The Pulse: March 9, 2026

This week, councillors will review the waste reduction roadmap for the next four years, vote on rezoning applications, and continue planning the 2027-2030 budget.

There is a utility committee meeting on March 9, a public hearing on March 10, a council services committee meeting on March 11, a city manager and city auditor performance evaluation committee meeting on March 12, and a special city council meeting on March 13.

Here are some key items on the agenda:

• Utility committee will be asked to approve the 2026-2030 Waste Reduction Roadmap. Administration said it aims to pilot a Curbside Giveaway Weekend where residents are encouraged to place items on the curb with a "free" sign for others to take. Such programs exist in Winnipeg and Spruce Grove. The roadmap also calls for a circular foodware pilot where businesses and event planners provide reusable dishes and cups. Administration intends to research how it can be easier for businesses to borrow reusable items.
• A preliminary waste characterization study suggests that more food scraps are being sorted out of the garbage collected from apartments and condos. In 2022, before administration rolled out green cart and recycling collection to some multi-unit buildings, food scraps made up about 45% of garbage collected from apartments and condos. In 2025, that number was 39%. There was also a decrease in Eco Station waste, such as electronics, building materials, and bulky items. However, the amount of recyclable material in the garbage stream increased.
• Council will review a rezoning application at 7404 108 Street NW. There is a seven-unit complex on the site. The applicant has applied to rezone the property to the small-medium scale transition residential zone, which would allow for a three-storey building with larger site coverage. Administration supports the application because the lot is a corner site near a secondary corridor. Some residents in Queen Alexandra oppose it because they feel a larger building could lead to more parking congestion and would not fit with the neighbourhood's character.
• There is a lack of clarity regarding the budget for furniture and equipment maintenance in the office of the councillors, says a report that will be presented to council services committee. Administration has outlined adjustments to the budget available for the office of the councillors. The report said that the ward budget in Edmonton is about $2 per constituent, compared to $3 to $7.50 in other large Canadian cities. The proposed adjustment is included in a private document and will not be considered until the 2027-2030 budget deliberations at the end of the year.
• City departments will continue presentations at a special city council meeting on March 13 as part of the new results-based budget process.

• The City of Edmonton is using property taxes to fill a funding gap for traffic safety, due to revenue shortfalls from the Alberta government's removal and restriction of photo radar, which took effect in April 2025. City administration told councillors last week that a $4.4-million deficit is projected for 2026, with an annual funding gap of $14.7 million. Mayor Andrew Knack emphasized that revenue from traffic enforcement, not property taxes, should fund safety initiatives.
• Construction on a new Chinatown gate in Edmonton will begin March 9 on 97 Street, between Jasper Avenue and 101A Avenue, with completion expected in 2027. The City of Edmonton budgeted $8.7 million for the project, replacing the Harbin Gate dismantled in 2017 for the Valley Line LRT. Joanna Wong of the Chinatown Transformation Collaborative emphasized the gate's importance as a symbol of the Chinese community.
• Residents in Edmonton's McKernan neighbourhood say some multi-unit infill homes are operating as rooming houses and short-term rentals, bringing frequent turnover of guests. Neighbours argue the practice undermines the goal of creating stable or affordable housing. Mayor Andrew Knack said hourly rentals are inappropriate and the City of Edmonton is taking enforcement action while reviewing regulations on lodging houses.
• ArtBus, a free, all-ages event, will happen in Edmonton on March 21, from noon to 5pm. Free buses will take attendees on an art crawl across downtown Edmonton, offering continuous loops between nine participating galleries, including the Art Gallery of Alberta and the Alberta Craft Council. People can board special Edmonton Transit Service ArtBuses at designated stops to participate, and receive free admission to galleries and discounts with an ArtBus sticker.
• Domestic violence remains widespread in Alberta despite progress, according to the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters, Postmedia reported in an article published on International Women's Day. The federal government announced nearly $631,000 in funding to expand support tools for survivors of gender-based violence. The Edmonton Police Service laid 1,561 domestic violence charges in 2024 and responded to nearly 10,000 calls. Advocates say inflation and a shortage of affordable housing are making it harder for survivors to leave abusive partners.
• Toronto-based Vimy Pharma announced plans to produce a generic version of Ozempic, focusing on domestic manufacturing. If approved by Health Canada, mass production would happen at the Critical Medicines Production Centre in south Edmonton, operated by Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API). API CEO Andrew MacIsaac anticipates that the project could create about 30 direct jobs in Edmonton.
• Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen announced that a long-awaited passenger rail master plan is expected within weeks, with an announcement hoped for in April. The plan is set to identify proponents for a high-speed rail line connecting Edmonton and Calgary, including Edmonton International Airport and the Calgary airport. The province is seeking a significant private sector investment, citing record population growth and congested highways in the corridor, home to 80% of the province's population.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Mastering Boardroom Skills and Dynamics starting at 4pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Emerging Leaders: NextGen Night Mentorship Event starting at 4:30pm at Campio Brewing Co.
• Opening reception for Faces of Exile: The Arrusi and the Policing of Gender and Sexuality in Fascist Italy starting at 5pm at MacEwan University
• Green Drinks - March starting at 7pm at The Buckingham Pub
• Audreys Classics Book Club: Invisible Man starting at 7pm at Audreys Books

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• March 13-15: Night of Artists Spring Art Walk at Bonnie Doon Centre
• March 14: Arts District Day at Art Gallery of Alberta
• March 18: Building a Better and Different Experience online

Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

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