Edmonton Minute: Regimental Funeral, LRT Construction, and Federal Budget Reaction

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. Up for discussion are several zoning amendments, including a proposal to close a portion of 156 St in Chapelle to turn it into a pedestrian right of way, and to create new high-density housing and a public park in Queen Mary Park.
  
  
• On Tuesday, there will be an Agenda Review Committee meeting at 8:30 am followed by a City Council meeting at 9:30 am. On the agenda at the Council meeting are several bylaws, including one that would authorize the City of Edmonton to borrow $240.5 million to undertake, construct, and finance Light Rail Vehicle Replacements and another to authorize the borrowing of $53 million for Climate Resilient City Facility Upgrades. If the meeting does not conclude on time, there will be a continuation on Wednesday at 9:30 am.
  
  
• If you're looking for things to do with the kids this Easter weekend, there are quite a few free or low-cost activities happening. Easter egg hunts are taking place at Kiwi Nurseries in Acheson and on McGrath Campus. There is also a Choral Concert taking place on Good Friday at Robertson-Wesley United Church, if that is your preferred way to celebrate.

Last Week In Edmonton:

• The City provided new updates on Edmonton’s LRT construction. Two shortlisted finalists for extending the Capital Line LRT South to Ellerslie Road have been chosen and are making their final pitches to the City. Capital Line Design-Builders and PCL-Graham South Line Solutions. The City expects to award the contract this fall. The 1.6-kilometre extension to the Metro Line in Blatchford is also going smoothly, and construction is expected to wrap up ahead of schedule, with service beginning in early 2024.
  
  
• A regimental funeral was held at Rogers Place for Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan. Thousands of uniformed officers took part in a procession that began at the Alberta Legislature. ​​Both constables were awarded posthumous medals that included the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal and the EPS Medal of Honour. Family members expressed gratitude for the outpouring of community support.
  
  
• Mayor Amarjeet Sohi reacted mostly positively to the federal budget. He said that while the proposed funding for mental health supports, Indigenous housing, and renewable energy was welcome, that money does not go far enough to address the pressures that urban communities are facing with regard to homelessness.

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