Top Stories YEG

04/28/2026

WATCH: Edmonton City Council voted in favour of lowering building heights in small-scale residential zones from 10.5 metres to 9.5 metres

Zoning change: Council votes to lower building heights in small-scale residential zone to 9.5 metres

04/27/2026

Another change to the zoning bylaw at City Hall and this one might sound small around height but it’s part of a much bigger shift when looping it in with a change that happened last July around length.

Council voted in favour of lowering building heights in small-scale residential zones from 10.5 metres to 9.5 metres under Zoning Bylaw 20001.

City council is trying to strike a balance between:
Adding more housing for affordability and density while being reasonable to the feedback from Edmonton residents pushing back on large developments, especially mid block and in mature neighborhoods.

Some councillors pressed — maybe city should just leave the bylaw alone for 5 to 10 years and see how it actually plays out instead of constantly changing it every construction season. While others don’t want to wait a long period of time to find a reasonable balance when a lot of communities are already getting of looking into restrictive covenants.

When asked about how city knows this type of housing leads to affordability, mayor Knack pointed to data from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation showing that more housing supply should help bring prices down or at least slow increases.

You can expect discussions and changes to continue for the zoning bylaws.

04/16/2026

The fine print behind rezoning: Why what you see isn’t always what you get. When city council votes on a rezoning, they’re not actually approving a specific building, they’re approving a set of rules for what could be built.
In the recent case of the Ottewell Curling Club site and rezoning application approved by council, some residents raised concerns about transitional housing going in due to the language in the proposal that involved townhouses. The consultant that presented the proposal told council that’s not what’s being proposed and it was a misunderstanding.

But here’s the key: the zoning that was approved could still allow different types of development down the road, as long as it fits within the rules of that zone.

City administration says this flexibility is intentional, it allows developers to adapt without going back to council.
“In theory, so long as the development meets the zoning requirements of the RSM Zone, the property owners could go forward with a residential development different from the one presented to Council.”

“There are examples of other rezoning applications where applicants will not specifically know what they want to build and are applying to rezone a site to a new zone based on general intent. Council will evaluate both the specific and general proposals similarly and determine whether the new zone—with its suite of potential uses—at that particular site is appropriate. Council evaluates and makes decisions assuming applicants are acting in good faith,” according to city administration. “While there may have been a change in ownership of the site during this process, ultimately, staff will review the application against the zoning rules submitted by the applicant to determine if the land is suitable for all the potential uses in the zone.“

But for residents, it raises a bigger question: When you’re shown one concept… what are you actually weighing in on?

03/26/2026

WATCH: City of Edmonton launches public engagement on the 2027-2030 budget

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

03/26/2026

Edmonton is building its next four-year budget and this is your chance to weigh in. The City has launched public engagement on the 2027-2030 budget. The upcoming budget “will have to balance maintaining the programs, services and construction projects that Edmontonians use every day with the realities of inflationary pressures, rapid population growth and evolving service needs.”

Public engagement runs until May 1. Edmontonians can provide input in-person and online.

👉 Visit: engaged.edmonton.ca/Budget

02/23/2026

New patio fees are coming to Edmonton businesses this year.

Starting in March, restaurants and bars using public sidewalks or curbside space will pay new annual fees under the City’s “shared-investment model.”

City officials say this costs is due to reduced funding in the 2024 Fall Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment and the patio program needs to become financially sustainable.

Here’s what businesses will pay:

Option 1: Small Sidewalk Patio - Free

Option 2: Parklet Patio (Seasonal) $3,700

Option 2: Parklet Patio (Year Round) $6,900

Option 3: Full Sidewalk Patio with Boardwalk Sidewalk (Seasonal) $3,700

Option 3: Full Sidewalk Patio with Boardwalk Sidewalk (Year Round) $6,900

Option 4: Partial Sidewalk Patio (Seasonal or Year Round) $500

The City says seasonal patios are based on a 50/50 split, while year-round patios are structured at 70/30 — with the City covering the larger share.

But some business owners argue they already pay to build, install, remove, and even reconstruct patios — including when they're damaged. Others say losing patio access during city construction already impacts their busiest months.

At least 50 per cent of the new fee will be due in March.

Is this reasonable cost-sharing? Or tough timing for Edmonton’s restaurant industry?

02/20/2026

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling for a provincial referendum on October 19, primarily focused on how Albertans want the government to deal with immigration — as well as potential steps to strengthen Alberta’s constitutional and fiscal position within a united Canada.

📊 In data provided to Top Stories YEG by the Alberta government, the province estimates it spends roughly half a billion dollars per year on temporary resident students in Alberta.

02/20/2026

🚨 REFERENDUM CALLED FOR OCTOBER 19

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling for a provincial referendum on October 19, primarily focused on how Albertans want the government to “deal with immigration, as well as potential steps to strengthen Alberta’s constitutional and fiscal position within a united Canada.”

📊 In data provided to Top Stories YEG by the Alberta government, the province estimates it spends roughly half a billion dollars per year on temporary resident students in Alberta.

The October 19th referendum will include the following questions:

1. Do you support the Government of Alberta taking increased control over immigration for the purpose of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic
migration and ensuring Albertans have first priority to new employment opportunities?

2. Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law mandating that only Canadian citizens, permanent residents and individuals with an Alberta approved
immigration status will be eligible for provincially funded programs, such as health, education and other social services?

3. Assuming that all citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for social support
programs as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring all individuals with a non-permanent legal immigration status to be resident in
Alberta for at least 12 months before qualifying for any provincially funded social support
programs?

4. Assuming that all citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta charging
a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family’s use of the healthcare and education systems?

5. Do you support the Government of Alberta introducing a law requiring individuals to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship card, to be eligible to vote in a provincial election?

02/18/2026

Snow clearing is expected to be faster this time around, according to the City of Edmonton! The big change compared to early January's big snow dump? Bringing in contractors at the start of the snowfall...instead of at the end.

02/10/2026

Discussions about infills are on tap this week at City Council. Administration and council are looking at potential amendments to the zoning bylaw tied to infill housing. What recommendations would you like to see the city advance to a public hearing?

01/28/2026

City council responds to snow clearing concerns as residents push for follow-up...

Following complaints about snow clearing and ice control this winter, Edmonton city officials say conversations are underway to reassess how the City manages winter maintenance moving forward.

Questions were put directly to Mayor Andrew Knack and Councillor Aaron Paquette at City Hall about whether administration has been asked to review current snow and ice control practices.
Both acknowledged that this winter exposed ongoing challenges, particularly around service levels, public expectations, and the City’s ability to respond to unusual and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. They noted that while Edmonton budgets for winter maintenance are based on historical averages, recent conditions have raised questions about priorities and whether existing policies and funding levels are adequate.

Snow and ice control remains one of the City’s most expensive and visible services, with officials emphasizing the difficulty of balancing improved service levels against the financial burden placed on taxpayers. At the same time, councillors acknowledged that climate volatility is making it harder to rely on past weather patterns when planning future budgets and operations.

City officials stressed that no immediate changes have been finalized, but indicated that reevaluating snow clearing priorities and preparedness will be part of ongoing discussions ahead of future budget cycles.

For many residents, lingering ice and delayed clearing have raised safety concerns well beyond the duration of individual storms, making snow and ice management a growing point of public accountability at City Hall.

Top Stories YEG will continue following whether these discussions translate into concrete policy changes or adjustments ahead of future winters.