and mostly publicly funded building available for the public for only a third of its lifetime."

The park would tentatively be paid for using a mix of the CRL, provincial grants, and contributions from the OEG, owned by Daryl Katz. While the city will own it, and help pay for it, the park will not be available for public use all of the time.

The province outlined its contribution to the project in its latest budget, which includes Edmonton's long-asked-for money to demolish Northlands Coliseum, as well as to provide servicing to Village at ICE District.

Co-host Troy Pavlek said he was reminded of Edmonton's decision to build the 100 Street funicular, when then-mayor Don Iveson said he felt pushed into the city contributing to the $24-million project because he didn't want to leave funds from the provincial and federal governments on the table.

"While this does get us funding from other orders of government, the provincial funding is still coming from our tax dollars, and is still — depending on your perspective — a wealth transfer to a billionaire," Pavlek said.

The March 7 episode of Taproot's civic affairs podcast also covered the renaming of the Edmonton Prospects to the Energy City Cactus Rats, a potential new name for a field at Commonwealth Stadium, resignations at Edmonton Public Schools, and more. Speaking Municipally comes out on Fridays. Listening and subscription options are all right here.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• RCA Explore Circularity Day 2025 starting at 9am at NAIT Productivity and Innovation Centre
• Provincial Budget Luncheon, presented by CPA Alberta with Finance Minister Nate Horner starting at 11:30am at JW Marriott (Edmonton ICE District)
• Leduc Downtown Business Association Annual General Meeting starting at 12pm at Light House Cowork
• Foil Arms and Hog starting at 2pm at Winspear Centre
• Eric J. Hanson Lecture: Global Climate Progress in a Trump II World? starting at 4pm at University of Alberta (Peter Lougheed Hall)
• UKE: The Untold Story of Hockey Legends starting at 5:30pm at Rogers Place
• Messed Up Mondays starting at 6pm at EPIC Market
• nêhiyawêwin (Cree Language) Classes starting at 6pm at Edmonton Public Library (Highlands)
• Green Drinks March starting at 7pm at Bent Stick Brewing
• Edmonton's First Winter Garden starting at 7pm at Citadel Theatre
• Audreys Classics Book Club starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
• For Girls By Girls - University of Alberta starting at 7:15pm at Booster Juice Recreation Centre in Terwillegar

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• March 15: Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training: From Theory to Application at River Cree Resort and Casino
• March 15: Night of Artists Spring Gala for Amy's House at Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre
• March 19: ECAMP Trivia Night at The Bonnie Neighbourhood Pub

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.