Reg Rygus

I'm not one who is ready and waiting for the first snowfall there are some who are, including city workers at various levels. Mark Beare, director of infrastructure operations, said teams last year were somewhat reactive when the snow was late in coming. To counter that teams will be more proactive with primary snow and ice clearing responsibility and a secondary redeployment activity if it's a milder winter.

The snow removal budget for the 2024-25 season is $66 million which will cover a staff of about 600 members who will be out working 24-7 as soon as the snow starts.

Go to the City of Edmonton's website (below) for more information on winter travel.

Here's the latest happenings in Edmonton from Lindork's Lists and the Daily Hive.

Early Sunday morning firefighters responded to a house fire in the Cloverdale neighbourhood and by the time they arrived the residents had made it out of the house safely. The fire was extinguished within a few hours, but a different threat emerged when the smoke cleared. Two neighbouring residents found extortion notes telling them to pay money to a cryptocurrency address and failing to comply would result in their homes being set ablaze. Other residents on the block were afraid to speak up citing fears for their safety.

Revamped zoning and new loan products have resulted in the number of new garden suites being built in Edmonton. Local developer Travis Fong thinks the city may issue up to 366 garden suite permits 366 suites by the end of 2024. These garden suites are dispersed in both established and new neighbourhoods throughout the city. Homeowners and developers are building garden suites as a rental suite or to house extended family on the property.

CUPE Local 3550 representing 3,152 members mainly comprised of educational assistants and support staff will hold an online strike vote on Wednesday. CUPE Local 474 representing 950 custodial staff will be holding their strike vote in-person on Thursday and next Sunday.

CUPE Local 3550 president Mandy Lamoureux said holding wages to the province’s cap of 2.75 per cent which works out to 70 cents over four years is “not enough”. CUPE Local 474 said it anticipates the same offer to extend the length of the contract made to Local 3550 when it returns to the bargaining table.

A strike by CUPE Local 3550 members would be disruptive but a strike by CUPE Local 474 members would probably shut down the schools.

Next up will be negotiations with Edmonton Public Schools' teachers.

Real all about the latest Millwoods news in the latest edition of the MILLWOODS MOSAIC.

The City is seeking feedback on a proposal by Hospitality company Scandinave Group Inc. to build a nordic spa in the Brander Gardens neighbourhood. There a number of municipal approvals needed and the City is collecting feedback until Oct. 17.

The 10 acre parcel of land was gifted by Sandy Mactaggart and Cécile Mactaggart to the UofA which has listed it for sale or redevelopment by  U of A Properties Trust as it is land "not central to its academic mission." If approved, the Scandinave Group will purchase the site and build on it, but if the rezoning fails, the U of A Properties Trust is planning new residential development.

The proposal is being met with mixed reactions from nearby residents, and an open house for public engagement on the project is scheduled for the evening of Oct. 29 at the John Janzen Nature Centre.

Park rangers have begun shooting aggressive coyotes with plastic bullets in hopes of scaring them away from humans. The bullets will hurt the coyotes but not kill or cause these lasting harm. Most coyotes are wary of humans and sightings are typically brief and at a distance.

There is a list of suggestions in the Journal article below of what a person can do if a coyote gets too close someone feels threatened.

• This week, there is only one meeting scheduled on account of the Thanksgiving holiday - a meeting of the Agenda Review Committee, which will take place tomorrow at 8:30 am. Speaking of Thanksgiving, we hope you are having a wonderful long weekend with family and friends. At Common Sense Edmonton, we’re grateful for each and every one of you who read our newsletters, sign our petitions, and donate to our work.
• Edmonton’s Healthy Streets Operations Centre in Chinatown is set to close at the end of this year after a two-year pilot program funded by the City. Despite the City's decision not to extend the pilot, community leaders are hoping that collaborative efforts between the City, police, and social agencies will continue to ensure local safety. The HSOC was established with a $15.2 million budget to address crime and disorder in Chinatown and nearby areas. While some successes were noted, such as a decrease in ambulance calls and reduced violent crime severity, other non-violent crimes increased, leading to a mixed evaluation of the program.
• Edmontonians are being asked to vote for a local bird that best symbolizes the city as part of a campaign to promote urban biodiversity. Six bird species have been nominated, including the black-billed magpie. You can cast your ballot online. Voting for the first round will continue until December 31st, with the top three birds advancing to a second round that ends on March 31st, 2025. Does anyone know of a dysfunctional bird that costs more and more every year?

• The Province remains skeptical of the federal pharmacare program, which now covers diabetes medication and birth control under Bill C-64. Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange expressed concern about the lack of a long-term vision and financial support for national pharmacare, emphasizing Alberta's preference for its existing drug coverage programs. She stressed the need for meaningful collaboration with the federal government to avoid duplicating services or creating unnecessary administrative burdens. The federal government aims to reach pharmacare agreements with provinces by spring 2025, but Alberta continues to advocate for predictable and sustainable health funding.
• Alberta nurses are considering a mediator-recommended settlement. The proposed deal includes pay increases ranging from 12% to 22% over four years, along with significant raises for some pay premiums. The United Nurses of Alberta had initially sought a 30% raise over two years, while the government offered 7.5% over four years. The union, representing over 30,000 nurses, had been considering a strike vote before this settlement recommendation. A ratification vote takes place on October 30th.
• Starting October 20th, homebuyers in Alberta will see an increase in fees for land transfers and mortgage registrations. The land transfer fee will rise from $2 to $5 per $5,000 of the purchase price, while the mortgage registration fee will increase from $1.50 to $5 per $5,000 of the mortgage amount. According to the Alberta Real Estate Association, the tax really shouldn't be there in the first place.

When the provincial government passed Bill 20 which includes the introduction of local political parties, it heralded a new look for local elections. Two groups were quick out of the gate and have already stated their intent to run a slate of candidates in the next election.

Principled Accountable Coalition for Edmonton (PACE) has been hosting information sessions to inform citizens of their plans if they’re elected into office. Doug Main, the PACE vice-president of communications, says PACE is looking for candidates who are fiscally proven, business-friendly, growth-oriented, community focused and fact-based.

Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, president of the other party, Transparent and Active Partnerships Edmonton (TAPYeg) believes parties are an important part of democracy in all levels of government.

As expected there was immediate opposition to political parties at the local level. Nakota Isga councillor Andrew Knack questions how candidates will be able to represent their constituents to the best of their ability while holding allegiance to a prospective party’s goals. McEwan University political scientist Chaldeans Mensah says this will bolster the left-wing to right-wing political spectrum.

It will be interesting to watch if other groups form and if so, under what banner?

If you're unfamiliar with BILL 20 there's a PDF of it below.