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Regional Roundup
March 4, 2026

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Services will struggle under Alberta budget, says ABmunis

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We notice Alberta Municipalities predicts municipal infrastructure and services will be stretched thin as a result of the provincial budget tabled on Feb. 26. While the UCP government said it was not interested in increasing taxes to avoid running a $9.4-billion deficit in the coming fiscal year, property taxes will indeed go up, partly because of increases to provincial property taxes, which the province sets but requires municipalities to collect, and partly because municipalities have no other way to raise needed revenue.

"This means municipalities find themselves in the difficult position of either having to increase property taxes or falling further behind on investments needed to keep up with growth," ABmunis president Dylan Bressey said at a Feb. 27 budget briefing. "Municipal governments have already tightened their belts, and they're stretching every dollar in their budgets." Failing to invest in infrastructure can lead to catastrophes such as Calgary's water main break, and growth brings other pressures, he added. "You can't build new homes if you're not able to flush the toilets." Failing to invest in people has its costs, too, said the organization representing 264 municipalities across the province — its response to the budget expressed disappointment that funding for Family and Community Support Services saw no increase in the budget, making it harder to target the root causes of systemic problems before they reach a crisis point.

As for what the province did right, ABmunis praised the budget for committing to municipal grants in place of property taxes on government properties. But the biggest win was the province's willingness to review and reform the fiscal framework transparently, Bressey said. "We want everyday Albertans to be involved," he said. "That means that they have to understand where their taxes are going and what level of government is responsible for what costs." Property Taxes Reimagined is the organization's resource to help Albertans better understand where their taxes go.

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Economic development

  • TransAlta has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Brookfield to develop a data centre at its Keephills power plant in Parkland County, with an initial power agreement for about 230 megawatts that could grow to 1,000 megawatts.
  • Christine Spottiswood has taken over as executive director of the Northern Alberta Business Incubator in St. Albert, replacing Rajesh Jaiswal, who had led the organization since 2020.
  • Brent Jensen, the senior director of business development with Edmonton Global, told BetaKit the Edmonton Region Defence Alliance allows the region to present a united front to attract defence investment. "We would be able to build a songbook where everyone is singing off of the same sheet, so it's understood clearly what the value proposition is here and then to decode how companies might get more involved in defence contracts," Jensen said.
  • RUNWITHIT Synthetics, which created a synthetic twin of the Edmonton region, has now created Synthetic Canada, a high-fidelity "digital sandbox" of the country that enables governments, industry, and communities to model scenarios related to emergency management, infrastructure, housing, energy, and defence. CEO Myrna Bittner said the platform addresses the challenge leaders face in navigating "extraordinary and dynamic landscapes." It was created using INFLECTOR AI, the company's agent-based platform, which RWI is ready to license to organizations seeking help to visualize the consequences of their decisions.

Municipalities

  • Gibbons council discussed potential service reductions that would help the town's financial crisis. Options include closing the arena for the summer, cutting down the number of council members, and reducing non-essential road maintenance. Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw told Postmedia she's leery of the province's desire for an expedited viability review, and she's not keen on seeing her county take on the town's debt.
  • Devon and Leduc County signed a memorandum of understanding to guide joint planning for water and wastewater servicing in the Whitemud Landing area.
  • The City of Spruce Grove unveiled a new brand, its first update in more than 20 years, developed through a 2024 community engagement process that gathered input from more than 600 residents, business owners, and community leaders.
  • The City of Fort Saskatchewan awarded Tourism Hosting Grants of $3,000 each to three organizations bringing major events to the city in 2026: a ringette tournament, a girls' 3×3 basketball tournament, and the Wild Rose Old Time Fiddle Festival and Grand North American Old Time Fiddle Championships.
  • The Alberta 55 Plus Provincial Summer Games and the Slo-Pitch National Championships, held in Leduc in 2025, generated more than $4.2 million in total economic impact, including more than $1.7 million in direct visitor spending, according to the city's economic impact assessment reports.
  • Strathcona County is recruiting 1,500 volunteers for the Alberta Summer Games in July.
  • A Sturgeon County family's plans to build a home near the North Saskatchewan River have stalled after they were told they would need to spend roughly $1 million to upgrade an undeveloped road to municipal standards. The county has faced an increase in similar inquiries and is reviewing its options.
  • Stony Plain has installed two electric vehicle chargers, with funding from the ATCO Community Energy Fund Grant.

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Happenings

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And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

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

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