The Pulse
July 13, 2026

Don't expect anything too flashy out of the budget decisions that Edmonton city council will be making this fall, says a councillor with a couple of budget cycles under his belt.

"I don't foresee any large city-building projects, at all, on the table," Coun. Aaron Paquette of Ward Dene told Taproot. "If anything, it's just maintenance — we need a bus garage, that's about it, some fire halls. New (recreation) centres? Absolutely not."

Paquette, who was elected for his third council term in October of 2025, joined Episode 364 of Speaking Municipally to discuss how he's approaching the 2027-2030 budget.

Edmonton makes most of its operating and capital budget decisions in four-year chunks, with annual adjustments as needed. So the decisions made this fall will shape the rest of the term. After public engagement throughout the first half of this year, administration will release its proposed version of the 2027-2030 budget in early fall. Council will debate and make amendments over several days in late November and early December.

Administration has repeatedly said that limited funding is available to even maintain the assets that already exist, let alone build new ones. There is a $2.8-billion gap in what it would ideally spend on renewing city infrastructure in the proposed 2027-2030 budget, it says.

Paquette said that's an old refrain. "I would say, what is new in that message? When have you not heard that message?"

And yet, council has recently reduced the scope of two large projects — the Lewis Farms Community Recreation Centre was scaled down to keep its increased budget from bloating even more, and the southeast transit garage will be smaller than originally planned. Provincial funding for local infrastructure has decreased from about $420 per capita in 2011 to about $150 per capita in 2023. When accounting for inflation, the number is even more stark, Paquette said.

"It's a massive cut, probably by about two-thirds, and so you can imagine that's having a great impact," he said. "In fact, our infrastructure (renewal) deficit almost exactly aligns with that deficit from the provincial cuts."

• Edmonton is recovering after a severe thunderstorm caused power outages and flooding. More than 13,000 customers lost electricity, but power has since been restored to most. EPCOR crews continued clearing debris and repairing damage. Major roads including Yellowhead Trail and 97th Street were temporarily closed but have since mostly reopened. Several recreational facilities, including the TELUS World of Science - Edmonton and Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre, remain closed due to flood damage. The sudden storm sent organizers of several summer festivals, including the Whyte Avenue Art Walk, scrambling.
• The Edmonton Police Service sought an injunction to prevent the screening of a documentary about Mathios Arkangelo's 2024 shooting, fearing it could identify officers under a publication ban, Postmedia reported. The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC) premiered the film on June 28 but re-edited it to blur faces after police concerns. "While some in the community view this rapid legal maneuver as an attempt by police to suppress the film, JHC chose to approach this friction with direct dialogue and immediate accountability," Renee Vaugeois, the centre's executive director, told Postmedia. "Chief Driechel reached out to personally clarify that the action was intended to ensure officer safety amid active threats, rather than to censor the documentary."
• North-south vehicle access across 102 Avenue in downtown Edmonton will shift as part of Phase 2 of Valley Line West LRT construction. Starting about July 15, access on 105 Street will close, while 104 Street access will open. Access along 104 Street will be closed on Saturdays for the Downtown Farmers' Market. The construction is expected to continue until the end of 2026, with north-south access remaining open on 109 Street and 101 Street.
• Emergency calls regarding overdoses at Edmonton transit locations more than doubled in 2025 compared to the previous year, amounting to 368 calls, significantly surpassing Calgary's 146 calls. Churchill LRT Station had the highest number of calls in Edmonton since 2018, with 211 incidents. Despite a dip in 2024, the increase reflects ongoing challenges in the city, especially with carfentanil-related deaths.
• The City of Edmonton is inspecting residential waste carts to ensure proper sorting, focusing on compliance with its green bin program. City officials are doing daily checks and are leaving tags on bins to provide feedback on sorting practices. The effort is intended to improve waste management efficiency and educate residents about appropriate disposal methods.
• The Edmonton International Street Performers Festival concluded with attendance reaching pre-COVID levels, organizers said, noting it has been "a slow build" to reach these numbers. The 10-day festival featured 38 performers from eight countries.
• As concerns mount over Meta's $13-billion data centre in Sturgeon County, Premier Danielle Smith defended the project and assured Albertans it will not hike utility bills or deplete water resources. She said the centre's water use will match that of a typical golf course through a closed-loop system. The centre will draw energy from Alberta's grid, with plans to later use power from the forthcoming Greenlight Electricity Centre.
• Alberta has experienced a significant rise in tornado activity, with 23 tornadoes already recorded this year, compared to 15 in 2025. Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor highlighted that the tornado season remains active, with six weeks left. The most recent struck Dillberry Lake Provincial Park, injuring three people. David Sills of the Northern Tornadoes Project said that this could be the most active tornado season on the Prairies since the 1980s. Researchers suggest that consistent atmospheric conditions and the interplay of heavy rainfall and fire weather patterns are contributing to the increase.
• The Edmonton Oilers have signed St. Albert native Colton Dach to a two-year contract extension worth $1.2 million annually. Dach was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline last season. The 6-foot-4 forward appeared in eight games for Edmonton after his March debut and played in five playoff games.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Theatre in the Park: Callingwood Park starting at 11am at Callingwood Park
• The Magpie Collection: A Dance Festival starting at 11:30 at Sugar Swing Studio
• Theatre in the Park: Aldergrove Park starting at 2:30pm at Aldergrove Park
• Business Model 101 starting at 6pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Messed Up Mondays Featuring Ally Stone starting at 6pm at Brighton Block
• Short & Sweet, Why Word-Economy Needs to be in Every Writer's Toolkit starting at 7pm online
• Rough Cut Comedy - Weekly Comedy Showcase starting at 8:30pm at River City Revival House

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• July 22: Family Nature Nights: Urban Birds at Whitemud Park and Ravine
• July 24: Friday Nights at the Grand Night Market at Westmount Shopping Centre
• Aug. 3-8: Rock'n August in St. Albert

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

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

Need a hint for 6-Across? It's in the Taproot Edmonton Calendar.