The Pulse: April 16, 2026

The CEO of the Edmonton Public Library and librarians across the province are urging Albertans to speak up against proposed legislation that would limit access to some books.

"It is censorship," Pilar Martinez said of the provincial oversight contemplated in Bill 28, a multifaceted bill introduced on April 2 that includes amendments to the Libraries Act.

The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries has launched a campaign urging Albertans to contact Premier Danielle Smith, Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams, and their own MLAs to express their concerns as the province takes steps to limit what public libraries can display.

"It just seems so contrary to Canada, to our democracy, to Alberta," said Martinez, who sits on the coalition's steering committee.

Bill 28 would require anyone under 16 to have parental consent to borrow books deemed to contain "graphic visual depictions of sexual acts," and it seeks to ensure such materials are not in "shared public spaces" that serve both children and adults. Williams cited Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe and Blankets by Craig Thompson as examples of "pornographic material" at an April 2 press conference.

"Public libraries don't have pornography in their collections," Martinez told Taproot, expressing frustration with the province's chosen language. "These books are award-winning books."

The province's fact sheet on the proposed changes emphasizes that "government is not banning books," but the Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries said on April 9 that enforcing the restrictions risks "creating new barriers for Albertans simply trying to use their public library." Martinez said parents already have the control the bill purports to give them.

"Public libraries have always said that we believe that parents are in the best position to decide what's best for their children to read," she said. "When a parent gets a (library) card for their child, they have to agree to take responsibility for what their children borrow (and) how they use the materials."

Bill 28 also allows the minister to initiate reviews or respond to complaints related to public libraries, even though public libraries are mostly funded by municipalities and are governed by local boards. Martinez noted the high level of public trust in libraries found by pollster Janet Brown.

"We're a little perplexed at what problem we're trying to solve" with this legislation, Martinez said.

• The Downtown Revitalization Coalition wants Edmonton to become Canada's safest city, highlighting visible drug use and disorder in high-traffic public spaces, including transit. Its report proposes integrating city transit and peace officers with the Edmonton Police Service for better coordination and suggests a 24-hour stabilization and transfer facility for individuals needing medical and social support. Coun. Michael Janz noted that many addiction-related recommendations fall under provincial jurisdiction.
• Edmonton Public Schools trustees voted to cancel a project for a dedicated Autism Centre of Excellence from its three-year capital plan. Trustee Sarah Doll introduced the motion, citing concerns about inclusivity, while critics and parents argued against segregating students. The proposed $25 million centre, intended for 106 students with severe autism, had received $300,000 in pre-planning support from the Alberta government.
• Edmonton Transit Service will implement spring service changes starting April 26. Changes include bus bay reassignments at Belvedere, Meadows, and Mill Woods transit centres, and routing adjustments for Routes 500X, 513, and 516. Additional On Demand Transit stops will be added in Riverdale and Ottewell. Several routes will detour due to Neighbourhood Renewal construction beginning the week of April 20 on 132 Avenue, Dunluce, Glenwood, and West Meadowlark Park, continuing until the fall.
• A portion of Herb Link Park in north Edmonton's Dunluce neighbourhood is set to be redeveloped for affordable housing, despite opposition from the area's councillor who argues the green space should be preserved. The land, originally reserved as a surplus school site, had been earmarked for the First Place Program, which is coming to an end, but City of Edmonton staff say it remains suitable for below-market housing. Coun. Erin Rutherford raised concerns about equity and the concentration of affordable housing in her ward, noting another project is already underway nearby.
• Edmonton city council voted to restore street parking in Chinatown on 101 Street between 107 Avenue and Kingsway. This reopens a dedicated bus lane for daytime parking (9:30am - 3:30pm weekdays) to support local businesses, which reported declining sales since the bus lane's implementation last fall. Council also advanced plans for Bus Rapid Transit, targeting routes B1 (Century Park to Castle Downs) and B2 (West Edmonton Mall to Bonnie Doon Mall) for the 2027 to 2030 budget.
• Edmonton restaurant owners say that new city patio licence fees, which took effect April 1, are harming small businesses. Susan Forsey of the Rocky Mountain Icehouse and Peter Kleith of The Hub on Whyte are among those struggling with costs, which are $6,900 for year-round and $3,700 for large single-season patios. The Alberta Hospitality Association called the fees "egregiously high," arguing they hurt small businesses and detract from community vibrancy. While a motion to reconsider fees was rejected in March, the City of Edmonton said the new patio tax is needed to offset property tax increases.
• Ward Dene Coun. Aaron Paquette is advocating for a strategic plan for parking enforcement in Edmonton. He introduced a motion during the April 15 city council meeting that aims to address low compliance with residential parking bans for snow clearing, which caused significant frustration among residents this past winter. Paquette noted that the number of daily enforcement officers, which is currently about 30, has not grown proportionally with Edmonton. In 2025, the city issued 112,613 tickets, but stopped towing vehicles in 2026 due to the Police Seized Vehicle Impound Lot reaching capacity; Paquette suggested opening more towing lots.
• A Local Journalism Initiative investigation found statistics cited by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office to downplay rising EMS overtime in Edmonton contradict the province's own data. While government officials urged media outlets that carried the report to revise or remove it, access to information records show overtime has remained around 10% of hours worked in recent years. The province instead pointed to alternative data, such as overtime as a share of paid hours, to argue the increase was less significant, though those figures also show growth since 2022.
• Elk Island National Park, east of Edmonton, successfully relocated 44 wood bison calves to Fairbanks, Alaska. The calves, all under one year old, departed the park on April 13, enduring a 40-hour journey. The transfer, the fourth to Alaska, is part of a federal government plan to conserve the species, which was once on the brink of extinction. Another transfer is planned in two years.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Table Top Games Night starting at 5pm at Earth's Refillery Coop
• Top 20 Pitch Night starting at 5pm at Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute)
• LO-CAL and Edmonton Unlimited Community & Connection starting at 5:30pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers starting at 7pm at Rogers Place
• Book Launch with John Barton starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
• Bowers: Opening Reception starting at 7pm at Mitchell Art Gallery
• Life Skills: Organ and Tissue Donation - Give Life Alberta starting at 7pm online
• Christine Tassan et Les Imposteurs starting at 7:30pm at Arden Theatre

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• April 22: Seeds & Soil: A Fundraising Event at Zocalo
• April 25: Dreaming of Fireflies: Native Plant Workshop at Woodcroft Community Centre
• April 28: Becoming Conscious Allies: An Introduction to Sexual and Gender Diversity and Inclusion at City of Leduc Civic Centre

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? Here you go.