The Pulse: April 13, 2026

This week, council will discuss the drivers of tax increases, vote on increasing the budget for various capital projects, and consider approving the first phase of the River Crossing Community Development.

There is a community and public services committee meeting on April 13, an executive committee meeting on April 14, an urban planning committee meeting on April 14, and a city council meeting on April 15 and 17.

Here are some key items on the agenda:

• The four main factors driving tax increases in Edmonton are the increased cost of services, population growth, slower growth in non-tax revenue, and increased operating expenses linked to new services and capital projects, says a report set to be presented to council. Administration forecasts that if no more service packages or debt-serviced capital projects are approved, the city will need tax levy increases of 5.6% in 2027, 4.3% in 2028, 3.9% in 2029, and 3.7% in 2030. Council will continue to direct administration in creating the budget before deliberations in the fall.
• Council is set to vote on amendments to borrowing bylaws that adjust how much capital projects cost. If council supports the bylaws, the budget for the replacement of light rail vehicles will increase by $80.8 million to a total of $321.3 million, the budget for the design and delivery of ramps at 137 Avenue NW and Anthony Henday Drive will increase by $8.5 million to $15 million, and the budget for the downtown district energy initiative will increase by $18.4 million $54.3 million.
• Administration will ask council to approve $15 million to begin work on the first phase of the River Crossing Community Development, which would see the construction or rehabilitation of the roads north of Re/Max Field and the first steps toward housing development on the field's parking area. Executive committee considered the project last week and requisitioned the decision to council without a recommendation. Steve Hogle, fun advisor for the Edmonton Riverhawks, told Taproot the organization will trial a park-and-ride this season to prepare for potentially losing the lot next year.
• Council will vote on a motion from Coun. Michael Janz directing administration to bring forward two funding packages for bus rapid transit and wider sidewalks on Whyte Avenue to budget deliberations. It will also consider funding simultaneous improvements to the pedestrian realm along Whyte Avenue, which would involve removing some vehicle parking to make way for wider sidewalks. The motion also calls for an unfunded service package to advance transit priority measures across the city.
• Council will vote on a motion from urban planning committee recommending that city council direct administration to reinstate parking on 101 Street, from 107 Avenue to Kingsway, weekdays from 9:30am to 3:30pm.
• Members of the executive, urban planning, and community and public services committees will meet in private to receive governance updates from various boards and commissions.

• Reliability varies widely across Edmonton Transit Service bus routes, according to city data from the City of Edmonton's bus route report cards. The data shows some routes met on-time standards about 95% of the time, while the worst performed as low as 57.4% on weekdays and 32.4% on Saturdays. CBC News identified six of the least punctual routes, including the busy No. 8 and express routes 110X and 900X. Overall on-time performance remains above pre-pandemic levels but has declined from 86% in 2023 to about 83% in 2025.
• The Garneau Community League is proposing to expand its special-character residential area to preserve historical charm while meeting Edmonton's density targets. The City of Edmonton identified Garneau as a major-growth node in May 2025, prioritizing increased density. League president Steph Neufeld said the community is already Edmonton's densest and wants growth that preserves its unique features. The proposal would reduce maximum build-out potential while still exceeding City targets and would diversify housing.
• The Elizabeth Fry Society of Northern Alberta closed its Community of Hope Emergency Shelter in northeast Edmonton, eliminating nearly 100 shelter spaces. The City of Edmonton declined to extend the lease for the temporary site at 504 Belvedere Way NW, which the City said was never intended for long-term use and is now on sale for development. The society confirmed that clients were transitioned before the closure and that it is seeking a new site, with assistance from the City for new permits. The shelter served more than 3,400 people since April 2024.
• Crown prosecutors withdrew charges against Alberta sheriffs Adam Zasada, Brent Roy, and Karin Simmons in a Court of King's Bench courtroom on April 10. The trio were accused of failing to provide the necessaries of life after Trevor Jason Freeman, 43, died in custody at the Edmonton courthouse on June 16, 2023, following a medical emergency after he was sentenced for manslaughter. The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service determined that the admissible evidence no longer met the standard for prosecution. Two of the sheriffs no longer work for the Alberta government, and one remains on administrative leave.
• An Edmonton student-at-law received a rebuke from Alberta's legal regulator after using artificial intelligence to draft an appeal of his 20-month suspension. He was suspended last year for taking clients without informing his articling supervisor and misleading investigators. In his AI-generated submissions, he cited a "hallucinated" case. The Law Society of Alberta's appeal panel rejected his appeal, saying that he did not grasp the gravity of AI misuse and upheld the suspension, along with $18,000 in costs.
• The Alberta government announced $22 million in funding for school security upgrades and staff emergency training. The move comes after the February school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., where an 18-year-old killed six people at a school after a double homicide. School boards will receive funds based on student enrolment for cameras and window coverings, with $2 million specifically for staff training.
• Federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis appointed former opponent and Edmonton MP Heather McPherson as the party's House leader. McPherson will also serve as critic for foreign affairs and international development, international trade, seniors, and heritage. Lewis won the leadership in March but does not hold a House of Commons seat. The NDP faces challenges, including $9.5 million in debt and a lack of official party status.
• The Edmonton Oilers have secured a post-season berth after the Winnipeg Jets were defeated by the Philadelphia Flyers, securing its spot in the upcoming playoffs. The Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers in the previous two Stanley Cup Finals, but this year the Panthers have been eliminated from the post-season.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Edmonton Ecommerce Meetup starting at 5pm at Poppy Barley (Office)
• Green Drinks - April starting at 7pm at The Buckingham Pub
• Audreys Classics Book Club: Invisible Man starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
• Silent Book Club starting at 7pm at St. Albert Public Library (Downtown)
• Haven Reading Series starting at 7pm at Upper Crust Cafe
• Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers starting at 7:30pm at Rogers Place
• Rough Cut Comedy - Weekly Comedy Showcase! starting at 8:30pm at River City Revival House

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• April 23: Hot Chefs Cool bEATS 2026 at Royal Glenora Club
• April 24: Love Pro Wrestling 47 at The Rec Room (South Common)
• April 30: The Ethics of AI in Marketing at Fu's Repair Shop

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 for 7-Across? You'll find it here.