Dormant site of cancelled Downtown high-rise listed at $4 million

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Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-30 11:07:29.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Taxation]

The dormant $34-million high-rise development site at 121 Street and 102 Avenue in Edmonton, originally planned by Open Sky Developments as a 22-storey apartment complex with 185 units, has been listed for sale at $4 million by JLL after being abandoned by its former contractor. Ward O-day-min Councillor Anne Stevenson noted that the property narrowly avoided Edmonton's derelict commercial property tax subclass due to legal definitions regarding land improvements, prompting municipal officials to petition the provincial government to amend legislation to allow higher tax rates for abandoned commercial parcels.

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.

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.

Edmonton mayor slams 'uninformed directive' after province intervenes on city infill rules

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-08 21:15:11.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Taxation]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams issued a provincial directive forcing the City of Edmonton to roll back its recent infill housing policies and rewrite its zoning bylaws within 18 months. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack and municipal leaders criticized the intervention as an attack on municipal autonomy that will restrict housing growth, drive up property taxes, and increase housing and rental costs. City councillors including Erin Rutherford and Anne Stevenson raised concerns that the directive undermines years of planning consultations and shifts growth pressures toward costly suburban sprawl.

With city's next four-year plan less than a month away, Edmonton's budget deliberation process unveiled

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-06 20:29:58.0
Tags: [Municipal, Alberta, Finance, Taxation, Governance, Affordability]

The City of Edmonton unveiled its upcoming four-year budget deliberation process, which will encompass five distinct budgets: the capital, operating, utility services operating and capital, office of the city auditor, and climate budgets. Draft budgets are scheduled for publication on November 2, followed by a public hearing beginning on November 23 that will remain open for up to 10 days until December 18 or budget approval. In an 8-5 vote, City Council approved raising the city's franchise fee to 19.4 per cent to match Calgary's rate, aiming to offset property tax pressures on residents and businesses while the city works to rebuild its financial stabilization reserve back to the $150-million baseline.

Large businesses and post-secondary institutions could see five-digit utility fee hike if Epcor franchise fee increase approved

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-05 21:00:32.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Taxation, Finance, Energy]

The Edmonton City Council utility committee voted to send a proposed increase in the city's franchise fee charged to Epcor from 17.65 per cent to the provincially capped maximum of 20 per cent to the full city council. If approved, the hike takes effect on January 1, 2027, generating an estimated additional $14.8 million for the municipality while increasing monthly utility bills by up to $31,500 for post-secondary institutions, $10,400 for large commercial properties, and $6,250 for hospitals.

Whitehorse city council grants short-term rental operators licence grace period

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-29 20:33:06.0
Tags: [National, Housing, Municipal, Taxation, Governance]

The Whitehorse City Council unanimously voted to approve an overarching licensing bylaw for short-term rentals while granting operators a six-month grace period, moving the mandatory licensing deadline from October 1 to April 1. The delay responds to concerns from industry representatives, such as Neighbourly North president Ben Pereira, regarding tight implementation timelines and potential Canada Revenue Agency tax penalties that deny expense deductions for unlicensed short-term rentals. City planning officials noted that the regulatory framework is designed to address local housing pressures while giving operators time to comply.

Yellowknife city council moves community, transport plans in possible last meeting of term

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-24 15:31:26.0
Tags: [Municipal, Housing, Transportation, Taxation, Infrastructure]

The Yellowknife City Council passed a 25-year community growth plan, adopted a comprehensive transportation plan targeting pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, and approved a new vacant land tax class taking effect in January 2028 to penalize undeveloped property. Additionally, the council established a major projects and opportunities secretariat municipal department to support national defence infrastructure investments, such as extending piped water and sewer to the Yellowknife airport. The community plan amendment passed second reading despite opposition and now awaits final review and approval by the territorial Department of Municipal and Community Affairs before a potential third reading.

Whitehorse city council backs away from vote on licensing bylaw for short-term rentals

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-15 23:30:00.0
Tags: [National, Municipal, Housing, Taxation, Governance]

The Whitehorse city council delayed a final vote on a new municipal licensing bylaw for short-term rentals to allow city administration two weeks to review implementation timelines, transition periods, and potential Canada Revenue Agency tax implications. During the same meeting, the council voted to pass an amended bylaw reducing the single-unit licence surcharge to $176 for each additional unit on the same property where the operator resides. Previously, city zoning rules banned new standalone short-term rentals while grandfathering in existing ones indefinitely.

'Balancing act': City juggles split views and steep costs in budget feedback

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-08 22:38:09.0
Tags: [Municipal, Finance, Taxation, Economy, Infrastructure]

The City of Edmonton presented its city-wide budget feedback report for the upcoming four-year budget cycle, highlighting competing public priorities between maintaining infrastructure like roads and keeping property taxes low. City planners reported a current year-to-date financial surplus of $106.4 million, projected to narrow to roughly $500,000 by year-end, while acknowledging that impending U.S. tariffs and heavy summer rain damage present emerging cost risks. Mayor Andrew Knack and city councillors noted ongoing tensions regarding funding levels for police, public transit, and core services amid rising operational inventories and inflationary pressures.