- Edmonton city council is considering a bylaw to reduce the maximum wall height for new RS Zone infill developments from 10.5 to 9.5 metres. This proposal, discussed at a public hearing on April 7, aims to address "massing" concerns while still allowing three-storey builds. Buildings with pointed roofs could still reach 10.5 metres if tapered. The bylaw also includes variances for existing property alterations. Councillors deferred the vote to April 27, with new rules taking effect Aug. 1 if passed.
- An audit found a faulty Arc Card machine in Edmonton enabled about $65,000 in fraudulent transactions between September 2024 and June 2025. Roughly $20,000 was recovered, reducing losses to about $45,000. Police were notified, but no charges were laid due to unregistered cards and delays in detection.
- Edmonton city council has approved a rezoning application for a new modular home development near Terwillegar Drive. The decision paves the way for the construction of modern, prefabricated homes on the land, proposed by Atco's Viva Homes. The project will have 32 units. The company said the modular design will lead to lower rents. A nearby church opposed the development over fears of increased traffic.
- The Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association (CTLA) has called for a criminal probe into Edmonton Police Service Chief Warren Driechel and police lawyer Megan Hankewich. Edmonton lawyer Tom Engel, representing the CTLA, requested Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery investigate potential extortion, obstruction of justice, and intimidation. The move comes after both made public statements before the September 2005 sentencing of Ashley Rattlesnake in the death of eight-year-old Nina Napope. Justice Jody Fraser, who sentenced Rattlesnake to eight years in prison, criticized the police comments as "reprehensible" and a "veiled threat" that might have obstructed justice. The CTLA said an out-of-province attorney general should handle any criminal charges.
- Edmonton charities, including Edmonton's Food Bank and Hope Mission, are feeling the pinch of soaring gas prices, which could impact their ability to serve vulnerable Edmontonians. Tamisan Bencz-Knight of Edmonton's Food Bank noted that it spends more than $10,000 monthly on fuel for its 22 trucks, potentially diverting funds from food purchases.
- Postmedia columnist Keith Gerein argued for tougher rules in Edmonton's civic elections concerning corporate donations and third-party advertisers. Businesses, including those connected to developers, used multiple corporate entities to donate to candidates, potentially circumventing donation limits. Union-backed Working Families Edmonton, a third-party group, endorsed candidates and campaigned, raising concerns about collaboration with candidates, despite rules against it. Gerein suggested requiring candidate agreement for endorsements and imposing tighter expense limits and truth-in-advertising rules.
- The United Nurses of Alberta is demanding immediate action against violence in Alberta's hospital emergency departments, following a stabbing at Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital that left one person with life-threatening injuries. The union said the incident is not isolated and that nurses routinely face violence and weapon threats. Despite nurses advocating since 2023 for weapons-detection systems, and a request for proposals being issued, the system has not yet been installed. The union pointed to overcrowding and staffing shortages, and made several demands, including an expedited system installation and updated safety protocols.
- Public health officials issued a warning confirming a measles exposure at Edmonton's Stollery Children's Hospital. The exposure happened on April 4, affecting those in the Emergency Department waiting area (4:17pm to 7:26pm), M-Pod (5:26pm to 10:16pm), and X-ray Department (7:16pm to 10:04pm). Measles is highly contagious, with symptoms appearing seven to 21 days after exposure. If symptoms develop, individuals should stay home and call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any health care facility.
- An Edmonton court is hearing a legal challenge from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation over Alberta's changes to its citizen initiative law, which could enable a separation referendum. The First Nation is seeking to restore a removed safeguard requiring initiatives to comply with the Constitution, arguing the change threatens treaty rights and could cause irreparable harm, including increased racism and potential foreign interference. The Alberta government is opposing the request, saying the alleged harms are speculative and that granting an injunction would interfere with democratic debate. The case is the first of three similar challenges from First Nations opposing the prospect of Alberta separation.
Headlines: April 8, 2026
By Mariam Ibrahim