• Edmonton could be taking province to court over infill decree

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-10-13 20:29:40.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Justice]

  Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack announced that the City of Edmonton is considering legal action against the provincial government following a directive from Premier Danielle Smith ordering Edmonton City Council to repeal its current zoning bylaw and reinstate the previous one within a three-month window. Mayor Knack stated that the provincial mandate forces councillors to violate Section 25 of the Municipal Government Act by requiring them to enter a mandated public hearing with predetermined voting instructions rather than an open mind. Furthermore, the city noted that the unexpected decree will force municipal staff to incur unbudgeted overtime costs to prepare the required reports and notices while simultaneously managing the city's four-year budget cycle.

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• Grande Prairie Police Service to replace RCMP as Alberta’s first new municipal force in 70 years

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-10-07 19:48:03.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Public Safety, Justice, Governance]

  The Grande Prairie Police Service (GPPS) is set to formally replace the RCMP as the police of jurisdiction for the City of Grande Prairie on October 21 at 6 a.m., marking the first new municipal police service created in Alberta in 70 years. Led by Chief of Police Dwayne Lakusta, the GPPS will operate with 80 sworn members following an 8-1 city council vote on March 6, 2023, which was informed by internal reviews and a consulting study by MNP. The transition integrates existing community services like Grande Prairie Enforcement Services and the Mobile Outreach Program and introduces new operational tools, including a biometric detainee monitoring system and a drone program.

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• Edmonton police commission tackles move to virtual meetings, Chinatown drop-offs

  Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
  Date: 2026-09-17 23:06:11.0
  Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Public Safety, Governance, Justice]

  The Edmonton Police Commission transitioned its public meetings to a virtual format and suspended public speaker sessions for the remainder of the year due to ongoing harassment, defamation, intimidation, and death threats directed at commissioners since March. Edmonton Police Service Chief Warren Driechel addressed security concerns ahead of the October 19 provincial referendum on separation, stating police cannot staff every polling station and will instead focus on preventing civil disorder. Additionally, city councillors raised renewed concerns regarding provincial corrections officers dropping off released detainees in Edmonton’s Chinatown without adequate support.

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