Reg Rygus

• City Council meets tomorrow at 9:30 am, with debate continuing Wednesday, and one of the first items is Administration's operating financial update for the first half of 2026. The report projects that tax-supported operations would finish the year $50.9 million over budget before the City draws on its Financial Strategies contingency funds, a gap Administration attributes to heavy early-year snow clearing, transit and fire overtime, and higher fuel costs. After pulling $51.4 million from those funds, the City instead projects a slim $0.5 million surplus. The Financial Stabilization Reserve is forecast to end 2026 at $135.0 million, about $15.4 million below its required minimum, and is not expected to recover until 2028. Administration also expects the City to finish the year with roughly $5 billion in outstanding debt. The projections do not yet include the costs of July's flooding or of US tariffs, which Administration says it is still assessing.
• Also on Tuesday's agenda, Council will vote on the money needed to bring the Valley Line Southeast LRT under public operation. In May, Council directed Administration to end the City's contract with private operator TransEd in 2027 and hand operations and maintenance to Edmonton Transit Service. Administration is now asking Council to approve just over $7.6 million in one-time operating costs for a temporary transition office covering staff, consultants, and asset inspections through 2027, plus a $20.5-million capital budget for fleet and equipment. All of it would be drawn from the City's LRT Reserve, which requires a one-time exemption to Council policy. The request does not include the payment owed to TransEd to end the contract, which Administration says will be financed through borrowing and brought back for approval later. Administration notes that moving an operating light rail line from a private to a public operator has few precedents in North America, and rates the workforce, technology, and asset-handover risks as high.
• Council will also give first reading to a bylaw creating a new property tax subclass for derelict commercial and industrial buildings. The measure would let the City assess non-residential properties that have sat unoccupied for at least a year at a higher tax rate, mirroring a derelict residential subclass Council created in 2023. Under Edmonton's City Charter, the higher rate could be set no greater than five times the lowest residential rate. Administration estimates that putting the subclass in place would cost up to $274,000 a year in ongoing funding, plus up to $1 million in one-time spending to reprogram the City's tax system. It projects the higher rate could raise about $400,000 a year from derelict properties if Council set it at the maximum. A funding request would come forward as part of the 2027-2030 budget.
• Two information reports before Council on Tuesday set the table for this fall's 2027-2030 budget debate. The first summarizes public engagement that drew 11,716 responses last spring, in which participants leaned toward finishing existing projects and maintaining current infrastructure rather than starting new ones, and ranked road and pathway maintenance as a top priority. When users of the City's online budget tool were asked to balance the books, 40% chose to raise property taxes, 42% kept them flat, and 18% cut them, for an average increase of about 1%. A companion satisfaction survey found that satisfaction with City services overall slipped to 62% this year from 68% in 2025. The same survey found that agreement Edmonton is an attractive place to expand a business or build a career fell to 53% from 61%. Council will weigh the findings as Administration prepares its proposed four-year budget.
• Ward 8 (papastew) Councillor Michael Janz has a motion pending that would change how the City talks about property taxes. It asks Administration to report tax increases and spending in dollars per $100,000 of assessed property value, rather than using a "typical home" example or percentages, which Janz argues are less transparent for residents. Janz also has motions pending to set a standard three-minute speaking limit for public speakers at committee and Council meetings, and to open each Council meeting with a moment of silence for people killed on Edmonton roads. The motions were introduced with notice at earlier meetings and are listed for debate at this week's Council session.

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ON THE AGENDA

Stephanie Swensrude

This week, council will consider tax subclasses for derelict properties, review public engagement on the 2027-2030 budget, and vote on funding for the Valley Line LRT transition and equipment for the expanding network.

There is a city council meeting on Sept. 8, with a continuation on Sept. 9 if required.

Here are some key items on the agenda this week:

• Council will vote on the first reading of a bylaw that would establish a citywide tax subclass for derelict non-residential properties that have been unoccupied for at least a year. Administration estimates implementation would require up to $274,000 in annual operating funding starting in 2027 and up to $1 million in capital funding, with those requests to be considered during the 2027-2030 budget deliberations. Council will also consider all three readings of a bylaw expanding the existing derelict residential subclass from mature neighbourhoods to the entire city. Funding for that expansion is already approved. If the bylaw passes, eligible properties across Edmonton will be included starting with the January 2027 assessment notices.
• Participants in public engagement on the 2027-2030 budget wanted a focus on core services but disagreed on what “core” means, says a report due at council. Of the 1,467 residents who used an online budget tool, 42% kept property tax revenue the same, 40% increased it, and 18% decreased it. More than half of budget-tool participants chose spending cuts for police, environment and climate, and a combined category covering arts, culture, tourism, inclusion, and economic development. Administration will use the feedback to help shape the proposed four-year operating and capital budgets.
• Council will be asked to approve funding for a transition management office to transfer the operations and maintenance of the Valley Line Southeast LRT from TransEd to the Edmonton Transit Service in 2027. Administration is seeking about $7.7 million for the temporary office and $20.5 million for vehicles, tools, equipment, and operating systems for Valley Line Southeast and other LRT expansions, all from the LRT reserve. The request excludes the payment to terminate the TransEd contract

.

Council will be asked to approve about $28.2 million from the LRT reserve for the Valley Line transition office and equipment for the expanding LRT network. (Jon Spencer/Flickr)

Here are some more key items:

• Council will vote on updates to the public art policy and the climate resilience policy, following infrastructure committee’s recommendations. The art update clarifies that funding is based on historical investments and collection maintenance needs. The climate update adds adaptation targets and a sustainable return on investment threshold to guide climate requirements for new city buildings.
• Coun. Ashley Salvador will introduce a motion requesting funding options for active transportation routes awaiting feasibility reviews and funding, plus an unfunded capital profile to continue implementing the Bike Plan, for the 2027-2030 budget deliberations.
• Coun. Thu Parmar will introduce a motion calling for a public hearing and an analysis of shifting up to $220 million from the Neighbourhood Renewal Program tax levy to arterial-road renewal for the 2027-2030 budget cycle.
• Council will consider first reading of a bylaw allowing the city assessor to delegate municipal tax relief decisions to directors and managers. The existing $500,000 annual limit on tax forgiveness by administration would remain unchanged.
• The city’s operating budget is projected to end 2026 with a $500,000 surplus after using $51.4 million that was set aside to manage budget pressures to offset a $50.9-million shortfall. Higher snow-clearing and overtime costs, as well as lower revenues from transit advertising and permits, are among the pressures. The forecast excludes the net effects of tariffs and heavy rainfall in June and July. The Financial Stabilization Reserve is still projected to end the year $15.4 million below its minimum balance of $150.4 million.
• Most significant capital projects are within acceptable tolerances for budget and schedule, administration says. Weighted by approved budgets, about 83% are within an acceptable range in terms of budget, and 94% are within an acceptable range in terms of schedule.
• Council will meet in private to discuss public safety, strategic planning, and intergovernmental matters, including a provincial pre-budget submission and partnership opportunity.

• The provincial government has committed $320 million to expand cardiac care at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge. The funding, announced Wednesday, will redevelop the hospital's cardiac catheterization lab and expand its intensive care and cardiac care units, raising the facility's total number of beds to 54. Infrastructure Minister Martin Long said design work will begin this month and construction next month, with the project expected to be finished by the end of 2031. Long said the hospital plays a vital role in delivering health care across southern Alberta, while Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange said Albertans deserve timely access to care close to home.
• Also on the health-care file, Alberta's new dual-practice health system took effect on September 1st, allowing doctors to offer privately paid services while continuing to work in the public system, beginning with elective procedures such as hip and knee replacements. The provincial government says close to 400 specialist physicians have expressed interest in taking part, though a formal application process must still be completed before any privately funded surgeries occur, which the province expects later this fall. Premier Danielle Smith says the change does not violate the Canada Health Act and that she expects Ottawa to respect the province's jurisdiction over health care, arguing that Albertans who choose to pay for eligible elective surgery should be able to do so at home rather than travelling out of province. The provincial and national doctors associations and the Opposition NDP have criticized the model as two-tier care that benefits those who can afford to pay while draining the public system. Opponents rallied at seven locations across the province, with the group Friends of Medicare urging Ottawa to enforce the Act by withholding health transfers, and federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel's office said she is in advanced discussions with her Alberta counterpart.
• On another file, Alberta's Opposition NDP is calling on Premier Danielle Smith to fire Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally over problems with the province's new integrated identification cards, which since July 2nd have combined a resident's driver's licence with their health number and a citizenship marker. Gurinder Brar, the NDP's critic for the department, said constituency offices have been swamped with complaints from residents confused and frustrated by the changes, and cited a Grande Prairie woman who was turned away four times while trying to renew her identification despite presenting several documents. Brar said the party would make a single combined card optional, offer a standalone health card, and remove the citizenship markers, which he called discriminatory, noting that the privacy commissioner has warned that requiring a health number and citizenship on a licence puts privacy at risk. Nally defended the cards, saying driver's licence and identification transactions rose 33% in July compared with a year earlier and that a citizenship marker makes it easier for Albertans to prove eligibility for provincial benefits. He said the change brings Alberta in line with every province except Manitoba in requiring health coverage to be renewed, and that residents needing more time can receive a 60-day grace period.
• The provincial government will remove Water Act approval and wetland replacement requirements this fall for routine farming on private cropland, allowing producers to drain, ditch, and fill certain temporary and seasonal wetlands without first obtaining provincial permission. The exemptions will cover activities such as cultivating, direct seeding, spraying, surface-water drainage, and infilling. Under the current system, a farmer whose work affects a temporary wetland can be required to hire a qualified wetland professional, complete an assessment, wait for a government review, and pay wetland replacement costs. Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter said the change restores private property rights and gets government out of the way where it is not needed, saving farmers time and money. Water managed under the exemptions must remain on the farmer's property and cannot adversely affect neighbouring land. The Government also plans to replace the approval process for tile drainage with a code of practice, which it expects to complete in early 2027.
• Alberta drivers paid an average of $1,903 for auto insurance last year as premiums rose 8.7%, according to a new report from the Automobile Insurance Rate Board, the independent agency that approves auto insurance rates in the province. The report found that third-party liability costs, largely legal and litigation expenses, made up 58.2% of the premiums drivers paid, and that insurers still lost about nine cents for every dollar of coverage sold in 2025. The Insurance Bureau of Canada said the figures show the current system is broken and strengthen the case for the province's planned Care-First model, which would shift the emphasis from lawsuits to medical treatment and recovery benefits for people injured in collisions. Aaron Sutherland, the bureau's vice-president for Western and Pacific Canada, said legal costs remain the largest pressure on premiums and that the planned changes cannot arrive soon enough. The report also found the cost of repairing vehicles has risen roughly 27% in recent years.

Community League News

Zumba Alert - Big Energy, Big Changes!

💃 Get ready to dance, sweat, and SMILE! 🕺🔥

Zumba is turning up the heat at the Large Hall (7708 – 81 Street NW) every Thursday from 6:30–7:30 pm, starting September 10th! 🎶

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or brand new to Zumba, this class is all about fun, movement, and feeling amazing.

💰 Drop-in: $10

🎟️ KEP Community League members: Just $5!

Grab your water bottle, lace up your shoes, bring your energy — and let’s dance it out together!

Community League Day - Come Celebrate With Us 🎉

🌭 Hot dogs from Dawg Gone It Food Truck

🍦 Ice cream

⛳ Mini golf

🤝 Community information tables featuring groups including SEESA and Norwood

📅 Saturday | 12:00–3:00 pm

📍 Small Hall & Rink — 8008 81 Street NW

🗳️Special General Meeting

As part of Community League Day, we’ll hold a Special General Meeting from 12:00–12:30 pm to approve the league’s audited financial statements.

Come for the meeting, stay for the fun — and help us celebrate the community that makes King Edward Park such a great place to live! 💚

🍲 Help Bring Community Soup Nights to King Edward Park!

We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help launch a recurring Community Soup Night—a cozy potluck where neighbours can gather over a warm bowl of soup, connect, and build community.

Several volunteers have already expressed interest in helping, but we're still looking for someone to take the lead and help turn this idea into reality. If you enjoy organizing events or bringing people together, this is a great opportunity to make a lasting impact in the neighbourhood.

Interested in helping? We'd love to hear from you! Contact programs@kingedwardpark.org to learn more or express your interest.

Let's build something warm, welcoming, and delicious—together!

Community Shout-Outs

• Free Big Bin and Eco Station Events
• Sept 12 - 13 | Mill Woods Town Centre (2331 - 66 Street) from 9
• a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sept 26 - 27 | Strathcona, Kennedale & Ambleside Eco Stations from 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Reuse Centre Small Electronics Swap | Sept 19 , 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Get Ready in the Neighbourhood - Last Call for Free Workshops in 2026
• September 17 | 7-9 pm | Virtual Workshop
• October 22 | 7-9 pm |Evansdale Community League

Community Events & Happenings

• Purple City Music Festival 2026 | Sept 11 - 12
• James Ehnes & Andrew Armstrong: Edmonton Chamber Music Society | Sept 10
• Lyle Lovett and his Small Large Band | Sept 10
• Root for Trees - September Events | Sept 10
• Barrel Fest 2026 | Sept 12
• Women In Ninja 2026 | Sept 12
• Mosquers Film Festival | Sept 17 - 20
• Tea and Trees Events | Sept 18
• Kaleido Fest| Sept 18 - 20
• Edmonton Comic Expo | Sept 18 - 20
• Rocktoberfest | Sept 18 - 21
• Fall Gallery Walk | Sept 19 - 20
• Edmonton Terry Fox Run | Sept 20
• Edmonton International Film Festival| Sept 24 - Oct 3
• Free Mid-Autumn Chinatown Walking Tour | Sept 24
• National Tree Day | Sept 24
• AsiaFest YEG | Sept 25 - 27
• Open Cockpit Day | Sept 26
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Sept 30

City Info & Updates

• Here To Help for Back to School
• Valley Line West LRT construction update
• Invasive Weed Pull at Edmonton Valley Zoo
• Edmonton Fire Rescue Services Drone Program Soaring, Enhancing Citywide Emergency Response

City & Community Resources

• Edmonton Community Programs
• Contact 311: Issues related to City services, programs or bylaws
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Edmonton Community Resources
• HELP Community Resources List
• Edmonton Reuse Directory

Stay Connected

Email: info@kingedwardpark.org

Website: KingEdwardPark.org 

The number of burglaries seems to be on the increase. To help ensure that your home is not one of those watch the video below.

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Check out the Edmonton Art Crawl for three days of free arts and cultural programming to downtown Edmonton, explore the question “what does it truly mean to belong?” at the Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation’s anniversary panel discussion, celebrate the 100th Anniversary of A PAGE OF MADNESS with a live original score performed by The Nausea, enjoy an afternoon of Indian music filled with soulful songs at Dopehri 2026, and so much more!

SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

Fall Transit Service Adjustments

School Routes and Trips: Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) is looking forward to welcoming students back to transit as part of regular fall service adjustments. Beginning August 30, ETS will implement service adjustments to various bus routes and On Demand Transit, including the resumption of school routes and trips.

There are changes coming to some school specials, including major route adjustments, minor route adjustments (including route 664 in Walker) and school special cancellations due to low ridership and/or changing ridership patterns. You can see a list of all adjustments at edmonton.ca/SchoolSpecialBusRoutes. 

Other changes for Ward Karhiio: ETS will be reassigning the following bus bays at the Mill Woods Transit Centre

• Route 509A will move from Bay O (#3915) to Bay F (#3906)
• Route 509B will move from Bay P (#3916) to Bay E (#3905)
• Route 517 will move from Bay F (#3906) to Bay C (#3903)
• Route 518 will move from Bay E (#3905) to Bay O (#3915)
• Route 521 will move from Bay C (#3903) to Bay P (#3916)
• Routes 509A, 509B, 518, & 521 will also reverse direction in the
• immediate vicinity of Mill Woods Transit Centre

All Fall adjustments are available at edmonton.ca/TransitServiceChanges, through 311 and by accessing trip planning tools (Google Maps, edmonton.ca/transit).

Interested in Serving on the Woodvale Board?

We’re looking for individuals who would like to get involved and help make a difference by serving on the Woodvale Board.

Our next board meeting is Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 PM at the Millwoods Golf Course. If you’re interested in learning more or would like to get involved, we’d love to have you join us!

Need help setting out your garbage? Try Assisted Waste today

Since 2010, Edmonton’s Assisted Waste Program has helped Edmontonians with limited mobility move their recycling, garbage and food scraps to the curb for collection. Edmontonians with temporary or long-term mobility challenges can apply for the following services:

• Curbside collectionResidents sort their waste into carts and bags. The collector moves them to the curb or alley for collection and returns the carts to their storage location afterward.
• Residents provide their sorted waste to the collector at their home. The collector places the waste in the appropriate carts, sets out the carts and bags for collection and returns the carts to their storage location afterward.
• Apartment and condo collectionCollectors pick up sorted waste from the resident’s door and take it to the property’s collection container for disposal

Learn more about the program and how to sign up at edmonton.ca/AssistedWaste.

Save the Date: Community League Day is Saturday September 19th 

There are 163 community leagues in Edmonton, with 8 in Ward Karhiio. Wherever you live, there’s a league of volunteers giving their time to build a better city. Community League Day on Saturday September 19, is a chance to meet your league and find out what they can do for you. Meet neighbours, get your membership, and learn about programming and volunteer opportunities. 

Many leagues are still in the process of planning their Community League Day events, You can find local events at efcl.org/community-league-day/, or by checking your local leagues website or social media throughout the next month. 

Community Connections

Millwoods Mosaic

Community League Memberships And Renewals Are Now Online

League memberships are still only $25 per household and are available at www.woodvale.org or from the League Office located at the Facility Building on the Mill Woods Golf Course (Call 780-462-2101 ext 3).

View all the benefits and sign up here:

https://www.woodvale.org/membership

• The Community and Public Services Committee meets today at 9:30 am, and one of the items on the agenda is a review of the City's snow and ice control policy and program. Administration is asking the Committee to recommend that Council approve an updated policy that adds accessibility as a core outcome, but keeps service levels for the 2026-27 winter season largely unchanged. For the 2027-2030 budget deliberations, however, Administration is pitching a "Well Maintained City" service package of approximately $23.6 million in ongoing annual operating funding and $11.5 million in one-time capital funding, which would add more frequent residential blading, expanded parking ban enforcement and other measures. Optional add-ons, contingent on that package, include enhanced school zone clearing at $2.1 million per year and a calcium chloride system upgrade costing $2.5 million per year plus $4.4 million up front, which would return the controversial de-icer to major roadways. The report also recaps a volatile 2025-26 season, when December brought 59.9 centimeters of snow, nearly four times the monthly average, and enforcement officers issued 5,516 parking ban fines and 2,706 tickets for uncleared sidewalks.
• Also on the Committee's agenda today is a review of enforcement and penalties under the City's traffic bylaw, prepared in response to a Council motion from March. The report shows ticket volumes fell from 168,832 in 2015 to a low of 79,976 in 2020 before climbing back to 115,161 in 2025, with insufficient payment in EPark zones alone accounting for 35% of all tickets. Administration is proposing targeted fine increases for infractions it says threaten safety or block access, which it estimates would generate between $1.5 million and $1.7 million in additional revenue in 2027. Rather than automatic inflation indexing, fine amounts would be reviewed on a five-year cycle, with the next review in 2031. Administration has also temporarily added $1 million per year to the parking enforcement contract for 2026 and 2027, an increase it expects to be offset by roughly $2 million in fine revenue.
• Edmonton's bike lane expansion will continue as planned, after City Councillors on the Infrastructure Committee voted down Administration's recommendation to rework the remaining routes last Wednesday. The recommendation, made ahead of expected provincial legislation that could give the Province approval power over municipal bike lanes, would have seen more complex projects where construction has not yet started re-evaluated for alternative designs. Council approved $100 million in the 2023-2026 capital budget to rapidly expand the active transportation network, which has delivered about 35 kilometers of new routes in 2024 and 2025, with another 24 kilometers expected this year. The City has received more than 1,000 email and phone inquiries about the program since 2023, only about 2% of which were positive, with complaints focused on parking removal and changes to traffic patterns. More than 60 people registered to speak at the meeting, the majority in favour of continuing the expansion. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says the Province's planned legislation could result in some existing bike lanes being removed.
• The City has laid out a detailed timeline for replacing the Low Level Bridge, with construction of a new span expected between 2029 and 2031. The plan would keep the bridge's northbound half, a protected historic structure built in 1900 as the community's first bridge across the North Saskatchewan River, for walking and cycling, while tearing down the southbound portion built in 1948. The replacement would be a four-lane crossing slightly west of the current bridge, with a pedestrian sidewalk on one side and an active pathway on the other. Ward 8 (papastew) Councillor Michael Janz is questioning whether the project needs to be funded in the 2027-2030 budget cycle, saying he wants more data on why the bridge needs replacing given the span is not at full capacity. Council is slated to include the replacement in the upcoming budget cycle, while the High Level Bridge replacement waits for the 2031-2039 cycle.
• City Council is taking another look at LRT fare gates, narrowly passing a motion from Ward 10 (Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi) Councillor Jon Morgan to develop a proposal for a pilot fare-gate program at a yet-to-be-determined station. The motion passed 7-6, though several supporters said they backed it only to get more information and would need convincing to fund the program in the upcoming four-year budget. Council examined fare gates in 2024 but decided against them, citing the cost and station designs that make barriers easy to get around. Morgan, a veteran of the Edmonton Transit Service, argues riders should pay their fair share for the taxpayer-funded system and suspects fare evasion is higher than the roughly 5% previously reported. Mayor Andrew Knack voted in favour but called it "extremely unlikely" he would support the program at budget time, saying the money would be better spent rebuilding LRT stations to improve safety.

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This week, councillors will review new climate action priorities, a proposed update to the snow-and-ice-control policy, and a new heritage places strategy.

There is a community and public services committee meeting on Aug. 31, an urban planning committee meeting on Sept. 1, and an executive committee meeting on Sept. 2.

Here are some key items on the agenda this week:

• Administration will present an updated policy and program for snow and ice control after a scheduled review. Resources and service levels this winter are expected to remain consistent with previous years; however, council can choose to fund an enhanced service level starting in winter 2027-2028. Administration said the “well maintained city” service package would stabilize operations and create year-round positions to provide festival and event support, “ensuring consistent, high-quality services that keep Edmonton’s economy moving throughout the year.” Council will vote on the policy at a future meeting. During record snowfall in the winter of 2025-2026, Mayor Andrew Knack said he wanted to significantly increase funding for snow clearing.
• A third-party review of the city’s climate strategies and action plans highlighted the need for more focused actions, closer alignment with the municipal budget cycle, and better monitoring and evaluation, says a report set to be presented to executive committee. Administration has identified 27 action items in its update to the climate implementation priorities. The report says the first priority is to establish an ongoing and accountable relationship with Indigenous peoples regarding climate. The remaining priorities are divided into the following categories: buildings and land use, transportation, infrastructure, nature and water, and low-carbon energy and waste. About $257 million would be required to meet all 27 priorities, about half of which is planned to be presented for consideration in the 2027-2030 budget process. About $5 million can be met with existing budget, and the remaining $129 million has no planned or existing funding source. Administration said it will also transition the carbon budget to a more comprehensive climate budget, which will use the priorities as its basis and also evaluate all other city projects in the 2027-2030 budget for their contribution to both climate risk and emissions.
• Urban planning committee will review the updated heritage places strategy following nearly two years of work. The proposed new heritage places strategy includes four pillars: natural heritage, Indigenous heritage, community and cultural heritage, and built heritage. Its guiding principles are to be inclusive, integrated, community-led, living and evolving, visible and accessible, and collaborative. The strategy is presented alongside a new council policy that outlines how the strategy will be implemented. A main goal of updating the strategy is to widen the definition of “heritage places” to include not just historic buildings, but also natural spaces, cultural landscapes, and community landmarks.

Snow covered the streets during record snowfall in January 2026. The proposed update to the snow-and-ice-control policy would keep service levels consistent with recent years. (Stephanie Swensrude)

Here are some more key items:

• Administration has prepared three options for enhancing cleanliness in Chinatown. The first option involves maintaining the cleanliness funding the neighbourhood receives, which is already more than other neighbourhoods. The second option is to increase funding of city-provided services, at a cost of $600,000 to $900,000. The third option would involve a city-funded and community-led cleaning service. The Chinatown Transformation Collaborative and YEG Chinatown Re:VITA have proposed separate community-led programs. CTC’s program focuses on professionally delivered operational cleaning services, while Re:VITA’s emphasizes community stewardship, neighbourhood activation, and placemaking. Administration didn’t include the cost of the third option as it may involve a request for proposals.
• Administration is increasing the fees that construction companies must pay when they obstruct road lanes. The daily on-street construction and maintenance (OSCAM) permit fee will rise to $32 from $25 in an effort to further incentivize faster completion of construction projects that necessitate road closures. Administration is also introducing a $10 daily fee for waste bins that are placed on public roadways. A report that will be presented to urban planning committee says that construction-related road closures were in place for an average of 43 days before a daily fee was introduced in 2019. That number fell to an average of 25 days in 2025.
• Administration plans to use more technology in parking enforcement, says a report that will be presented at a community and public services committee meeting. Parking complaints have increased by about 45% since 2023, creating a persistent backlog of unresolved complaints, the report said. The city plans to launch automated parking enforcement in 2028. Staff will also explore digital tickets, which the report said could save about 7,500 operational hours annually.
• A report says 81% of 311 complaints in 2025 were resolved within established timelines. The report, which is to be presented to executive committee, said administration has continued to improve the service experience of Edmontonians using 311.
• Executive committee will be asked to amend an agreement with Azolla Hydrogen to align with an extended timeline for the Alberta Zero-Emissions Fleet Fuelling project. Because it is a single-source contract, committee must approve changes; however, no additional funds are required because the extension will be covered by the already-approved city budget and grant funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta.
• Executive committee will be asked to recommend that the historic designation of the Arlington Apartments be rescinded. The building, formerly located at 10524 100 Avenue NW, was Edmonton’s first apartment building, and was designated a municipal historic resource in 1998. A fire damaged the building in 2005, but three facades were saved, and the lot was rezoned to allow for development that retained the historic elements of the remaining structure. The owner did not develop such a building and instead demolished the remaining walls in 2008. Administration now requires council approval to rescind the historic designation.

And here are updates on some of the items we told you about last week:

• Infrastructure committee rejected administration’s proposal to drop 14 planned routes from the city’s $100-million active transportation network expansion, leaving the existing plan in place. More than 60 people registered to speak, and most supported continuing the expansion, as the province prepares legislation that could affect municipal authority over bike lanes. Coun. Ashley Salvador said she intends to introduce a motion to direct administration to provide options for increasing funding for the active transportation infrastructure capital profile to complete all routes that were planned for the 2023-2026 budget cycle. The motion will also call for administration to include an unfunded capital profile to build active transportation infrastructure as informed by the forthcoming updated active transportation implementation guide.
• Infrastructure committee recommended that council approve proposed changes to the public art policy. The program was previously called Percent for Art, and provided about 1% of eligible costs from capital projects to cover the cost of the artwork’s creation and installation, as well as the Edmonton Arts Council’s costs to oversee the project, plus lifecycle management costs, care, conservation, and restoration. Since 2021, the definition of “1% of eligible capital projects” has been based on historic spending patterns dating back several years. Now, administration has proposed amending the policy to say that the city will allocate funding for a public art reserve through the operating budget approved by council, with reserve funding levels based on historical public art investments and collection maintenance requirements. Council is set to vote on the change at a future meeting.
• Councillors recommended that council approve the revised climate resilience policy that introduces a sustainable return on investment (S-ROI) metric. This means projects would incorporate climate-resilient requirements to a point where a positive S-ROI is demonstrated, and while this responds to financial constraints, it could also result in reduced environmental outcomes, administration said. Ward Nakota Isga Coun. Reed Clarke said that even though the policy is not perfect, he supports it, especially the S-ROI.“I think it’s a good, practical, systematic way to move forward,” he said.
• After a public hearing on Aug. 25, council approved a rezoning application to allow the Hope Mission to turn its support facility in the Girard industrial area into a year-round emergency shelter. During the discussion, Coun. Michael Janz wondered aloud whether Edmonton should cease approving new social services until other municipalities in the region start “pulling their weight.” He cited a March 2026 memo that indicated there are no emergency shelter beds open permanently to the general public in the municipalities surrounding Edmonton. “It just feels like Edmonton is being used as the blood bag for the rest of our region and the rest of our province,” Janz said.
• Representatives of the construction sector say they need to be involved in how extreme weather risks are addressed in project planning, procurement, and contract delivery. Infrastructure committee heard from representatives from the Edmonton Construction Association, which represents the industrial, commercial, and institutional construction sectors, including contractors hired for public projects such as roads and neighbourhood renewal. The shortness of Edmonton’s construction season has been exacerbated by repeat storms, and it can be hard to make up for weather-related delays, said Ryan Christensen, chair of the ECA’s board. Record-breaking rain in Edmonton this summer caused $42 million in uninsurable damage to infrastructure and projects, City of Edmonton staff told city council’s infrastructure committee meeting on Aug. 26. The City plans to recover costs through the province’s Hazard Assistance and Resilience Program, which would cover 90% of losses, leaving the city responsible for the rest. Severe weather affected work on the Valley Line West and Capital Line South LRT projects, among other ongoing projects.
• Utility committee directed administration to accelerate parts of the 20-year storm management plan after the summer’s record rainfall. EPCOR told councillors that it doesn’t yet know the full financial impact of the summer’s repeated severe storms, but it estimates there will be minimal operational costs and some emergency repairs needed.
• Coun. Michael Janz questioned whether the Low Level Bridge replacement should be funded as part of the 2027-2030 budget, as administration has proposed in a report to infrastructure committee. The project will likely be classified as growth instead of renewal, and administration has said that dollars for growth will be constrained in the upcoming budget. “I want to see more data why it has to be done now. It’s not at full capacity. I understand that we want to build for the future, but right now it’s a tough budget, and I want to make sure we’re not building before we need to,” Janz told reporters.
• Council postponed a public hearing for a mixed-use building in Glenwood.
• Council voted to rezone a parking lot downtown to allow for a small park.

• Alberta is now projecting a $2-billion surplus for 2026-27 instead of the $9.4-billion deficit forecast in February's budget, according to the provincial government's first-quarter fiscal update released last Thursday. The $11.4-billion turnaround is driven largely by oil prices, with non-renewable resource revenue now expected to come in more than $9.7 billion higher than budgeted. Budget 2026 assumed a benchmark oil price of $60.50 US per barrel, but prices have averaged about $88 US since the US-Iran conflict squeezed tanker access to the Strait of Hormuz, and the new forecast assumes prices will fall back to average $73.50 US over the fiscal year. If prices stay near current levels instead, the surplus could grow by several billion dollars more. The update also puts the Heritage Fund on track to reach $32.1 billion by year-end and forecasts real GDP growth of 2.3% this year, 0.5% higher than expected at budget time. Finance Minister Jason Nixon cautioned that the government "cannot mistake a temporary windfall for a permanent trend".
• Former Premiers Jason Kenney and Rachel Notley are joining forces to co-chair a Canadian Chamber of Commerce campaign, called Canada and Alberta: Stronger Together, that will urge Albertans to vote to remain in Canada in the October 19th referendum. Chamber president Candace Laing said prolonged uncertainty around separation brings real risks for investor confidence, economic growth, and Canada's competitiveness. The campaign launched amid mounting calls to cancel the vote altogether, with Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi and Forever Canadian founder Thomas Lukaszuk both arguing that a referendum on Alberta's place in Canada weakens the country during the escalating trade war with the US. Premier Danielle Smith rejected those calls last Wednesday, saying the vote will go ahead because hundreds of thousands of Albertans signed the citizen petitions that prompted it, and urging Albertans to "vote with me" to remain in Canada. Albertans will face 10 questions on the October ballot, including whether the province should begin the process toward a future binding referendum on secession.
• Meanwhile, Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish was met with jeers, boos, and profanity at the provincial government's first two town halls on artificial intelligence data centres, held in Lacombe and Redwater. Residents demanded specifics on safeguards for water, land, and electricity, with some saying they no longer trust the government to regulate projects like Meta's planned $13-billion data centre north of Edmonton, which would be fed by a $4.6-billion natural gas-fired power plant. Glubish defended the project, saying the site has been zoned for that use for over 30 years and that the 300 jobs it represents are worth taking. Premier Danielle Smith joined Glubish for a virtual town hall last Thursday, the third of four sessions, saying the events are meant to find "blind spots" in the province's rules. Smith says the government is already considering guidance on limiting water use and rules on how close data centres can be built to homes. A final in-person town hall is planned for Grande Prairie in September.
• Elections Alberta has received more than 175,000 requests for special ballots ahead of the October 19th referendum, nearly triple the 59,589 requested for the 2023 provincial election. The agency attributes part of the surge to the end of the province's "Vote Anywhere" system - under recent changes to the Elections Act, voters must now cast their ballot in their own electoral division, while special ballots no longer require a reason to apply. Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams says voters may also want extra time with a ballot that contains 10 questions totalling more than 400 words. Elections Alberta will begin mailing ballot packages on September 1st, applications remain open until October 9th, and completed ballots must be received back by 5:00 pm on October 16th. Advance voting runs from October 13th to October 17th.
• Recovery Alberta is permanently closing the addiction treatment program at Edmonton's Henwood Treatment Centre, the largest provincially run voluntary addiction treatment centre in the region, according to reporting by the Investigative Journalism Foundation. The 62-bed facility has been closed since late June because of flooding, and staff were told on August 20th that the program will not reopen. Almost 600 people were on Henwood's waiting list when it stopped accepting applications, and they were told their referrals were being closed. Staff members say they believe the province is using the flood damage to cut the program, pointing to a confidential 2025 planning document that had earmarked Henwood as an interim site for secure beds under the province's involuntary treatment legislation. The Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction says the centre is closed "for the foreseeable future" and that clients have been moved to other local providers, citing a $30-million investment it says will add more than 400 treatment, housing, and stabilization beds in the Edmonton area.

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Celebrate two decades of Music for Mavericks with live performances from cornerstone artists including Politic Live, Kreesha Turner, K‑Riz, Oozeela, Mouraine, and other Mavericks alumni; catch a one-night-only screening of VAMPYR featuring original live accompaniment from post-rock provocateurs Applied Silence; enjoy authentic cuisine, live music and dance at Jerk & Jollof Fest; be among the first to experience a brand-new augmented reality application created for one of Edmonton’s Chinatown murals; join Bent Stick Brewing as they celebrate their 10th anniversary with a two-day musical festival, and so much more!

SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

• The Infrastructure Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am, and one of the items on the agenda is a recommendation that would sharply scale back Edmonton's bike lane expansion. Administration is recommending that routes under the $100-million Active Transportation Network Expansion Program that have not yet started construction be removed from the program if they would affect travel lanes or parking, leaving 13 route packages to continue as planned and 14 others, including the contested Grovenor routes, to be re-evaluated only if money remains. Administration says the change responds to community pushback, with the program receiving over 1,000 email and phone inquiries since 2023 of which only about 2% were positive, and to new provincial legislation on municipal bike lane authority expected in late 2026 that could have significant impacts on current and planned bike lanes. About 35 kilometers of new routes were installed in 2024 and 2025, with another 24 kilometers estimated for completion this year. If the Committee agrees, the change goes to City Council for approval.
• On Wednesday at 9:30 am, the Infrastructure Committee will also receive the results of the City's call for partners to help build unfunded infrastructure projects. The City received 13 submissions containing 20 development ideas for the Woodcroft Library, the Cumberland and Big Lake fire stations, the Windermere North Transit Centre, and arenas across the city, with arena projects the most numerous and several proposals pitching mixed-use developments that combine civic facilities with residential or commercial space. Most submissions propose that the City provide land, sometimes for $1 or through a lease, along with capital support or ongoing lease payments. Administration cautions that privately financed projects still count against the City's debt limit, and that private financing typically costs more than the City's own borrowing rates through the province, so any partnership would require rigorous evaluation. The detailed proposals are being kept private to protect the business interests of the companies that submitted them.
• City Council voted 9-4 last Tuesday to have Administration study whether small scale infill housing is affecting the market value of nearby homes. Ward 3 (tastawiyiniwak) Councillor Karen Principe brought the motion after hearing from residents, saying some are concerned their property values are decreasing while others are seeing property taxes rise on the back of higher assessments. Ward 8 (papastew) Councillor Michael Janz tried unsuccessfully to have the findings delivered as a private memo to Council rather than a public report, arguing a public committee presentation would attract residents with preconceptions about infill. City staff cautioned the results may not be definitive, with the City's business operations director Stephen Leroux saying it may never be possible to say with certainty whether infill has raised or lowered values on a broad mass-appraisal basis. The public report is due at the Urban Planning Committee in the third quarter of 2027.
• Also last Tuesday, City Council unanimously passed a motion from Ward 11 (Karhiio) Councillor Keren Tang directing City staff to conduct a signal timing and optimization assessment of the southeast leg of the Valley Line LRT. The 13-kilometer line between downtown and Mill Woods has been operating for nearly three years, and multiple vehicles have collided with trains in that span. Tang says her constituents, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike, blame confusing lights and signals at intersections, describing road users unsure of who has the right of way. The review comes as the City prepares to take over operation of the line from private operator TransEd. Tang argues that fixing the problems is vital to public acceptance of low-floor LRT, since whatever is learned will inform the Valley Line West as it approaches completion in the coming years.
• More than 40% of the entries in the top 50 complaint categories reported to Edmonton's 311 line in 2025 were related to parking, according to City data. Abandoned vehicles topped the list with 20,570 reports, followed by a catch-all parking safety category at 19,646 and parking on private property at 5,451. City bylaw officers issued 114,059 parking tickets last year, worth at least $5.7 million in fines, though just 986 of those tickets were for abandoned vehicles, the single largest source of complaints. The City's superintendent of parking enforcement attributes part of the backlog to losing access to a tow lot off Yellowhead Trail for almost a year, and expects abandoned vehicle reports to fall now that 150 impound spaces have opened. Ward 6 (Métis) Councillor Ashley Salvador is asking Administration what it would cost to assign more bylaw officers to parking enforcement and whether fine amounts are an adequate deterrent, with a report due to a Council committee on August 31st.

ONTHEAGENDA ONTHEAGENDA ONTHEAGENDA ONTHEAGENDA

Stephanie Swensrude

This week, councillors are set to discuss a pause on future bike lanes that take away parking or travel lanes, amendments to the city’s climate resilience policy, and early designs for the Low Level Bridge replacement.

There is a utility committee meeting on Aug. 24, a public hearing on Aug. 25, and an infrastructure committee meeting on Aug. 26.

Here are some key items on the agenda this week:

• Administration has proposed pausing planned active transportation infrastructure that takes away parking spaces or vehicle travel lanes because of expected provincial legislation, as well as community pushback. A report due at infrastructure committee said that because the previous council chose the “rapid” approach to building bike lanes and other active transportation infrastructure, public engagement was limited and adaptable infrastructure was often used. The report said this has garnered significant negative feedback and pointed specifically to the recent decision to redesign infrastructure on 50 Street. The new design — retaining parking and vehicle travel lanes — costs about double the initial construction costs. Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen spoke to residents in Capilano about that project in July. Dreeshen applauded a recent Ontario court decision that overturned an earlier ruling that stopped the provincial government from replacing protected bike lanes with car lanes in Toronto. “The appeal court made clear that governments have the authority to make and change transportation policy and that there is no constitutional right to a bike lane,” Dreeshen wrote. Though the provincial legislation limiting active transportation infrastructure doesn’t yet exist, the city report said making a proactive decision could help mitigate legal implications, which will be discussed in camera. The change in direction requires council approval; infrastructure committee is expected to give a recommendation to council, which will make the final decision at a future meeting. Additionally, administration is in the process of updating the Active Transportation Implementation Guide, which will be presented to council before the four-year budget deliberations. Administration has already cancelled planned infrastructure in Grovenor. That project didn’t involve separated bike lanes, but rather traffic calming features and reduced parking.
• Administration has prepared amendments to the climate resilience policy that incorporate the optimal point for capital investment that yields the best return for taxpayers when considering economic, environmental, and social benefits. The proposed change introduces a sustainable return on investment (S-ROI) analysis, meaning that projects would incorporate climate-resilient requirements to a point where a positive S-ROI is demonstrated, the report said. While this responds to financial constraints, it could also result in reduced environmental outcomes, meaning alternative solutions may be required to meet the city’s emissions targets, administration said. The policy update also includes a new community adaptation target, which would combine data across multiple climate hazards to provide a measurable, citywide view of risk related to climate change. This work involves tracking the climate risk and adaptation of individual neighbourhoods. Fifty-seven neighbourhoods have a high or very high climate risk, and administration aims to reduce that number to zero by 2050. Infrastructure committee will review the changes before council makes the final decision at a future meeting.
• Administration has released its preliminary plans for replacing the Low Level Bridge. A report set to be presented at infrastructure committee said that the city will likely build a functional roadway bridge rather than a “signature” structure. The report added that the initial traffic analysis suggested the replacement may need more than four lanes, but to align with city goals of reducing the number of people who use cars to meet their daily needs, a four-lane bridge will be considered. The alignment is expected to be to the west of the existing bridge. Administration had initially said the Low Level Bridge replacement project could involve simplifying the road network surrounding the bridge, as well as daylighting Mill Creek. However, this report says the replacement can be done without reconfiguring the road system. Public engagement will begin in the fall; the report notes that there are “no immediate risks when moving forward with only the Low Level Bridge replacement work at this time.” Starting in 2027, the northbound bridge is expected to close for a construction season for repairs, and administration will create the preliminary design for the replacement bridge. Construction is expected to take place from 2029 to 2031. The following year, the southbound bridge is expected to be decommissioned and the northbound one converted to active transportation.

• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is urging Ottawa and Washington to return to the negotiating table after trade talks collapsed and the US imposed new 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian exports. Smith said the terms proposed by American negotiators were too costly for Canada to accept, but warned that an escalating tariff war would also hurt businesses and consumers on both sides of the border. She expressed concern about Canada’s planned retaliatory tariffs, particularly their potential impact on farmers, manufacturers and small businesses that rely on American imports. While Alberta’s oil and natural gas exports are expected to be less affected, industries such as furniture manufacturing and honey production could face significant challenges. Smith said Alberta’s cabinet will meet Tuesday to review the new trade measures, federal relief plans and the province’s next steps.
• Premier Danielle Smith has called a by-election in the southern Calgary riding of Calgary-Shaw for September 14th. The seat has been vacant since May, when former cabinet minister Rebecca Schulz resigned and later became an executive with oil and gas producer Whitecap Resources. Four candidates have so far said they intend to run: Mike Derry for the UCP, Kyle Campbell for the NDP, Alberta Liberal Party Leader John Roggeveen, and Kyle Joseph, who is seeking the nomination for the new Progressive Tory Party founded by former UCP cabinet minister Peter Guthrie. Nominations close on Thursday. The riding has historically voted conservative, with the NDP winning it only once, in 2015, but some political observers see the vote as a bellwether for next year's provincial election, coming just five weeks before October's referendum.
• The provincial government is delaying new rules restricting which flags schools can fly, a requirement to play the Canadian national anthem weekly, and a change that would give Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides the power to name or rename public schools. The changes, part of an omnibus education bill the Legislature approved in the spring, were to take effect on September 1st to coincide with the start of the school year. The incoming law permits only Canadian and Alberta flags on school grounds, though Nicolaides has said schools will also be allowed to fly the Franco-Albertan flag. Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling said teachers' biggest questions were about whether Pride, Metis, and francophone flags could still be displayed in classrooms. The ministry says it remains committed to implementing the changes and is taking a thoughtful and measured approach, while other parts of the bill, including a new student code of conduct and digital provincial exams, are still set to take effect September 1st.
• Premier Danielle Smith says a binding referendum on Alberta independence would need to be held in spring 2027 if Albertans vote in October for her government to pursue one. Speaking to UCP members at a town hall in Lethbridge last Tuesday, Smith said the question would have to be settled before the next election. October's referendum will ask Albertans whether they want to remain in Canada or have the government begin pursuing the legal path toward a binding vote. Smith said fulfilling the government's duty to consult First Nations would take at least two and a half months, after which the federal government would need to approve the referendum question and ensure it complies with the Clarity Act. In May, a court quashed Stay Free Alberta's petition for a binding referendum, ruling that the province and Elections Alberta had failed to consult First Nations and other groups, and both the group and the government are appealing. Smith's timeline would put a binding vote in March or April.
• The Alberta Utilities Commission has denied an application from Synapse Real Estate Corp. to build a natural gas power plant that would have powered a massive data centre complex in the town of Olds. The company proposed a 10-building campus with 1.4 gigawatts of power generation, plus 1.8 gigawatts of emergency and backup diesel generation. In a decision published last Monday, the commission said the project was too close to the surrounding community, noting that Synapse itself reported more than 700 residences within 800 meters of the site. The proceeding drew applications from about 1,500 parties wanting to participate in hearings, with standing granted to more than 900, compared to a few hundred in typical cases. The office of Affordability and Utilities Minister RJ Sigurdson said decisions like this prove that the province's framework is working and that its regulatory bodies are protecting the interests of Albertans and their communities.

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Catch a show at the 2026 Edmonton International Fringe Festival, watch top teams compete in the Pan American Lion Dance Championship and enjoy cultural performances at the Edmonton Dragon Festival, enjoy a free performance with Brianna Lizotte and The Whitlows at Afternoon Sound Sessions on 124, experience the simple beauty of flying kites while enjoying live cultural performances at the Winds of Unity Multicultural Kite Festival, and so much more!