K Days moving, Canada Reaches for the Stars and the Ceasefire Just Got Complicated

Edmonton city council approved the annual tax levy maintaining the 6.9% municipal tax increase for 2026 that was first passed in December 2025. The increase is designed to address inflation, rapid population growth and rising service costs across the city

For a household with an assessed property value of $492,500, the monthly cost for municipal services works out to $318. A bylaw to formally set the 2026 tax rates is expected at the April 28 council meeting

Public engagement for the 2027 to 2030 budget cycle is currently open until May 1. If you want your voice heard before the next budget is set, now is the time

City administration says redevelopment plans for Exhibition Lands could sharply reduce the amount of space available for major events.

One option would move part of K Days north of 118 Avenue, while another would try to preserve more event space near the Expo Centre.

Councillors are now pushing for a revised plan that protects enough land to keep K Days viable while still moving housing and redevelopment ahead.

Edmonton police have charged a 40 year old tattoo artist with five counts of sexual assault following complaints from multiple women.

Investigators say the alleged incidents span several years and involved female clients.

Police believe there may be more complainants and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Edmonton officials are reviewing what is being described as a broad city level response to growing wildfire risk.

Committee discussions included possible new funding in the next budget cycle for mitigation and preparedness.

Officials pointed to thousands of grass fires in recent years and rising climate related risk across urban edge areas and the river valley.

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon introduced the Canadian Space Launch Act in the House of Commons on Tuesday. The legislation would give the federal government authority to regulate and oversee both space launches and re-entry activities conducted from Canadian territory for the first time

Canada is currently the only G7 country without its own space launch capabilities and relies almost entirely on the United States to get Canadian satellites into orbit. The government says this reliance sends investment out of the country, creates costly delays and leaves critical infrastructure exposed to decisions beyond Canadian control

The industry is projected to be worth $40 billion. A $200 million federal investment in a Canadian-owned spaceport in Canso, Nova Scotia was announced in March. MacKinnon said it could be two to three years before rockets actually launch from Canadian soil, but the legal framework is the essential first step

Trump announced Tuesday he would extend the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, until Iran submits a unified proposal to end the conflict. He cited Iran's government as "seriously fractured." But Iran's senior adviser dismissed the extension as meaningless, Vance's planned trip to Pakistan was called off and the US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains firmly in place

Only 16 ships traversed the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Brent crude oil is trading at around $95 a barrel, up more than 30% since the war began in late February. The International Energy Agency has warned Europe has roughly six weeks of jet fuel supply remaining if disruptions continue. Maersk has told its ships to avoid the Strait entirely

For Alberta, this matters directly. Oil revenues fund provincial services and the energy sector drives the regional economy. Higher oil prices help the province's books but also mean higher costs at the pump, at the grocery store and on airline tickets. The next round of talks, whenever they happen, will be closely watched here

Wednesday, April 22