Reg Rygus

Below is a timely poem by Luci Shaw, one of my favorite poets. Luci Shaw passed on December 1st at the age of 96 and continued to write until her new beginning. In simplicity of words she captured the height, depth, width and breath of Him who is the WORD! Ponder, wonder & Enjoy!

KENOSIS

Luci Shaw

In sleep his infant mouth works in and out. 

He is so new, his silk skin has not yet 

been roughed by plane and wooden beam 

nor, so far, has he had to deal with human doubt. 

He is in a dream of nipple found, 

of blue-white milk, of curving skin 

and, pulsing in his ear, the inner throb 

of a warm heart’s repeated sound. 

His only memories float from fluid space. 

So new he has not pounded nails, hung a door 

broken bread, felt rebuff, bent to the lash, 

wept for the sad heart of the human race. 

On The Agenda

• Councillors are set to learn more about how the City of Edmonton would respond to an emergency situation at an emergency advisory committee meeting on Dec. 12. The committee will be asked to approve the municipal emergency plan, which has been comprehensively updated for the first time since 2021. The new plan includes a preliminary evacuation plan, which is the first step toward a full evacuation plan that’s required due to changes in the provincial Emergency Management Act. It also includes changes that expedite agreements between Edmonton and other municipalities for large-scale evacuations, like those that occurred during the wildfire seasons of 2023 and 2024.
• Councillors have requested $55,500 to attend conferences and other meetings in 2026, according to a report set to be presented to council services committee on Dec. 12. Travel and registration fees are funded by a budget the 12 councillors share, which is $73,000 in 2026. Coun. Keren Tang and Coun. Mike Elliott has each requested to attend the Calgary Stampede in June at a cost of $2,000 and $3,000, respectively. Coun. Jon Morgan has requested to attend three Canadian Urban Transit Association events at a total cost of $13,000. There is $17,500 set aside for all the councillors to attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Edmonton in June.
• Councillors have requested a total of $11,578 for new office furniture, according to a report set to be presented to council services committee on Dec. 12. Office furnishings like workstations and chairs are funded by a budget the 12 councillors share, which is set at the first council services committee meeting of the year. The requests would result in a negative balance of $300, but the report said some requests would be able to be billed to the 2025 fiscal year.
• Administration is scheduled to present the external auditor’s 2025 report to council’s audit committee at a meeting on Dec. 10. The report details KPMG’s plan to audit the consolidated financial statements of the City of Edmonton for 2025.
• Administration will present the proposed boards of directors and budgets for the city’s business improvement areas for 2026 at a council meeting on Dec. 8.
• Council is scheduled to receive a private update on an unspecified event and on a confidential negotiation at a council meeting on Dec. 8.
• Councillors are set to learn more about how the City of Edmonton would respond to an emergency situation at an emergency advisory committee meeting on Dec. 12. The committee will be asked to approve the municipal emergency plan, which has been comprehensively updated for the first time since 2021. The new plan includes a preliminary evacuation plan, which is the first step toward a full evacuation plan that’s required due to changes in the provincial Emergency Management Act. It also includes changes that expedite agreements between Edmonton and other municipalities for large-scale evacuations, like those that occurred during the wildfire seasons of 2023 and 2024.
• Councillors have requested $55,500 to attend conferences and other meetings in 2026, according to a report set to be presented to council services committee on Dec. 12. Travel and registration fees are funded by a budget the 12 councillors share, which is $73,000 in 2026. Coun. Keren Tang and Coun. Mike Elliott has each requested to attend the Calgary Stampede in June at a cost of $2,000 and $3,000, respectively. Coun. Jon Morgan has requested to attend three Canadian Urban Transit Association events at a total cost of $13,000. There is $17,500 set aside for all the councillors to attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Edmonton in June.
• Councillors have requested a total of $11,578 for new office furniture, according to a report set to be presented to council services committee on Dec. 12. Office furnishings like workstations and chairs are funded by a budget the 12 councillors share, which is set at the first council services committee meeting of the year. The requests would result in a negative balance of $300, but the report said some requests would be able to be billed to the 2025 fiscal year.
• Administration is scheduled to present the external auditor’s 2025 report to council’s audit committee at a meeting on Dec. 10. The report details KPMG’s plan to audit the consolidated financial statements of the City of Edmonton for 2025.
• Administration will present the proposed boards of directors and budgets for the city’s business improvement areas for 2026 at a council meeting on Dec. 8.
• Council is scheduled to receive a private update on an unspecified event and on a confidential negotiation at a council meeting on Dec.8.

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• Edmonton City Council has approved a 6.9% property tax increase for 2026 following four days of budget deliberations. The budget passed with an 11-2 vote - Councillors Mike Elliott and Karen Principe were opposed. This is higher than the 6.4% increase initially proposed and includes funding for tourism marketing, transit cleaning, new buses, and additional peace officers for traffic safety. Council also approved $7.3 million for road upgrades in west Edmonton in partnership with the provincial government and Enoch Cree Nation, as well as expanded use of the derelict residential tax subclass to encourage property revitalization. The City says the tax increase addresses structural budget variances caused by high costs, rapid population growth, and changing service needs. Tax assessments will be released in January, with notices mailed in May.
• During budget debates, Councillor Aaron Paquette proposed a plan to restore $64.5 million to the City’s financial stabilization reserve, which would have pushed taxes above 9% this year but lowered increases in future years - his motion was defeated 12-1. Funding for Explore Edmonton was approved 8-5, with Councillors Reed Clarke, Thu Parmar, Karen Principe, Michael Elliott, and Mayor Andrew Knack voting against. Councillor Karen Principe also proposed several motions to cut spending and reduce taxes, including reallocating funds from contractual items, vandalism control, and the EPCOR dividend, but all were defeated.
• The Emergency Advisory committee meets on Friday this week to review the City’s updated 2026 Municipal Emergency Plan, a major revision that adds new evacuation planning requirements, updated emergency social services standards, and streamlined procedures aligned with recent provincial legislation. The meeting includes a full briefing on how Edmonton manages prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts during disasters such as wildfires, floods, hazardous materials incidents, and large-scale evacuations. A key spending item is the requested budget increase for the Emergency Management Program, including six additional full-time staff positions costing $927,074 annually to meet new provincial requirements and support emergency readiness. Council members will also receive mandatory training updates required under Alberta’s emergency management regulations.
• The Edmonton Police Service has become the first police agency in the world to test Axon’s new body-worn cameras equipped with facial recognition. Up to 50 officers will use the cameras in a month-long trial to evaluate whether the technology can accurately match faces captured on video with EPS’s existing database, including individuals flagged for safety concerns or with serious outstanding warrants. The system runs in “silent mode,” meaning officers will not receive real-time alerts. Instead, specialized staff will review footage afterward to assess accuracy and operational impact. EPS says all facial-recognition still images will be deleted after testing, with video retained under standard rules. Officials describe the trial as an exploration of whether the technology can enhance public and officer safety, while stressing it will not replace human judgment. Results will be reviewed by the Edmonton Police Commission in 2026, and a Privacy Impact Assessment has been submitted to the provincial commissioner.
• The Alberta government has entered negotiations with the top-ranked bidder to redevelop the former Royal Alberta Museum site in Edmonton’s Glenora neighbourhood. The move follows a shift from last year’s plan to demolish the vacant 1967 building and convert the area into park space. Six proposals were submitted, three met provincial criteria, and one has now advanced to early negotiations. The building currently costs about $700,000 annually to maintain and carries an estimated $225 million in deferred maintenance and renovation needs. Community groups and local MLAs have long urged preservation of the structure, pointing to strong public support in earlier surveys. The Province says more details will be released if negotiations succeed, with the option of approaching the next-ranked proponent if required.

• The UCP government has unveiled a plan to oppose Ottawa’s assault-style firearm ban and voluntary buyback program, arguing the federal initiative exceeds Ottawa’s authority and infringes on Albertans’ property rights. A motion introduced under the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act states that firearm ownership is a provincial matter and cites the Alberta Bill of Rights, which protects the right to acquire, keep, and use property. The Province says it will use all legal means to prevent provincial entities, including police services, from enforcing or assisting with the federal program. The proposal directs the Attorney General to review prosecution guidelines related to firearm possession and self-defence and instructs the Minister of Public Safety to block participation from police or contracted RCMP. Federal rules ban over 2,500 models of firearms, with a voluntary buyback and an amnesty period until October 2026 before possession becomes an offence.
• Nearly one-quarter of Alberta’s MLAs are now facing citizen-led recall petitions, with four new petitions approved, including one targeting Calgary-Beddington NDP MLA Amanda Chapman. Most petitions target members of Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative caucus, though Chapman’s petition makes the effort somewhat bipartisan. Petitioners cite reasons such as inadequate engagement with constituents and support for the use of the Charter’s notwithstanding clause during the teachers’ strike. The Chief Electoral Officer, Gordon McClure, described the level of activity as unprecedented, noting 21 petitions in the 87-seat legislature and estimating it will cost nearly $7 million to process. Smith and her caucus argue the recall process is being misused for policy disagreements rather than serious misconduct, while NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the government for resisting constituent feedback. Under Alberta’s Recall Act, petitioners have three months to collect signatures equaling 60% of votes cast in the last election, with successful petitions triggering a vote and, if lost, a byelection.
• Alberta’s United Conservative government introduced Bill 14, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, which amends seven pieces of legislation and imposes new restrictions on political party names to prevent voter confusion. The bill bans the use of words associated with existing parties, such as “conservative,” “liberal,” and “green,” effectively blocking attempts to revive the Progressive Conservative Party. Justice Minister Mickey Amery said the changes are meant to ensure clarity on ballots and denied they were aimed at separatists or former party members. Bill 14 also amends the Citizen Initiative Act, giving the Justice Minister sole authority to refer future referendum proposals to the courts. The bill takes effect retroactively from July 4th.
• An Alberta judge had ruled that a proposed referendum question on the province’s independence would violate the Constitution Act, including Charter and Treaty rights. The question, submitted by the Alberta Prosperity Project, asked whether Alberta should become a sovereign country and cease to be part of Canada. The decision came shortly after the provincial government introduced Bill 14. Justice Colin Feasby criticized the government’s move, saying it disrespects the administration of justice and undermines democracy by attempting to “silence the court.”
• Elections Alberta has verified the “Forever Canadian” petition, which urges the Province to formally support remaining in Canada, after confirming more than 404,000 valid signatures through statistical sampling. Launched as a response to separatist efforts, the initiative asks the legislature to affirm Alberta’s place within Canada rather than send the issue to a referendum. Organizer Thomas Lukaszuk said a vote on independence would be costly, polarizing, and harmful to investor confidence, and argued the strong signature count should guide the government’s next steps. The proposal has now been submitted to the Speaker and must be referred to a Legislative Committee within 10 sitting days. That committee can recommend either adopting the policy directly or sending it to a referendum aligned with the 2027 provincial election.

message from the ceo

To our valued community,

I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with you and share an update on where we are today, and how we plan to continue serving you in future.

2025 has been a busy and rewarding year for the Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) and our vibrant arts community. Among the highlights of our 30th anniversary year was the installation of the 300th artwork in the City of Edmonton Public Art Collection: Piney’s Playground by AJA Louden. We also celebrated national and local recognition for UGOand A Mischief of Could Be(s) by Red Knot Studio, and we proudly welcomed our new Poet Laureate, the remarkable Medgine Mathurin. I want to take a moment to thank all of the staff at EAC who managed these projects, and many more programs, grant processes, events and relationships in 2025.

This year also brought significant achievements for many Edmonton-based organizations. Ukrainian Shumka Dancers and the Brian Webb Dance Company were inducted into the Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame—a well-deserved national honour. Local choir Belle Canto earned the highest mark ever awarded at the International Choir Festival in Provence, France, and went on to win the 2025 Grand Prix (catch them at one of our ETS pop-ups at Churchill Station from 5–7 pm this Saturday, December 6!).

While there is much to celebrate, there is also important work ahead to ensure the long-term stability of our artists and organizations. Despite increasing demand, EAC funding has remained static in recent years. As a result, we have been unable to increase support for individuals or organizations, and our success rates have declined. You may have noticed changes to the application process for organizations this year, including requests for additional data. This information will help us make a stronger, evidence-based case for increased arts funding in the next City budget cycle. Our Economic Impact report released this summer is already helping demonstrate the strong return on investment that the arts provide. In 2026, the EAC’s board will be a crucial part of this work, and I thank them for their expertise and volunteer time in 2025. We appreciate your patience and partnership as we continue this critical advocacy.

To all of our local artists, arts and culture organizations, arts professionals, and arts supporters: we appreciate you. Our relationship with you is our top priority, and we look forward to continuing to work on your behalf in 2026.

As always, please feel free to reach out to our staff with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your contributions to Edmonton’s arts and culture landscape in 2025.

— Renée Williams

EACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEACEAC

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Browse a selection of art from local artisans at the Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts’ Christmas Night Market, join the Accord Ensemble for a cozy night of music at Silver and Shadow - Winter choral concert, enjoy and evening of original Christmas songs and hidden-gem indie-folk covers at Christmas in the Gingerbread Pines, experience the eclectic lineup of performers at the Collins Studio Gallery 5th Annual benefit for Edmonton’s Food Bank, and so much more!

SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

If you still have any Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) paper tickets or passes, you’ll want to use them before the end of the month, as they won’t be valid after December.

Tickets with an expiry date of Dec. 31, 2023, and Family/Day passes expiring in 2024 will not be accepted as fare on ETS in 2026. Riders can continue to pay with Arc cards, Arc tickets or cash.

Paper tickets and passes are being phased out now that the City has fully transitioned to the Arc card system. The phase-out was originally scheduled for the end of 2024 but was extended to the end of 2025.

We are very excited to announce that North Millbourne Community League has booked a private Snow Tubing Party for our members!

For a cost of $5/member or $10/non-member, you can join us at Sunridge Ski Area for two hours of private Snow Tubing!

When: January 3, 2026

Time: 10:00 am until 12:00 Noon

Location: Sunridge Ski Area – 10980-17 Street NW

Sunridge has the biggest Snow Tubing Park around!

Ride up a nice easy lift, then ride down one of three chutes in special tubes provided by Sunridge.

Know before you go:

• You must be 4 years and older and at least 42 inches tall to go tubing independently. Children 2 and 3 years old may ride in their own tube while tethered to an adults tube.
• Parents must buy a tubing ticket if they wish to be with their children in the tube park. Foot traffic without a tubing ticket is not permitted in the tube park and walking up/down the chutes is also not permitted.
• Only 1 person per tube and per chute at a time.
• Helmets, including hockey helmets, are strongly recommended but are not mandatory in the tube park.
• Only Sunridge tubes can be used.
• Tubes may not be removed from the tube area.
• Ski boots cannot be worn in the tube park.

Please remit payment via e-transfer to treasurer@nmclinfo.com

Be sure to include your NMCL Membership Name and contact information when submitting payment.

Alternatively, you may pay at our Community Hall on Wednesdays between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

Spaces are limited! Make sure you sign up today to secure your spot!

ON THE AGENDA

Stephanie Swensrude

This week, council will deliberate over changes to the fall budget adjustment at a council meeting scheduled for Dec. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

City administration has proposed a 6.4% property tax increase for 2026, in line with what the previous council approved in the spring. The current council questioned administration about the budget during a meeting on Nov. 25.

Administration has identified a $52.3-million gap in the operating budget. City staff have shifted money around internally to address $13.4 million of that gap, and said in a report that the remaining $38.8 million will “be addressed through specific action plans, which include fee increases, program reviews, and adjustments to service levels.”

Council will debate whether to fund several currently unfunded budget service packages, including $1.9 million to staff transit stations with safety attendants during periods of lower ridership, $95,000 to support expanding the derelict residential tax subclass beyond mature neighbourhoods, $2.7 million to make a temporary enhanced transit cleaning program permanent, $9.9 million to improve snow clearing and sidewalk repair, $555,000 to reinstate the infill liaison team, and $2.9-million to improve DATS service levels.

Meanwhile, three capital projects require more money than previously approved in the four-year budget cycle. The estimated cost for the 137 Avenue and Anthony Henday Ramps project has more than doubled, from $6.6 million to $14.3 million. Construction of the Athlone Fire Station is now expected to cost $28 million, or $10 million more than its original allocation. Costs to build the Walker Fire Station have increased, too, from $19.9 million to $32.8 million. About $3 million of the increase is attributed to construction, while an additional $10 million is needed because the project is now proposed to include an emergency communications dispatch centre.

Coun. Keren Tang, whose ward includes the future Walker Fire Station, said the stations are necessary, but that she’s worried infrastructure costs are ballooning with every budget. Tang said the increase that’s proposed has come as a surprise, too. “We approved $19.9 million, which is not a small number, and the ground hasn’t been broken yet, I haven’t seen any designs, I haven’t seen much engagement on this, and now we’re asking for an additional $12 million,” Tang said. “That’s a lot.”

Council will also debate purchasing 25 new buses, for $25.22 million, to transition three On Demand Transit zones to scheduled service. This change would result in a $420,000 operating budget increase in 2026, and about $7.4 million annually starting in 2027, the year the buses are expected to enter service.

The agenda includes a report that suggests the removal of most photo radar sites coincides with an increase in speeding, especially drivers travelling at 20 to 30 km/h over the posted limit. The previous council asked for this report, to outline ways the city could increase safety enforcement. That report notes the number of speeding vehicles has increased by nearly 11% in 2025 compared to 2024. The largest increase, it notes, is among vehicles travelling at 20 to 29 km/h over the speed limit, which grew by 87.3%.

The report also includes an update on the city’s progress on Vision Zero. That plan targets eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2032, and was adopted in 2015. In the first four years, traffic deaths and serious injuries decreased by 50% and 32%, respectively. In 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, fatalities and injuries continued to drop. But fatalities have climbed rapidly in recent years. Fourteen people died in traffic-related events in 2019, growing to 24 in 2023 and 26 in 2024. So far in 2025, 31 people have died in traffic-related events. Speed has been a contributing factor in about half of those fatalities, according to Edmonton Police Service data. Council is set to debate an enhanced traffic safety enforcement strategy during budget deliberations.

Meetings stream live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.

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• City Council will meet several times this week to discuss the 2025-2028 budget, starting today at 9:30 am. Councillors are set to review the proposed 2026 budget, which includes a 6.4% property tax increase, matching the previous Council’s spring approval. Administration cites a fiscal gap caused by declining provincial grants, a shrinking share of non-residential taxes, debt limits, inflation, and population growth, making it challenging to maintain service levels.
• Despite the tax increase being debated, concerns remain that critical arterial roads may not be repaired due to insufficient funding. Councillor Keren Tang proposed adding $5 million - the lowest funding option - to extend the service life of the worst-condition roads, emphasizing that maintaining existing infrastructure is a core service and cheaper than letting deterioration worsen. Residents have expressed frustration with patchwork repairs, urging the city to address long-term road quality. Mayor Andrew Knack acknowledged the importance of roadwork but indicated that additional funding may have to wait until the next four-year budget cycle.
• Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams told the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce that municipalities must focus on core services and avoid spending on extras, stressing that the province is not a “shining knight” for City finances. Edmonton receives about $250 million from the provincial government, which fluctuates with revenues, so Williams urged Councils to deliver essential services like road maintenance, water systems, and garbage collection efficiently. He encouraged innovative solutions to help municipalities manage budgets without raising property taxes, emphasizing long-term infrastructure planning and asset use. Williams also stressed that addiction and social disorder are primarily provincial responsibilities, with the Alberta Recovery Model guiding compassionate intervention for those struggling with addiction. While municipalities should cooperate with provincial strategies, they must respect the mandated approach and avoid duplicating services. Overall, Williams called for fiscal responsibility at the municipal level while supporting coordinated provincial-municipal efforts on social challenges.
• Edmonton is moving ahead with 10 new affordable-housing developments after selling surplus school sites to builders for a symbolic one dollar each. The projects are funded through a $99-million federal Housing Acceleration Fund grant and will add more than 1,300 units across the city, including 925 below-market homes capped at 80% of average rents. Sites in neighbourhoods such as Belmont, Blue Quill, Dunluce, Miller, and Summerlea will host a range of purpose-built housing, from multi-generational units to second- and third-stage housing for women and families leaving violence. Several projects include partnerships with community groups, Indigenous organizations, and newcomer-serving agencies. City officials say the initiative will make a meaningful contribution to Edmonton’s affordable-housing shortage, while the province has opened a new $200-million funding round through its Affordable Housing Partnership Program. The remaining surplus school lands continue to be evaluated for future housing opportunities.
• The Province has selected a location on the University of Alberta’s south campus for a new standalone Stollery Children’s Hospital, marking the first major step toward expanding pediatric care in the capital region. The site, currently a green space near 122 Street and 51 Avenue, was chosen for its room to grow and its proximity to the university’s clinical and research hub. Detailed planning for space, services, and infrastructure will continue until 2026, with costs and timelines to be determined afterward. Construction of a full hospital is expected to take at least five to eight years once it begins. The Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation has launched a $1-billion fundraising campaign to support the project. Once complete, the facility is expected to free up space at the existing Stollery within the University of Alberta Hospital, helping meet growing acute care demands in a city that has added more than 300,000 residents since the original Stollery opened in 2001.

• We don't usually ask for a favour in these emails, but right now, we're running our Black Friday / Giving Tuesday fundraiser, and if we can raise $25,000 by the end of tomorrow, a very generous donor has offered to double every single donation. So, if you like the research and advocacy work we do, and the information we bring you, and would like to make a donation to support the cause of freedom, now is the perfect time! Info on how to donate online, or by cheque, is available here.
• A new memorandum of understanding between Ottawa and Alberta lays out a plan to pursue a privately funded bitumen pipeline through northern British Columbia while addressing most of the federal environmental laws Alberta has long opposed. The agreement commits both governments to collaboration on a million-barrels-per-day pipeline aimed at Asian markets, paired with major projects including the Pathways carbon capture system and a mandated 75% reduction in provincial methane emissions. Ottawa has agreed to suspend clean electricity rules, drop the oil and gas emissions cap, and consider adjustments to the West Coast tanker ban as part of the deal. Alberta must submit its pipeline application to the federal major projects office by July 1st, with both sides framing the project as a national economic opportunity that could create tens of thousands of jobs. British Columbia’s government and coastal First Nations remain firmly against any new pipeline, citing spill risks and the lack of a private-sector proponent.
• Alberta is now projecting a $6.4-billion second-quarter deficit as falling oil prices, higher expenses, and new US tariffs weigh heavily on the Province’s finances. Finance Minister Nate Horner said global trade tensions and a weaker energy market have sharply reduced non-renewable resource revenue, which is down 30% from last year. While a new energy agreement with Ottawa is expected to boost long-term investment certainty, it won’t provide immediate fiscal relief. Revenues are down across several categories, particularly personal income taxes, though corporate taxes remain stronger than expected. Expenses have edged higher due to labour settlements, emergency funding, and health-care initiatives, including money for continuing care and psychiatric beds. Despite these pressures, Alberta’s GDP growth is still expected to lead the country at 2.1%, supported by strong oil production and increased building activity. Population growth also remains the fastest in Canada, though unemployment among young Albertans is rising. The Heritage Savings Trust Fund continues to grow, too, reaching a projected $31.5 billion after earning $770 million in the second quarter.
• The Alberta government is moving to crack down on contraband tobacco with Bill 12, which would impose harsher penalties on anyone buying, selling, or possessing illegal tobacco products. Proposed fines would be triple the tax owed on legal tobacco, covering cigarettes, fine-cut tobacco, and cigars over 1,000 grams. The announcement follows a major seizure near Lloydminster, where RCMP intercepted 8.8 million unstamped cigarettes valued at $7.65 million. A study by the Convenience Industry Council of Canada found that illegal tobacco cost Alberta around $262 million in tax revenue from 2021 to 2023, with contraband now accounting for nearly 30% of the market. The legislation also mandates mandatory reporting of seizures, aiming to protect public health, support legal retailers, and recover lost revenue that funds provincial services.
• Since recreational cannabis was legalized in 2018, Alberta has collected the most tax revenue per capita of any province, generating about $210 per person and over $1 billion in total. While Ontario collected the largest provincial total at $1.5 billion, Alberta’s smaller population means its per-person revenue surpasses every other province, well ahead of the Northwest Territories ($135.80) and Yukon ($126.35). Alberta’s high revenue is attributed to its early rollout of licensed retail stores and a 16.8% additional tax on cannabis excise duties, the highest of any province. Critics say the surcharge, applied at the producer level, has limited market growth and may encourage some Albertans to continue buying from illegal sources. 

What's on in Edmonton this weekend? Attend a screening of award-winning film Meadowlarks at Metro Cinema, catch the return of Rapid Fire’s fan-favourite Christmas tradition at The Blank Who Stole Christmas, step into a dreamy late-night art party at SNAP’s Print Affair: The Dream Parlour, embark on a dance and digital art journey at

MOSAÏCO, enjoy an interactive family-friendly twist on the holiday classic at A Kidsmas Carol, spend a magical afternoon at the Festival Singers’ holiday concert Songs of the Season, join Vocal Alchemy for a program inspired by Robert Frost’s ​“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, and so much more!

SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

The site of a new stand-alone Stollery Children’s Hospital was announced to be on the University of Alberta’s South Campus, at the northeast corner of 122 St. and 51 Ave. The site has room for expansion and is close to the University Hospital.

Further details will be forthcoming

Bew is the latest from the BOYLE MCCAULEY NEWS.