The Pulse
March 17, 2026

The county that may absorb the financially crumbling town of Gibbons says an expedited viability review process does not fit the unprecedented situation the municipalities find themselves in.

"We're being constrained within a regulatory framework that does not meet the current situation," Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw said at a council meeting on March 10.

While viability reviews are relatively common in Alberta — four are underway right now, and four others were completed in 2025 — they're usually done for smaller municipalities. Kevin Miller, the manager of municipal viability at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, confirmed to Sturgeon County council that the other three municipalities currently under review are all villages with fewer than 500 people. But Gibbons, a town with a population of about 3,200, is too large to be adequately dealt with in this way, Hnatiw said.

The provincial government provides funding for counties that absorb municipalities as hamlets, but the amount is calculated based on population and caps out at 500 people. If Gibbons dissolves and becomes a hamlet within Sturgeon County, the county could receive $450,000 to integrate town governance, administration, and services. It could also receive up to $1.5 million to ensure critical infrastructure can continue operating during the transition.

Given that Gibbons is nearly seven times the size of other municipalities undergoing review, Hnatiw asked Miller "to keep that in mind when you're considering what type of financial supports need to be offered, both for the current council who's trying to dig their way out of this, and potentially for the receiving council that has no say."

Hnatiw noted Gibbons underwent a legislative compliance check in 2025, which found several gaps. For example, budgets did not include correct financial information, and some projects or purchases weren't included in budgets at all; the town's financial plan didn't include the annual surplus or deficit, nor the accumulated surplus or deficit, and its capital plan didn't include anticipated sources of revenue; the town had loaned money to 18 homeowners to replace sanitary sewer lines and to 13 homeowners to pave or remediate driveways; council members or administration cancelled meetings by email instead of holding an official council vote; and, at times, councillors failed to declare the nature of a pecuniary interest or conflict of interest.

• The Edmonton Police Service used Tasers more than 1,000 times in 2023 and 2024, deploying the weapon on individuals ranging from 12 to 75 years old. This marks a significant increase from 2010, according to a CBC News investigation into how Edmonton police use Tasers. Data revealed frequent use on people identified with addictions or mental health issues, concentrated in central Edmonton communities such as Downtown, McCauley, and Boyle Street. University of Alberta criminologist Temitope Oriola emphasized the weapon's 50,000-volt power and potential for harm.
• The City of Edmonton is reminding property owners to review their property assessments. The assessments reflect market value as of July 1, 2025, and determine property taxes. Owners can compare properties online and call 311 with questions. The deadline to file a formal, fee-based complaint with the Assessment Review Board is March 23 at 11:59pm. Tax amounts mailed in May cannot be disputed.
• Edmonton and Calgary will co-host the World Cup of Hockey 2028, a "best-on-best" international hockey tournament. Prague will also host. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Alberta is a fitting place to host because of its deep hockey roots. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack and Explore Edmonton CEO Traci Bednard emphasized the significant economic benefits for the city. The event is expected to attract global fans and showcase Alberta's passion for the sport. Edmonton's Rogers Place will host the semifinals and championship.
• CKUA has appointed Adam Mitchell as its permanent CEO after he served as acting head since 2025. The broadcaster's board said Mitchell, who joined the organization in 2023, helped stabilize CKUA following the departure of former CEO Marc Carnes and during a difficult financial period. CKUA narrowly avoided going off the air in 2024 after raising $3.5 million and receiving $11 million in federal funding. Mitchell previously served as executive director of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival.
• A Quebec City civic group visited Edmonton on March 16 to gather insights from the city's experiences with transit expansion. The group wanted to understand Edmonton's processes and challenges in developing its transit infrastructure, aiming to apply these lessons to Quebec City's own future transit projects.
• Alberta is struggling to reach Ottawa's $10-a-day childcare target by the federal government's March deadline. After signing an initial five-year agreement in November 2021, Alberta introduced a flat $15-a-day parent fee in January 2025. Last December, Alberta and the federal government signed a one-year, $1.17 billion agreement extension, maintaining the $15 daily fee past March 31. The province said it needs an additional $2 billion to $3 billion from Ottawa to achieve the $10 mark and is seeking a new long-term agreement.
• The Alberta government, Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and the Alberta Energy Regulator aim to crack down on oil and gas companies with unpaid property taxes, though they estimate $250 million in past arrears is unrecoverable. A new report outlines 17 recommendations, including making tax payment a condition for regulator licences.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Industry Insights: Community Networking Event starting at 11:30am at MacEwan University
• San Jose Sharks vs Edmonton Oilers starting at 7pm at Rogers Place
• Thoughtful Tuesday - Earth's Greatest Enemy starting at 7pm at Earth's Refillery Coop
• An Evening with Mary Walsh starting at 7:30pm at Arden Theatre
• Tuesday Jam hosted by Angela Proulx starting at 8pm at Yardbird Suite

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• March 23: Night Matters: The Night-Time Economy in Capital Cities online
• March 27: FAVA Gala at The Orange Hub
• April 3-4: The Downtown Defrost at Churchill Square

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

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

Need a hint to 1-Across and 8-Across? Here you go.