High Level Bridge to be closed to traffic next spring and summer for urgent repairs

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Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-30 21:25:54.0
Tags: [Municipal, Alberta, Infrastructure, Transportation, Climate]

The City of Edmonton is advancing 2028 rehabilitation plans for the 113-year-old High Level Bridge to the upcoming spring and summer construction season to address severe south-slope erosion caused by unseasonably heavy summer rainfall in 2026. The bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic for the entire construction season to accommodate structural repairs—including work on bearings, deck surfaces, and drainage systems—while the city postpones planned work on the northbound Low Level Bridge until 2028. The city is exploring accessing the Hazard Assistance and Resilience Program (HARP) fund to help cover repair costs, while the bridge's west pedestrian sidewalk and summer trolley are slated to remain operational when possible.

Seismic shifts in Roseburn

This article is new today!

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-30 16:18:13.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure]

Strata Developments has launched the new 10-year residential community of Roseburn in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, spanning 1,250 total homes across 250 initially serviced lots. The community features a major recreational attraction called Volcano Park, designed by Play Envy, and incorporates innovative steel-framed housing construction provided by builder Cantiro Homes to enhance structural resilience against extreme weather. Additional builders involved in the project include Akash Homes, Bedrock Homes, and Super Homes, with a formal grand opening scheduled for spring 2027.

Province gives Grande Prairie's 911 service $2 million to support policing, fire response

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-27 16:03:53.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Public Safety, Infrastructure, Justice]

The Government of Alberta announced a $2 million provincial grant for the City of Grande Prairie's 911 service and Public Safety Communication Centre (PSCC), bringing the province's total contribution to public safety and policing projects to $19 million against a total project cost of $23 million. Distributed by Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis on October 21, the funding supports the establishment of a local dispatch center capable of covering a large regional landmass and servicing 47 per cent of the province. The announcement coincided with the official ceremonial handover of local policing responsibilities from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to the newly created municipal Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS), led by Police Chief Dwayne Lakusta.

Province gives Grande Prairie's 911 service $2 million to support policing, fire response

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-27 16:03:53.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Public Safety, Infrastructure, Governance]

The Government of Alberta provided a $2 million grant to the City of Grande Prairie’s 911 service, bringing the province's total contribution to public safety and policing projects to $19 million against a total project cost of $23 million. Announced by Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis, the funding supports the development of the local Public Safety Communication Centre (PSCC). The PSCC handles dispatch services covering 47 percent of the province and facilitates a transition of local policing responsibilities from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to the newly established Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS), led by Police Chief Dwayne Lakusta.

West Jasper Place upzoning stirs debate around infill marching orders from province

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-26 22:20:51.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Governance]

The Edmonton City Council voted 9-4 to approve a medium-scale upzoning application by developer Kunj Investment at 9941 150 Street NW, permitting a four-storey development with a 16-metre height limit. The approval comes amid friction with provincial oversight, as Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams ordered the city to revert its residential small-scale zoning bylaw back to previous 2023 standards while giving the municipality 18 months to draft a compliant replacement. While city planners and housing advocates argued that increased density near transit nodes like the future LRT station is necessary, local opponents criticized the council for approving infill projects immediately prior to addressing the provincial zoning orders.

Edmonton, Fort McMurray amongst those to receive courthouse security upgrades in $6 million province-wide initiative

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-26 18:13:10.0
Tags: [Alberta, Infrastructure, Justice, Public Safety]

The Government of Alberta announced a $6-million province-wide initiative to upgrade security across 10 courthouses located in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Lethbridge, Drumheller, Fort McMurray, St. Paul, Pincher Creek, Alexis, Canmore, and Cochrane. The refurbishments follow a 2023 planning study that identified security, health, and safety risks, and will include improvements to building access, emergency systems, security technology, and prisoner movement areas. Construction is slated to begin within the current fiscal year and reach completion in 2027 under the direction of Alberta Infrastructure and Minister Martin Long.

Emergency doctor describes health care breakdown at fatality inquiry for man who died waiting in Edmonton ER

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-21 22:05:39.0
Tags: [Alberta, Healthcare, Infrastructure]

During a fatality inquiry into the December 22, 2025 death of 44-year-old Prashant Sreekumar—who died of an aortic dissection after an eight-hour wait at Grey Nuns Community Hospital—Dr. Warren Thirsk testified regarding a severe, systemic breakdown in Alberta's emergency medicine. Thirsk highlighted critical staffing and bed shortages, noting that Edmonton emergency departments require 30 physicians while receiving fewer than 30 applications, and criticized the UCP government for cancelling plans for a new south Edmonton hospital. The testimony underscored severe physician and nurse burnout, historical medical school enrolment cuts stemming from the 1990s Barer–Stoddart Report, and deteriorating patient wait times across the province's healthcare system.

Industry leader lauds Edmonton's proposed industrial investment plan

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-21 20:53:29.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Economy, Taxation, Industry, Infrastructure]

The City of Edmonton is considering a new industrial investment plan during its upcoming four-year budget deliberations to stimulate non-residential tax growth and job creation. Proposed incentives include a 25 per cent property tax forgiveness for three years for new industrial builds—costing the city roughly $1 million annually while opening up 15 hectares of land per year—and a $23 million four-year 'first mover' plan allowing developers to apply for municipal infrastructure cost reimbursements. Panattoni Development vice-president Mark Edwards lauded the initiatives, noting they will help overcome investment freezes and competition from surrounding municipalities with lower service costs. Currently, only 2.6 per cent of Edmonton's industrial land is shovel-ready, falling short of the city's 4.5 per cent target.

Council requests premier's infill edict in writing 'as soon as possible'

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-16 22:06:47.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Infrastructure, Finance]

Following an executive directive from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ordering Edmonton City Council to rescind its zoning bylaw regarding small-scale residential (RS) zones, Edmonton City Council voted 12-1 on a motion demanding the province provide the order in writing. City administration projects the forced regulatory reversal will cost Edmontonians between $420 million and $610 million in construction business next year, halt over 2,000 rowhouse dwelling units, cut municipal planning and development reserves from $40 million to $25 million by 2030, and cost between $5 million and $10 million to implement under the Municipal Government Act.

Western defence hub marshals housing plans in Edmonton

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-16 14:07:07.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Defence, Economy]

Edmonton is preparing for a major housing and economic surge driven by federal military spending increases toward a NATO five per cent benchmark, positioning CFB Edmonton as Canada's primary manoeuvre division. The expansion will bring an estimated 5,000 troops and their families to the region, complementing over 1,000 new military housing units and projects like a $22.5 million net-zero-emissions-ready apartment development at CFB Edmonton. Local homebuilders and developers are gearing up for increased housing demand beginning in late 2027, supported by municipal infrastructure planning in areas like Marquis and Quarry South, as well as St. Albert receiving $28 million from the federal Build Communities Strong Fund for regional servicing.

Architects say good design could solve Edmonton's infill problems

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-16 11:00:43.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure]

The City of Edmonton utilized $500,000 from the federal housing accelerator fund to commission architects to develop a standardized catalogue of seven infill housing designs tailored for mature neighbourhoods. Revealed during Edmonton Design Week, the initiative aims to increase housing supply, streamline permit approvals, and improve design quality by blending with existing neighbourhood aesthetics like bungalows. The project coincides with provincial scrutiny and potential restrictions on municipal infill policies announced by the Government of Alberta under Premier Danielle Smith.

Small-town mayors face growth backlash as Edmonton grapples with population surge

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-15 21:49:05.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Governance, Taxation]

According to the BILD Edmonton Metro 2026 State of the Region report, row house and apartment permits in regional Edmonton municipalities surged by over 600 per cent over a five-year period amid population growth. Regional leaders, including Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw, Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank, and Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Lisa Makin, highlighted constituent backlash against development and the ongoing challenge of balancing growth with demands for municipal services without raising property taxes. The data shows provincial housing starts increased 130.8 per cent between 2020 and 2025, with Edmonton issuing $3.2 billion in building permits in 2025, while regional municipalities experienced average permit turnaround times ranging from 5 to 26 days compared to Edmonton's 53.8 days.

New provincial recycling program stirs grumblings in northern Alberta community

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-15 19:54:15.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Environment, Infrastructure]

Following the implementation of Alberta's provincially-mandated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, management of packaging and paper products shifted to the not-for-profit organization Circular Materials on October 1, 2026. In the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, collection services are now serviced by Collective Waste Solutions Inc., with approximately 38,000 old municipal bins collected and stored at the regional landfill between September 22 and October 6. Residents in communities like Fort McMurray have experienced operational disruptions, including delayed blue cart deliveries and uncollected legacy bins remaining on properties.

Métis leaders in oilsands region say they haven’t been consulted on proposed Pacific Link pipeline

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-15 12:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Alberta, British Columbia, Energy, Indigenous, Infrastructure]

Métis leaders representing six communities in the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo region have accused Prime Minister Mark Carney and the federal government of failing to consult them regarding the proposed Pacific Link pipeline. The proposed 1,000,000 barrel-per-day oil pipeline—designated as being in the national interest under the Building Canada Act—aims to connect Alberta's oilsands to a deepwater port near Delta, British Columbia, with approvals targeted for September 2027 and operations slated for 2032 or 2033. While the federal government has engaged First Nations leadership and announced a 10 per cent Indigenous ownership stake, local Métis presidents including Ruby Ladouceur of Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation and Stella Lavallee of Willow Lake Métis Nation expressed concerns over potential environmental impacts and the lack of inclusion in project discussions.

Jasper wildfire recovery: the complex rebuild happening above and below the town's streets two years on from disaster

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-14 17:30:21.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Infrastructure, Housing, Emergency, Environment]

Two years following the July 2024 wildfires, the Municipality of Jasper continues its infrastructure and housing recovery efforts, spearheaded by Director of Recovery Douglas Olthof. The federal and Alberta governments announced $7.9 million on September 1 to recommission a wastewater lagoon, addressing storage capacity and flood risks. Recovery initiatives include property-specific soil testing supported by Parks Canada and the Canadian Red Cross, municipal neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood upgrades to curb stops and shut-off valves, and the addition of 45 new housing units through a newly approved apartment building. Concurrently, the municipality has launched a public Town Plan survey via engagejasper.ca, active until October 25, to replace the 2011 Jasper Community Sustainability Plan and guide future development.

Alberta Métis leaders oppose exclusion, not Pacific Link, as Cold Lake takes Ottawa to court

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-14 14:05:34.0
Tags: [Alberta, National, Energy, Infrastructure, Indigenous, Resources]

Six Métis nations in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, along with the Cold Lake First Nations (which filed a Federal Court application), are challenging federal and provincial authorities over their exclusion from consultations regarding the proposed Pacific Link pipeline. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced the pipeline as a project of national interest on October 1, 2026, to carry Alberta oil to the British Columbia coast with a groundbreaking targeted for September 1, 2027. Indigenous leaders criticize the lack of consultation, noting that equity ownership stakes and co-development terms were offered without proper engagement with Métis communities, violating Section 35 of the Constitution Act of 1982 and the Crown's duty to consult.

Province offers satellite internet rebate for some rural Albertans

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-13 20:06:03.0
Tags: [Alberta, Technology, Infrastructure, Economy]

The Government of Alberta, led by Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish, has announced the Alberta Satellite Rebate Program providing a one-time rebate of up to $1,000 for rural households to cover satellite internet hardware, installation, and applicable taxes. The program targets an estimated 10,000 remote households across the province that are currently out of reach for existing broadband expansion projects due to low population density or challenging terrain. The rebate is available through March 31, 2027, and applies retroactively to purchases made since August 11 from authorized vendors. This initiative forms part of broader federal and provincial commitments totaling $755 million to expand high-speed internet access across Alberta.

Data centres face security risks amid growing strategic value: CSIS

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-11 19:30:20.0
Tags: [Alberta, National, Technology, Energy, Public Safety, Infrastructure]

A May 27 Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) assessment warns that Canada's growing network of approximately 300 data centres faces rising security risks, including cyberattacks, physical threats, foreign ownership vulnerabilities, and supply chain bottlenecks for electrical components. Alberta Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish highlighted the province's push for sovereign computing infrastructure amid multi-megawatt developments, including a proposed Meta AI facility north of Edmonton, an AI centre near Olds, and the Wonder Valley project near Grande Prairie. The data centre market across Canada is projected to more than double over five years to reach US$25 million, prompting scrutiny over foreign ownership, data sovereignty, and robust domestic safeguards.

Alberta Premier Smith calls out federal interference in Edmonton housing rules

Source: Alberta - Provincial Politics
Date: 2026-10-10 22:14:17.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Infrastructure]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's provincial government directed the City of Edmonton to reverse its 2024 zoning bylaw changes within three months, citing federal interference through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. The former federal government program under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered millions in funding to fast-track over 5,200 housing units by streamlining zoning for multi-unit complexes in established neighbourhoods. Premier Smith criticized the federal funding as a bribe that disrupted local housing integrity, while municipal leaders criticized the provincial intervention as a threat to local democracy.

The infill standoff: How did Edmonton get here?

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-09 21:15:35.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Infrastructure]

Premier Danielle Smith and Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams compelled Edmonton city council to alter its zoning bylaws, rolling back high-density infill approval processes to pre-2024 standards and reinstating mandatory parking minimums within three months. The provincial intervention followed intense neighbourhood pushback against multiplex developments of up to eight units in mature areas like Crestwood, Grovenor, and Glenora, alongside failed municipal motions such as Councillor Michael Janz's narrow 6-5 defeat in 2025 to cap mid-block developments at six units. Pro-infill groups like Grow Together Edmonton and the Infill Development in Edmonton Association (IDEA) argued that only one per cent of the city's residential stock had been redeveloped over three years, while neighbourhood advocacy groups successfully lobbied the provincial legislature over concerns regarding strain on municipal infrastructure, parking crunches, and building scale.