Taproot Edmonton Logo

Headlines: July 3, 2026

· The Pulse
By
Comments
Share
  • City council is considering new regulations to regulate lodging houses in Edmonton. Concerns about the zoning law being exploited have been raised by homeowners, as some lodging houses are being used for students and medical visitors. Proposed changes include prohibiting such houses in row or multi-unit homes, capping sleeping units per lot, reducing bedroom minimums, and requiring specific permits. BILD Edmonton Metro supports these measures, viewing them as careful amendments that balance developer needs while addressing community issues like traffic and safety related to unauthorized lodging houses.
  • ENV Collectible in north Edmonton was broken into for the second time in less than 10 months, with thieves taking Pokémon and One Piece trading cards. Following the previous break-in in November, which resulted in a $40,000 loss, the store implemented increased security measures. The Edmonton Police Service is investigating the break-in, which marks the ninth such incident at local collectible and hobby shops this year.
  • The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2559 accused the YMCA of Northern Alberta of union-busting during a unionization drive in a complaint over unfair labour practices filed with the Alberta Labour Relations Board on June 10. The complaint follows the layoffs of longstanding employees as union organizing efforts were ongoing. CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal said the layoffs of three employees with eight, 10 and 22 years of service, respectively, were retaliatory. The YMCA cited funding changes as the reason for layoffs. A hearing has not yet been scheduled, and both parties are preparing for pre-hearing meetings later in 2026.
  • The Edmonton Police Service arrested a 22-year-old Ontario man after a May 4 traffic stop during which officers allegedly found a loaded illegal firearm and drugs, leading to firearms and drug charges. Police said two search warrants executed later found evidence related to alleged extortion crimes. The man was transferred to Ontario, where Peel Regional Police charged him with extortion and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with an investigation into the organized crime group known as For Brothers. Police allege he was involved in a shooting at a Brampton business in April and an attempted shooting outside a home in May, where a firearm malfunctioned and the intended victim escaped unharmed. "We've been investigating extortion networks and their multi-jurisdictional linkages in Canada for some time now, and we have established a coordinated approach with a focus on effective intelligence collection, sharing, and enforcement action across provinces," said Edmonton police Staff Sgt. Eric Stewart.
  • The Alberta government has submitted a proposal to the federal government for a new oil pipeline to the west coast of British Columbia, following the existing Trans Mountain pipeline route from Bruderheim, near Edmonton, to Roberts Bank in Delta, B.C. The project, which would cost $35.2 billion to $43.7 billion, aims to transport more than one million barrels daily to Asian markets by 2034. Alberta will partner with Trans Mountain Corp. and Pembina Pipeline Corp., while Alberta and the federal government would hold majority ownership. An agreement with B.C. maintains a tanker ban on the North Coast and would compensate B.C. for the new pipeline.