We dig into the provincial budget and how it affects Edmonton. Plus, the Katz Group wants an extension for its gravel parking lots, and critics question the effectiveness of the homeless reception centre.

Here are the relevant links for this episode:

Provincial budget

• Budget 2024: Alberta commits funding towards Edmonton's LRT projects, increased police presence, shelters
• Alberta hitting pause on South Edmonton Hospital, health minister says
• UCP details education budget as school officials lament overcrowding and high costs
• Edmonton boards welcome funding for school construction, but stress high enrolment numbers
• UCP Alberta Budget 2024 Disappointment

Homeless reception centre

• Homeless reception centre generates big numbers as well as 'abject misery': advocate
• Edmonton mayor hopeful four-way meeting will lead to constructive homelessness work
• 4 levels of government meet on Edmonton homelessness crisis for '1st time'

City Hall

• Edmonton city hall partially re-opens for private events, staff, some students
• Alberta RCMP say suspect in Edmonton city hall shooting was 'politically motivated'
• RCMP lay terrorism charges against Edmonton city hall shooting suspect

Chinatown Recovery Fund

• City awards most of $1M Chinatown fund to security

Katz group parking

• Katz Group wants to use controversial Downtown gravel parking lots until 2028
• 2016: Katz Group pushes money at city to help build parking lot in commercial zone

EPCOR water ban

• Car washes unfairly targeted by Edmonton water ban, city councillors told at utility committee
• 'Quite hard on our business': Car wash owners want compensation from Epcor after water ban
• Tweet from Tim Cartmell

Rapid fire

• Flair Airlines CEO looks to bid on Lynx planes after shutdown halts tentative merger
• blair-and-minister-boissonnault-announce-453-million-investment-to-upgrade-facilities-at-edmonton-military-base.html">Minister Blair and Minister Boissonnault announce $45.3 million investment to upgrade facilities at Edmonton military base
• 'She's a real inspiration': Edmonton woman celebrates 110th birthday Saturday

This episode was brought to you by Inventures, the breakthrough innovation event from Alberta Innovates that is happening in Calgary from May 29 to 31. Inventures will bring more than 4,000 entrepreneurs, startups, scale-ups, academics, investors, and industry leaders together to cultivate relationships, showcase emerging technologies, and capitalize on Alberta's innovation advantage.

Speaking Municipally is produced by Taproot Edmonton, a source of curiosity-driven original stories, curated newsletters on various topics, and locally focused podcasts, all in the service of informing Edmontonians about what is going on in their community. Sign up to get The Pulse, our weekday news briefing. It's free!