Edmonton Minute: Ice Time, Strike Vote, and a Residential Tower Proposal

Edmonton Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Edmonton politics

This Week In Edmonton:

• This morning, at 9:30 am, there will be a City Council Public Hearing. There are several land use amendments on the agenda, including a proposal to zone for a pair of high rise residential towers. (More on that below!). If the hearing does not conclude on time, it will continue on November 4th at 6:00 pm.
  
  
• The Agenda Review Committee will meet on Tuesday at 8:30 am, as will City Council, at 9:30 am. Council’s agenda includes a monthly update on Dutch Elm Disease, the 2023 Annual Report from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner, and the Executive Committee’s report on the Chinatown Strategy, along with several other items. Should the meeting not conclude on time, it will continue on Wednesday at 9:30 am. Also on Tuesday, at 4:30 pm, there will be a Special City Council Meeting to discuss a City Manager recruitment update.
  
  
• Edmonton is facing a shortage of ice time for sports like hockey, figure skating, and ringette, despite having 21 city-operated arenas and 31 rinks. Hockey Edmonton, which has over 8,000 participants, is competing with other sports for limited ice availability. Privately-run arenas, such as Silent Ice Centre, help alleviate the pressure but come with higher costs, creating financial barriers for participants. Some groups are being forced to travel to rural arenas, increasing costs further.

Last Week In Edmonton:

• Casia Developments has proposed two highrise residential towers on 124th Street in Edmonton, potentially reaching 25 storeys. These towers would be located between 105th and 106th avenues, near the ongoing construction of the Valley Line West LRT. Local business owners have expressed concerns that the height and design of the buildings might reduce foot traffic and alter the area's character, while the developers argue the project will revitalize underused spaces and align with the city's growth objectives. There will be a public hearing regarding the proposal today.
  
  
• A misconduct investigation involving Councillor Jennifer Rice has been delayed until May 2026, after the next municipal election. Rice successfully obtained court orders halting a sanctioning hearing and preventing the publication of a report that found she violated Council's Code of Conduct. The allegations were made by a former employee but have not yet been proven in court. Rice has not confirmed whether she will run for re-election.
  
  
• Support staff at Edmonton Public Schools, represented by CUPE Local 3550, voted 97% in favour of strike action, with a 92% turnout of about 2,700 eligible members. The union is awaiting Labour Relations Board approval, which would allow them to give 72 hours' notice before striking. The main issues include wages, with a proposed 2.75% wage increase over four years, which the union argues is insufficient to address inflation. CUPE Local 474, representing custodial staff, is also holding strike votes, citing similar wage concerns.

-----

Donate:

Common Sense Edmonton doesn't accept any government funding and never will. We think you should be free to choose, for yourself, which organizations to support. If you're in a position to contribute financially, you can make a donation here.

-----

Share:

If you're not in a position to donate, we understand, but if you appreciate our work, you can help by spreading our message. Please email this post to your friends, share it on Facebook or Twitter, and help make sure every Edmontonian knows what's really going on at City Hall.