St. Albert news

• Former Alberta NDP leader Brian Mason won't run in 2019 election

  04-07-2018 22:59 via edmontonjournal.com
  A city bus driver turned Alberta political stalwart is veering away from politics after three decades, announcing he won’t run in the next provincial election.
  Transportation Minister and government house leader Brian Mason, who is known for his boisterous attitude and sharp wit, said Wednesday he’ll stay in his role until the writ drops in 2019.
  “I’ve won 10 consecutive elections and I think that’s enough,” said Mason, 64, referring to wins in both municipal
  
  Read more

• Edmonton ignoring risk of rust with anti-icing experiment, warns engineer

  04-07-2018 22:22 via edmontonjournal.com
  City officials are calling Edmonton’s road salting experiment a success but it’s way too early for that, chemical engineer Arthur Potts warned council Wednesday.
  Edmonton saved $4.2 million in operating costs. But the cost to private vehicle owners will be 10 times that figure, Potts said, adding that liquid calcium chloride can cause much more damage than traditional salt.
  “It’s much more invasive,” he told council’s community services committee Wednesday, as
  
  Read more

• Edmonton house prices on downward trend: report

  04-07-2018 21:49 via edmontonjournal.com
  Home prices in the Edmonton region are down from a year ago as sales continue to drop, statistics released Wednesday show.
  The average selling price for all types of housing was $377,880 in June, a decrease from $393,468 in June 2017, according to the latest figures from the Realtors Association of Edmonton.
  Condominiums were hardest hit, with average year-over-year prices off 8.6 per cent to $238,141, while the value of single-family homes was down 2.4 per cent to $443,210.
  At the same time, co
  
  Read more

• Council Briefs for July 3rd

  04-07-2018 21:29
  Council Briefs are provided for the benefit of community members with the intent of giving a short, informal report on... Read Post
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Bombardier insists Toronto streetcar problems won't affect Valley Line LRT cars

  04-07-2018 20:40 via edmontonjournal.com
  Bombardier’s Valley Line LRT cars aren’t affected by welding problems found in streetcars the company built for Toronto and will arrive in Edmonton on schedule, a Bombardier spokesman says.
  The first 67 streetcars out of 89 produced for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) by Bombardier Transportation will be sent back for preventive repairs of inferior frame welds, the TTC reported Wednesday.
  The problem, which doesn’t pose a safety risk, was identified by Bombardier 18 months
  
  Read more

• Hookah bar ban looms after city committee stifles cultural argument

  04-07-2018 20:13 via edmontonjournal.com
  Hookah bar owners fought hard against a ban on a cultural smoking tradition Wednesday but to no avail.
  Council’s community services committee voted to treat it like any other tobacco product and asked city officials to prepare changes to Edmonton’s public places bylaw.
  When that report comes back, council will determine when the hookah ban would take effect.
  Shisha, the herb mix used in hookah water pipes, was originally used by elderly men in rural areas of some North African and Mi
  
  Read more

• Edmonton Oilers should take another look at signing Nick Shore or Anthony Duclair

  04-07-2018 20:12 via edmontonjournal.com
  At his most recent press conference, Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli sounded like he might be open to bringing in one more forward.
  But which forward? Do any of them make sense, given the Oil’s needs and restricted cap situation.
  Here’s a list of the most likely candidates, listing many top forwards remaining on the TSN Top 75 unrestricted free agents lists, as well as unlisted players mentioned as possible candidates by Oilers insider Bob Stauffer.
  TSN rankings:
  13. Patrick Maroo
  
  Read more

• Alberta's highest paid public agency head earned $926,976 last year

  04-07-2018 19:32 via edmontonjournal.com
  Top executives from the Alberta Electric System Operator, Workers’ Compensation Board of Alberta and Alberta Energy Regulator were the best paid members of the province’s public sector last year.
  That’s according to the 2017 “sunshine list” for Alberta’s boards, agencies and commissions, which were required to disclose the compensation information of their top earning employees by June 30.
  According to provincial rules, the threshold to be included on the
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• NDP Transportation Minister Brian Mason says he won't run in 2019

  04-07-2018 19:18 via edmontonjournal.com
  Former NDP leader and veteran caucus member Brian Mason announced Wednesday he won’t be running in the next provincial election.
  Mason, who headed the party from 2004 to 2014, is the longest serving member in the legislative assembly, where he’s known for his boisterous attitude and quick wit.
  He was elected to represent Edmonton-Highlands in a 2000 byelection. Four years later, the riding was redrawn to Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, a seat that Mason has held with five subsequent vict
  
  Read more

• Edmonton Oilers should take another look at signing Nick Shore or Anthony Dulcair

  04-07-2018 17:47 via edmontonjournal.com
  At his most recent press conference, Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli sounded like he might be open to bringing in one more forward.
  But which forward? Do any of them make sense, given the Oil’s needs and restricted cap situation.
  Here’s a list of the most likely candidates, listing many top forwards remaining on the TSN Top 75 unrestricted free agents lists, as well as unlisted players mentioned as possible candidates by Oilers insider Bob Stauffer.
  TSN rankings:
  13. Patrick Maroo
  
  Read more

• Edmonton weather: The beeps, sweeps and creeps show a nice day

  04-07-2018 15:25 via edmontonjournal.com
  A look at today’s Edmonton weather by Environment Canada.
  Wednesday morning temperatures at the Edmonton Blatchford station measure 13 C with a 9 km/h wind coming from the north. There’s a chance of showers again today around 30 per cent chance. Fog should clear up this morning and there’s a high of 21 C today.
  Today: Becoming a mix of sun and cloud this morning with 30 per cent chance of showers this afternoon. Risk of a thunderstorm this afternoon. Fog patches dissipatin
  
  Read more

• Wednesday's letters: Nothing green about clear-cutting

  04-07-2018 14:00 via edmontonjournal.com
  Re. ” ‘They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot,’ ” June 30
  It is hypocritical for Mayor Don Iveson to claim he’s championing the city’s fight against climate change, while at the same time endorsing clear-cutting 150 mature trees, primarily elm, lining Stony Plain Road, so the city can cram this section of the West Valley Line LRT onto a street that is too narrow to fit both trains and cars.
  What’s more, Mayor Iveson thinks it appropriate to r
  
  Read more

• Alberta's top earners on public boards, agencies and commissions named

  04-07-2018 11:00 via edmontonjournal.com
  Top executives from the Alberta Electric System Operator, Workers’ Compensation Board of Alberta and Alberta Energy Regulator were the best paid members of the province’s public sector last year.
  That’s according to the 2017 “sunshine list” for Alberta’s boards, agencies and commissions, which were required to disclose the compensation information of their top earning employees by June 30.
  According to provincial rules, the threshold to be included on the
  
  Read more

• Nothing suspicious about century-old human bones found at Edmonton construction site, police say

  04-07-2018 03:42 via edmontonjournal.com
  Edmonton police don’t believe there’s anything suspicious about a set of nearly century-old human bones discovered at a construction site last week.
  City police said in a news release Tuesday that investigators have concluded their probe of the skeletal remains, which were reported to police last Thursday in north Edmonton’s Schonsee neighbourhood.
  The Edmonton police homicide unit was called in, and police combed the construction site near 74 Street and 174 Avenue where t
  
  Read more

• Defence claims misidentification in Whyte Avenue nightclub first-degree murder trial

  04-07-2018 02:05 via edmontonjournal.com
  Defence counsel gave its closing statement in the trial of Arman Dhillon on Tuesday, arguing evidence presented at trial was not substantive enough for a conviction.
  Dhillon is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Amin Mohammed Abdullahi on March 20, 2016.
  Abdullahi was fatally shot outside the Tribute Lounge at 8111 105 St. around 2:40 a.m. The 30-year-old later died in hospital.
  On Tuesday, Dhillon sat quietly in the prisoner’s box wearing dark-rimmed
  
  Read more

• Man dead after 'confrontation' with RCMP near Whitecourt, police watchdog investigating

  04-07-2018 01:46 via edmontonjournal.com
  Alberta’s police watchdog is investigating after a man died following an altercation with RCMP along a highway near Whitecourt.
  Police closed down part of Highway 43 during the search for the suspect, prompting major delays.
  “Earlier today, an RCMP member attempted to stop a vehicle on Highway 43,” RCMP said in a news release Tuesday. “As members attempted to approach the vehicle, a confrontation occurred which lead to the discharge of members’ firearms.
  “The
  
  Read more

• Notes from the Dome: Advance polls open, province launches affordable housing program

  04-07-2018 01:27 via edmontonjournal.com
  Voters electing new MLAs in two Alberta ridings started casting their ballots Tuesday in advance polls.
  Election day for the Innisfail-Sylvan Lake and Fort McMurray-Conklin byelections is slated for Thursday, July 12. But advance polls are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday this week.
  Voters in Fort McMurray-Conklin are replacing former United Conservative Party MLA Brian Jean. He was elected to his seat in 2015 as leader of the Wildrose Party, which merged with the Progressive Conse
  
  Read more

• Police identify victim as homicide unit probes deadly daylight drive-by shooting in Ellerslie parking lot

  04-07-2018 01:14 via edmontonjournal.com
  Edmonton police have identified a 21-year-old man killed in a daylight drive-by shooting.
  Jordan Pandey died of his wounds in hospital early Tuesday morning, police said in a news release.
  Officers called to the scene of the shooting found Pandey in a parking lot near Ellerslie Road and Parsons Road around 6:50 p.m. Monday.
  Edmonton police Insp. Keith Johnson said from the scene that the victim was breathing and conscious when he was taken to hospital.
  Homicide detectives have now taken ove
  
  Read more

• Infill builder abandons apartment complex to avoid web of red tape, $750,000 hydrant charge

  04-07-2018 00:05 via edmontonjournal.com
  Red tape is still driving up the cost of condos and new homes in mature neighbourhoods, homebuilders warned council as it endorsed a new infill plan Tuesday.
  “Infill is still a very challenging environment for builders,” said Sydney Bond, a builder who came to represent the Alberta chapter of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.
  The development taxes, land costs, cost to upgrade public infrastructure plus the long and unpredictable permitting processes are all reducing affo
  
  Read more

Follow @StAlbertNews on Twitter!