Edmonton Headlines: Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley answering questions from reporters before meeting with other premiers. photo: Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta

Canada’s premiers are in Edmonton this week, but they weren’t joined by national Indigenous leaders on Monday as planned. The Assembly of First Nations National Chief, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President and Métis National Council President all passed on an invitation to meet with the premiers before the actual meeting of the premiers (which is Tuesday and Wednesday). As the Métis president put it, “We can’t accept the status quo of being excluded, or sidelined from ministerial level meetings, the Council of Federation meetings, or First Ministers’ meetings.”

This will obviously continue to be an issue as Canada attempts reconciliation with our Indigenous communities, and has to consider representatives of those communities on equal footing to the provinces.

Today and tomorrow, the premiers will talk about the economy, NAFTA renegotiations, marijuana regulation and healthcare (how can you meet and not talk about healthcare?). New B.C. premier John Horgan is also going to be absent from the meeting as he and his cabinet are sworn in after political upheaval in the province to our left. That means the awkward NDP handshakes will have to wait for another day.

Inside the city

Downtown’s office vacancy problems have the councillor for the area trying to keep a major medical company right where it is. There are plenty of reasons Edmonton’s downtown offices are emptying, including the City’s own decisions to encourage new office towers, even building its own tower in the arena district. Much like the decision to build a new arena without figuring out the next steps for our old arena, this is a problem of downtown revitalization that previous city councils didn’t seem to plan for.

If you’re looking to scoop some industrial equipment, or even some office chairs, at a good price, watch for the auction of the City-supported Greys Paper Recycling Plant. The money from the auction will pay off tax debt and money owed to the City by by the company, which closed down operations after a defaulted lease and bankruptcy.

Four Edmonton incubators and support agencies are getting $1.5-million to help get entrepreneurs going on new products and businesses.

Exciting announcement! 🎉 Province is supporting business incubators to help entrepreneurs succeed! @TECEdmonton @NAIT @StartupEdmonton pic.twitter.com/zeu8EPdYUV

— NABI biz Incubator (@NABIbiz) July 17, 2017

Hey! Don Iveson finally has some competition for mayor.

This is the good kind of street signs.

Sounds like the music recording industry is just another one of the many being disrupted.

Outside the city

The Canadian Forces points to at least one recent charge of sexual assault in Alberta as a new commitment to those who are sexually assaulted.

Hiring is already beginning as new solar rebates will likely mean more panels on homes and businesses.

There’s an interesting detail in some of the latest stats of Alberta’s policing related to organized crime. About 2/3 of the drugs seized by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) are marijuana. The legalization of that drug is obviously going to change a lot of things about policing and crime in Canada.

Alberta’s organ donation rates are going up. That’s such a good thing! The waiting lists for people in need of an organ are shortening thanks to that. If you haven’t already, you should consider becoming an organ donor.