Reg Rygus

• Today's edition of Edmonton Minute is a special one: it is our 300th issue. Every week, we read the agendas, reports, and local news coming out of City Hall so that you can stay on top of the decisions that affect your neighbourhood and your wallet in just a few minutes. We want to thank you, our readers, for opening, sharing, and replying to our emails over all these years - your support is what keeps it going. Edmonton Minute is published by Common Sense Edmonton, and our work is funded solely by readers who chip in what they can, so if you find Edmonton Minute valuable, please consider making a donation to help us keep it coming every Monday for the next 300 issues!
• It is a quiet week at City Hall, with just one meeting on the calendar: the Agenda Review Committee will meet on Tuesday at 8:30 am, and both of the items on the agenda will be discussed in camera (in secret). Council's regular committee lineup resumes next week, with the Community and Public Services Committee meeting on August 10th, the Urban Planning Committee on August 11th, and the Executive Committee on August 12th, each at 9:30 am.
• A new lobby group calling itself the Infill Action Committee is campaigning for the provincial government to step into municipal policy on infill and zoning in Edmonton. More than 150 people gathered at a northside seniors centre on July 28th to hear about the campaign and sign letters to cabinet ministers, and the group plans to send between 300 and 400 letters per week to the province until October. Organizers say the letters will focus on issues they attribute to the City's blanket zoning policy, which allows dense infill multiplexes of six or eight units in residential neighbourhoods where lots are big enough, pointing to impacts on infrastructure, transportation, public safety, and affordable housing. Co-founder Jesse Watson, who ran for Council last fall in Ward 2 (Anirniq), says thousands of residents are scrutinizing the quality and impact of multiplexes built in mature neighbourhoods since the new zoning bylaw took effect in 2024, and calls infill "an election issue". Mayor Andrew Knack argues provincial involvement would be unnecessary and unhelpful, saying local zoning rules should be set by local governments and noting that no government MLAs represent Edmonton constituencies. He also points to changes Council has already made, including lowering the maximum height allowance in residential neighbourhoods from 10.5 meters to 9.5 meters as of August 1st.
• Meanwhile, Ward 5 (O-day'min) Councillor Anne Stevenson is calling for a formal business-friendly construction policy to reduce the impact of City infrastructure projects on local businesses. Last month, Council voted to direct Administration to explore a policy that would formalize the requirement for proactive mitigation strategies, clear communication, and safe, accessible site management in project planning. The report is due back in 2027, with the aim of having a policy in place for next year's construction season. Stevenson suggests options like closing a single block and renewing the sidewalks, curbs, and road all at once, and says a modestly higher cost to finish projects faster, such as 10%, could be a net gain in the long run. Edmonton Chamber of Commerce president Doug Griffiths welcomed the motion but said he would have liked to see it sooner, urging better notification of upcoming projects so businesses can adjust. Downtown Revitalization Coalition chairwoman Cheryll Watson argues that maintaining access must become the City's top priority, with nearly every route into downtown currently affected by construction.
• New crime data shows Edmonton's overall crime severity index fell 6.5% in 2025, hitting its lowest level since 2021, though the details are mixed. The index weights crime by seriousness, and while non-violent crime severity dropped 11%, the violent crime severity index rose 3.2%, meaning the violent offences that did occur were on average more serious. The total number of crimes per 100,000 people also rose, by 3.2%, and property crime jumped 10.1%, driven by increases in shoplifting, mischief, and theft from vehicles. Edmonton Police Service Inspector Bryce Gibbon says the city has also seen increases in robberies, assaults against peace officers, uttering threats, and child luring files, with overall calls for service up 4.3%. Police say a crime-reduction strategy launched this year, called Safer Edmonton, which uses crime mapping and data analysis to target enforcement, is showing promising results, with crime and violent crime rates down as of June. Ward 4 (Dene) Councillor Aaron Paquette says the statistics point to broader social issues that cities cannot address on their own without provincial support.

• Albertans can now pay out of pocket for MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds and X-rays without a doctor's referral, under a new self-referral system that took effect last Friday. Patients pay before receiving the test, either directly or through private insurance, and results go straight to the patient and into their electronic health record. If a test leads to a new cancer diagnosis, the patient can claim reimbursement at publicly funded rates for up to a year from the date of diagnosis. Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Justin Wright says participating private clinics must maintain the same access to physician-referred, publicly funded services they provided before the change. The provincial government says Alberta is the first province to let patients self-refer, pay, and be reimbursed this way, while Alberta Medical Association President Dr. Brian Wirzba warns the change could add to public-system backlogs through false positives and incidental findings. The president of Canada Diagnostic Centres estimates private diagnostic testing could quadruple to 50,000 or 60,000 tests a year, still a small share of the 7 million exams the system handles annually. 
• Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith announced a new Canada-Alberta housing infrastructure agreement in Red Deer last Wednesday. The deal lets Alberta municipalities access more than $510 million in federal funding over eight years through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund for water and wastewater projects that enable new housing, with the Province contributing at least one third of eligible project costs. Carney claims the agreement will support 750 skilled trades jobs every year. [Editor's Note: Why can't Albertans just pay less to Ottawa in the first place, rather than sending extra money to the federal government and then having to negotiate to get some of it back?]
• Speaking at the same Red Deer announcement, Premier Danielle Smith also pitched changes to Canada's equalization program. Smith says the provincial government's calculations show "have-not" provinces have been overcompensated by $7 billion over the last 5 years, and she wants the escalator that grows the program with the size of the economy removed, with the excess distributed back to provinces on an equal per capita basis. The current formula is largely based on recommendations from a 2006 report, and the federal and provincial governments are due to consult on renewing equalization before March 31st, 2029. Carney said Canadians across the country should have reasonably comparable services and resources, but acknowledged that how provincial resources are calculated will be looked at as the review approaches. University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe notes the formula can discourage receiving provinces from maximizing their own resource revenues, since higher revenues mean lower equalization payments, and suggests any review should also look at other federal transfers such as health funding. While reform of the formula would be an improvement over the status quo, it's a far cry from the complete abolition of the program that 62% of Albertans voted in favour of in 2021.
• Musician Corb Lund's Water Not Coal campaign has filed for judicial review of Elections Alberta's decision to reject its petition calling for a ban on new coal mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains. The petition was submitted last month with more than 196,000 signatures, above the 177,732 required for a citizen initiative, but Elections Alberta's random statistical sampling verified only 172,088. The application, filed in the Court of King's Bench last Wednesday, argues the rejection was unreasonable and procedurally unfair, with Lund saying signatures were disqualified over mismatched middle names and addresses and that verification agents did not prompt electors for missing details. Lund wants a judge to either declare the petition successful or send it back to Elections Alberta. The group is not alone in raising concerns, as organizers of the pro-separation Stay Free Alberta petition, which passed verification earlier in July, are asking for a legislative review of the same process. Elections Alberta says its sampling method is set out in the Citizens Initiative Act and uses the same formula as other North American jurisdictions with similar petition processes.
• The Alberta NDP continues its campaign against new AI data centres this week, announcing additional consultation events in St. Albert and Red Deer to gather feedback on proposed projects. The party says its primary concerns are the potential impacts on electricity demand, water use, and noise in nearby communities. The provincial government says these concerns are unfounded, as any data centre built in Alberta are required to provide their own electricity generation, use closed-loop cooling systems that minimize water consumption, and be built in existing industrial areas away from residential neighbourhoods. The NDP's campaign mirrors many of the arguments used in past anti-development campaigns against Alberta's oil and gas industry, while also reflecting the messaging of far-left environmental activist groups in the United States that have also organized against new data centres on environmental grounds. Supporters of the projects argue that Alberta's competitive electricity market, industrial land base, and abundant natural gas make the province an attractive destination for billions of dollars in private investment, jobs, and tax revenue.

Woodvale Outdoor Rink Update

We are thrilled to share some exciting news—the multi-sport rink is officially re-opening! Over the past weeks, we’ve been working diligently to enhance this space, and we’re pleased to announce that the sport line painting has been completed. Even better, we’ve just installed pickleball nets, responding directly to your feedback from last year’s community survey. Pickleball was at the top of the list for desired improvements, and we’re delighted to deliver on that request.

To make the most of our rink, we’ve created a fresh layout: one half is dedicated to hockey and inline skating, while the other half is set up for pickleball. This new arrangement means more ways to play and enjoy the outdoors together. Please remember to bring your own equipment, as we encourage everyone to make the space their own.

A friendly reminder—no bikes or scooters, please. The rink’s surface isn’t designed for those activities, and we want to keep the newly painted sport lines in great condition for all users.

Thank you for your input and enthusiasm for our community spaces. We hope you enjoy the improved rink and look forward to seeing everyone out there soon!

Walk Your Block Photo Challenge!

As you participate in Walk Your Block #599, snap a photo of:

🌳 Your favourite green space

🐾 A walking companion

🌻 A beautiful garden

🏡 A unique feature in the neighbourhood

☀️ A great summer view

Share your photo in the comments and inspire others to get outside and explore!

Learn about the program: Walk Your Block Program

Submit your participation: Participation Form

📅 Our Community Walker Number is #599

📍 Woodvale Community

Let's see Woodvale through your eyes! 📷💙

Green Shack Programs

Children are invited to get active and join City Green Shack Leaders this summer for games, sports, crafts, music, drama and special events! The free drop-in program is designed for children ages six to 12, but children of all ages are welcome. Children under six years of age can still participate if they have a parent or guardian with them. The 2026 Green Shacks program runs from June 29 to August 21.

In addition, the City has partnered with the Edmonton Arts Council, Edmonton Public Library and Sport Edmonton for additional programming at some Green Shack locations. There are 238 Green Shack sites this summer, and partnered locations are indicated on the online map. Learn more at www.edmonton.ca/greenshacks. 

Mosquito Control Program - we need YOUR help!

With the heavy rain we’ve seen this season, our local mosquito population is becoming larger than usual. The City of Edmonton’s Mosquito Control program is working hard to keep our parks and outdoor spaces safe, healthy, and enjoyable.

Our Ditch and Ground Control teams have been on the move since April, treating roadside ditches and targeted habitats to control mosquitoes before they even hatch. We are also being much smarter about how we track them; the City now uses advanced carbon dioxide-baited traps to accurately target blood-seeking insects, rather than light traps that catch every helpful pollinator in sight.

While our crews are hard at work, we also need your help in eliminating mosquito breeding grounds. How can you help?

• Report any standing bodies of water that occur within residential areas by contacting 311. These are potential developmental sites for mosquito larvae. City crews will inspect sites and treat if required.
• Drain or fill low-lying areas that collect and retain water that mosquitoes can breed in.
• Items such as old tires, rain barrels or even eavestroughs can be a potential breeding site for some species of mosquitoes. These should be inspected regularly and drained if larvae are found.
• Store pails, buckets and other equipment in such a way that they do not collect rainwater and organic material.
• Keep ornamental pools, ponds and dugouts free of vegetation around the edges.
• Mosquito adults require shelter. Cutting tall grass, weeds and underbrush removes the areas of shade and high humidity that they need for survival.

For more information on the City’s mosquito program and how to protect yourself, visit edmonton.ca/mosquito.

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Attend an open rehearsal of Voices at Play—

collaborative playback theatre designed to amplify the voices of Muslim and racialized actors in Edmonton, check out the opening reception of Camryn Carnell’s solo exhibition

A Scrappy Sensibility at Alberta Craft, explore the world’s largest three-day multiculturalism celebration at the Edmonton Heritage Festival, get a sneak peek of upcoming Fringe plays at Script Salon’s Fringe Script Tease, and so much more!

SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

HEADS UP! Earlier this week, a limited number of pay machines were identified as having a ‘scan to pay’ decal affixed to the ‘tap for payment’ area on the pay machine. If a customer unknowingly scans the QR code, they will be taken to an illegitimate website to enter information and payment to purchase a parking session. Several steps have been taken since the incident was reported. These included: • Corporate Security has worked with the domain providers of the URL for both the illegitimate website and QR code host website to have the links decommissioned. • Calgary Parking has been conducting a sweep of all pay machines to remove unauthorized decals. • Law and Privacy have been engaged with respect to legal and privacy impacts. • Video footage at Calgary Parking lots has been analyzed and a potential suspect has been identified. • Corporate Security has engaged Calgary Police Services on the matter. Calgary Parking will be placing updated information on http://calgaryparking.com and social media channels. If you are worried if you have become a victim of fraud, please make sure to contact your financial institution and report it to the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line (403-266-1234) or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm). Please be sure to reach out to our office at ward14@calgary.ca should you have any questions regarding the above.

The latest edition of the BOYLE MCCAULEY NEWS is not only right on schedule, its available to read now to find out what's happening the remainder of summer and into early autumn.

The destructive power of climate change hits home for many of us with the incredible storms we’ve recently experienced in Edmonton. One of the ways we can mitigate the damage is to preserve as many mature trees in Edmonton as possible. And one way to do that is to have a robust Private Tree Bylaw to prohibit the wholesale destruction of trees on properties undergoing infill.

The City of Edmonton is gathering feedback until August 4 for a new 10-year Urban Forest Management Plan. Here’s the link to a survey that takes 10-15 minutes to complete: https://www.edmonton.ca/residential_neighbourhoods/gardens_lawns_trees/trees-urban-forestry

A Private Tree Bylaw is not the focus of this survey, but if it is something that you feel is important, here’s a chance to provide some input on an initiative that Council has the power to make happen. Although City Administration has argued that a Private Tree Bylaw would be costly and complex to enforce, most major cities in Canada now have such bylaws, which limit destruction of trees on private property. Why can’t Edmonton take meaningful (and immediate) action to protect our critical tree canopy?

Preserving mature trees:

• Improves air quality
• Reduces urban heat
• Manages stormwater runoff
• Helps maintain biodiversity in our urban environment
• Enhances the aesthetic appeal of our neighbourhoods

Here’s the link to more information offered by the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition in their piece entitled “Edmonton Needs A Private Tree Bylaw” - https://www.ervcc.com/tree-equity

This survey closes on August 4, so if you have time this week to do the survey, great!

• The Government of Alberta has announced a $30-million expansion of addiction services in the Edmonton area, the centrepiece of which is a new secure facility inside Edmonton police headquarters where officers will be able to detain intoxicated people for up to 24 hours. Under the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, police will be able to hold people they believe are high on drugs or alcohol and pose a risk to themselves or the public, in an 18-bed Integrated Stabilization Centre scheduled to open later this summer. The province describes the centre as a secure but non-criminal space, and Edmonton Police Deputy Chief Derek McIntyre says the aim is to divert people away from the justice system and connect them to voluntary treatment once they have been stabilized. The funding also adds more than 400 treatment, housing and stabilization beds across the region, including 25 new beds at the Lakeview Recovery Community in Gunn and new recovery communities at Enoch Cree Nation and the Métis Nation. The province is separately building compassionate intervention facilities in Edmonton and Calgary for involuntary addiction treatment, which are expected to open in about 18 months. Mayor Andrew Knack said he might not have supported the stabilization centre on its own, describing it as one of a host of tools in the announcement.
• A coalition of downtown business advocates is calling on Edmonton City Council to treat downtown economic stabilization as an immediate priority after more than half a dozen restaurants announced permanent closures this summer. The Downtown Revitalization Coalition, chaired by Cheryll Watson, has put forward a Downtown Economic Stabilization Plan and wants Council to direct the City Manager to act rather than let the issue wait until the fall. Watson argues that construction is necessary but that the way it is being managed is placing an unsustainable burden on businesses already dealing with public safety concerns, reduced foot traffic and rising costs. Heather Thomson, vice-president of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, says the downtown is currently seeing two businesses close for every one that opens, and that many of the closures have been close to the large LRT construction sites. Mayor Andrew Knack acknowledged that more construction is under way this year but pointed to a motion he brought forward last year that he claims sped up some intersection work, and he said he expects further discussion of downtown funding when the next four-year budget is debated in December.
• Meanwhile, Edmonton City Council has approved changes to the way it regulates lodging houses, tightening rules meant to stop them from being run as short-term rentals like Airbnbs and adjusting the zoning bylaw to limit them in most residential areas. Under the change, approved at Council's July 7th meeting, lodging houses would generally be restricted to row housing, multi-plexes and garage or basement suites. Ward 5 (O-day'min) Councillor Anne Stevenson has questioned the approach, warning that it would remove the option of student and lodging housing in many newly built row houses and cut off important lower-cost options where they are most needed. The University of Alberta Students' Union says affordability is its members' central concern, pointing to students taking on part-time work and graduating with more debt alongside the need to keep housing safe from exploitative rent schemes. A public hearing will be scheduled before the changes take effect.
• Alberta's municipalities have been told they cannot campaign for or against separation in the province's October referendum, even as individual Mayors and Councillors continue to take sides. Elections Alberta has issued a bulletin clarifying that under the Elections Finances and Contributions Act, municipalities are treated as prohibited corporations and cannot register as third-party advertisers or spend to support either outcome. The restriction follows a motion Edmonton City Council passed earlier this month, backed by Mayor Andrew Knack, declaring that Alberta should remain part of a united Canada. Knack argues the referendum question is a distraction and says he has had to reassure investors and employers worried about the uncertainty. Political scientist Brendan Boyd notes that elected officials can still voice opinions and pass motions, but that municipalities themselves have to be careful about how far they go. 
• Finally, the Telus World of Science Edmonton will remain closed until at least November after severe flooding during a recent storm forced it to evacuate and shut its doors. Chief Executive Constance Scarlett said the science centre has temporarily laid off 147 employees, about 68% of its staff, because it relies on admissions for roughly 80% of its budget and cannot sustain its usual staffing without visitors. Current assessments suggest restoration could take months, with flooring, cabinets and drywall needing replacement in many areas, though the centre says it is exploring a partial reopening earlier in the fall. Refunds for camps, tickets and events scheduled up to the end of September are being processed automatically. The nearby Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre was also closed by flooding and a power outage, but the neighbouring Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre remains open apart from its running track.

• Construction is set to begin on a new $2.9-billion natural gas pipeline in central Alberta after the provincial power regulator approved the Yellowhead project proposed by Canadian Utilities Ltd. The 235-kilometer transmission line would run from the Peers area in west-central Alberta to the Fort Saskatchewan region northeast of Edmonton, and is expected to carry more than 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas, which the company says is equivalent to what Alberta's entire electricity system delivers on a peak day. Jason Sharpe, Chief Operating Officer at ATCO Ltd., the parent company of Canadian Utilities, said the project will help meet Alberta's growing energy needs while supporting economic growth across the province. All major pipeline and compressor contracts have been awarded, and the company expects the work to create about 2,000 direct construction jobs. ATCO has billed the Yellowhead pipeline as its largest-ever energy infrastructure project. 
• Alberta's budget picture has improved sharply since the government tabled Budget 2026 in February, with higher oil prices putting the province on track to erase a projected $9.4-billion deficit and possibly finish the year with a surplus. The budget assumed West Texas Intermediate crude would average $60.50 US a barrel, but prices have spent much of the spring and summer above $70 US and at times topped $100 US amid tensions between the United States and Iran. University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe estimates the province is now on track for a modest surplus of about $5 billion if a $70 price holds, a swing of roughly $14 billion in just a few months. Provincial revenues move by about $680 million for every $1 change in the price of oil. Finance Minister Jason Nixon's office said the Government anticipates improvement on the deficit but cautioned that a full-year projection cannot rest on recently elevated prices, with an update due in the next quarterly report at the end of August. Tombe warned that if oil averages below about $68 US for the rest of the year, Alberta would end back in deficit.
• The provincial government has given Alberta's public libraries until January 1st to adopt policies restricting young people's access to materials containing sexually explicit images. Under changes to the Libraries Act passed in May, libraries must ensure that anyone 15 years old or younger cannot use or borrow materials showing a visual depiction of a sexual act without a parent or guardian's authorization, a restriction that covers books, periodicals, comics and graphic novels, films, television programs and video games. Library boards face the same deadline to decide which materials to restrict, how to verify a patron's age, how to handle library cards and computer access for younger users, and how to apply the rules to e-books. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs said that no content will be removed and the aim is to keep libraries family-friendly without affecting adults' access, adding that the changes also expand the power of provincially appointed inspectors to examine any aspect of a library's operations. Rob Miyashiro, the NDP's Shadow Minister for Municipal Affairs, claimed the rules were unnecessary because most libraries already had similar policies, and warned they will raise costs and strain staff, especially at small libraries. Miyashiro said local decision-making would be minimized in favour of a centralized approach.
• Premier Danielle Smith says she trusts Prime Minister Mark Carney to reach a deal with the US that avoids President Donald Trump's threatened new tariffs on Canada, calling the Prime Minister "wise" to hold off on retaliation for now. Smith made the comments in an interview with Global News after meeting Carney and the other premiers in Charlottetown, following the US administration's announcement that some Canadian products will face 50% tariffs, set to take effect on August 19th. Carney says he spoke with Trump and the two agreed to intensify trade negotiations, and while everything remains on the table for potential retaliation, he argues it would be counterproductive to respond in advance. Smith believes pressure from Americans themselves could also play a role, saying the tariffs are raising the cost of homes, food, and everyday products for US consumers. She also welcomed other premiers' support for energy projects Alberta has been championing, including oil pipelines to British Columbia and Ontario, along with new agreements to lift interprovincial barriers on alcohol sales. Smith suggested those deals, and the premiers' vocal support for Alberta remaining in Canada, could influence the upcoming referendum on whether the province should pursue a path to separation.
• Speaking of trade, Premiers from nine provinces have signed an agreement to allow direct-to-consumer alcohol sales, letting Canadians order alcohol for personal consumption directly from producers in participating provinces. The agreement, signed last Tuesday, applies only to sales from producers, not retailers or resale, and follows a July 2025 memorandum of understanding that committed provinces to opening cross-border shipping by May 2026. Until now, interprovincial alcohol sales have largely been funnelled through provincial liquor boards, with listing processes that many small producers have struggled to navigate. David Farran, President and founder of Eau Claire Distillery, said accessing other provinces has been very difficult because government liquor stores decide which products to carry, describing the red tape involved in securing listings as "almost impossible to overcome". The Alberta Chambers of Commerce called the deal a step in the right direction but argued governments should keep the rules simple and minimize compliance costs, while the Alberta Small Brewers Association cautioned that higher shipping costs and beer's shorter shelf life mean the change may not immediately transform business for small breweries. Alberta remains one of only two provinces, alongside Saskatchewan, that allow the sale and import of American liquor.

Catch up on the latest news from the Boyle McCauley district below.....

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Explore the practice of ekphrastic writing with writer Jason Purcell; enjoy a free community celebration of dance, art, music, and culture at CIRCUS ROYALE with Mile Zero Dance, New Roots Breaking Studios and iHuman; join SNAP at their annual steamroller event for an evening extravaganza complete with a campfire, s’mores, live music, and printmaking; catch the final performances of Cocktails at Pam’s at the Varscona Theatre; step into Wonderpool: Portals to Imagined Worlds featuring the works of CW Carson, Sara Norquay and Byron McBride at Gallery@501; and so much more!

SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

I hope your summer is going swimmingly!

You may recall that we helped set up an Infill Townhall meeting about a month ago, with people from all three levels of government in attendance. We heard many stories from residents who have experienced all manner of issues related to infill; the predicaments people have been put in are unforgiveable.

Individuals, groups, communities, and business leaders have done everything they can to fight the infill issues and advocate for change; in fact, the ongoing effort is nothing short of exhaustive. All this has proven fruitful to some degree for sure, and in several cases, precedents have been set, which is very hopeful. But we need to do more!

A number of the various infill groups, and individual leaders in them, believe it's time to start an intensive lobbying effort aimed at the Provincial Government. The campaign begins at a public meeting next week. Please make every effort to attend.

Infill Planning Townhall

Tuesday, July 28 7:00 (Doors Open 6:30)

NW Seniors Society

12963 120 St. NW

Please invite your friends, families and neighbors. And just in case you are not able to make this one, we have booked the same hall for August 18th for a similar event.

Call if you have any questions and we hope to see you on Tuesday.

Have a good week!

Sheila Phimester

President, PACE

(780) 916-5992