Latest news with #Leduc
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Edmonton climate policies drive up city building costs, report shows
The City of Edmonton is amending a key climate policy after a report showed building facilities like fire halls and recreation centres in Edmonton is higher due to its current standards than it would be if the city followed a basic design. Last November, city councillors asked administration for a cost-benefit analysis to see how much city policies were adding to the price of building capital projects, concerned that it generally costs less to build in neighbouring jurisdictions like Leduc. The city commissioned a third party, S2 Architecture, to compare two theoretical fire station models: one designed with the City of Edmonton's bylaws and policies and one designed to meet only the minimum code requirements. The findings show that building a fire hall under the city's current standards would cost just over $21 million, 58 per cent more than the $13 million estimated to build a station with a basic design. The case study factored in four city policies when building: the climate resilience policy, the fire rescue service delivery policy, City of Edmonton facility construction standard and the Edmonton Design Committee process. Council's new infrastructure committee discussed the report's findings at a meeting Wednesday. "Direct construction costs are increased by the application of city requirements," Pascale Ladouceur, the city's branch manager of infrastructure planning and design, told councillors. "The biggest cost driver is the climate resilience policy." The committee heard from several speakers, including Lindsay Butterfield with BILD Edmonton Metro, a real estate industry association, who asked councillors to review the policies. "Look at all the options and make trade-offs where they're necessary because we should be looking to minimize costs as well for the entire city's benefit," Butterfield said. But climate advocates, including Jim Sandercock with the Alberta Ecotrust Foundation, urged councillors to follow the current climate policy. "It's going to be really expensive in the future to retrofit buildings that were built to minimum code." Mayor Amarjeet Sohi introduced a motion directing administration to amend the climate policy and explore options for reducing costs while still meeting the goal of creating zero emissions. Committee agreed to the motion and administration is scheduled to present the proposed amendments next spring. "Absolutely, we cannot lose the intent of these policies," Sohi said. "They are there for a good reason, whether they're there for climate resiliency, whether they're there for the safety and protection and creating the right conditions for our front-line folks." 'Valid question' Ladouceur said the findings in the report are a springboard to reviewing the current rules. "I think it's a valid question for councillors to understand: Have we made decisions in the past, administration and council together, that impacts the cost of our infrastructure?" Ladouceur said in an interview Tuesday. The climate resilience policy requires the design to be emissions-neutral. The co-chair of the city's energy transition and climate resilience committee, Jacob Komar, argues that the report findings are inflated because the consultants used higher standards in the case study examples than what's actually needed to create an energy-efficient building. "The walls are probably to an insulation level that is double what is needed for a net-zero building," Komar said in an interview with CBC News Tuesday. Also an engineer who works on net-zero emissions projects, Komar said there's a diminishing return on insulation — the more you add, the less you get for it. "So the walls, the roof, the windows, the doors — there's over $2 million of extra cost that they've added." Ward sipiwiyiniwak Coun. Sarah Hamilton said the case study is an opportunity for reviewing and possibly revising policies, not setting a firm path for council to take. "The government has a role in terms of furthering climate resilience. We have a role in furthering design excellence. We have a role in furthering, I think even our own construction standards," Hamilton said. "We've heard over the decades that Edmontonians don't want something disposable. They want to be proud of the buildings that we're building with their money."
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
5 teens face 19 charges after Leduc break-in
Five teens between the ages of 13 and 15 face over a dozen charges after breaking into a home in Leduc on Monday night. RCMP say they arrested the teens after receiving a call from a neighbour who saw them enter a home in the area of 48 Street and 46 Avenue around 8:20 p.m. All five of the teens face charges of break and enter to a residence, mischief over $5,000 and being unlawfully in a dwelling. The other charges are from breaching conditions including not being allowed to interact with each other. Police say the youth were held for judicial interim release hearings and were released with multiple conditions.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
AHS warns of several measles exposures in Edmonton, Leduc in last week
The Misericordia Community Hospital can be seen in this undated file photo. (File) Alberta Health Services on Saturday alerted the public about several measles exposures in Edmonton and Leduc. A person who has been confirmed to have measles was in the following locations while infectious. Others who were in the same locations may have been exposed and should monitor for symptoms and review their immunization record. Edmonton Remedium Medical Clinic at Meadowlark Health and Shopping Centre 11:26 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 19 Walmart at Meadowlark Health and Shopping Centre 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on June 17, 18 and 19 Misericordia Community Hospital emergency department 5:21 p.m. June 17 to 3:53 a.m. June 18 Edmonton Transit Service Route 4 and 54 buses 2:30 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. June 17 Leduc Leduc Community Hospital emergency department 10:39 p.m. June 17 to 3:10 a.m. June 18 Leduc Community Hospital diagnostic imaging 12:30 a.m. to 2:35 a.m. June 18 Measles is extremely contagious and spreads easily through the air. Symptoms include a fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that starts three to seven days after a fever starts, usually beginning behind the ears or face and spreading down the body. Anybody with symptoms should stay at home and call Alberta's measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any healthcare facility or provider, including a family physician clinic or pharmacy, AHS says. Measles can cause ear infections, pneumonia, brain inflammation, premature delivery and sometimes death.
CTV News
09-06-2025
- CTV News
Thieves set Alberta business ablaze after stealing merchandise
A deliberately set fire at Puff Club Vape in Leduc on June 2, 2025. (Credit: RCMP) Police are looking for two people who stole merchandise from a business south of Edmonton before setting it on fire. Three people broke into Puff Club Vape in Leduc on June 2. The fire did significant damage to the business. Anyone with information is asked to contact Leduc RCMP at 310-7267 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CTV News
04-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Worker suffers life-threatening injuries in Leduc landfill fire
Occupational Health and Safety is investigating after an employee suffered life-threatening injuries in a fire at the Leduc and District Regional Waste Facility. Emergency crews were called to the landfill at 8:42 p.m. on Saturday. The victim was taken to hospital in serious, life-threatening condition. 'It is always tragic when a worker is hurt or dies on the job,' Alberta Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration said in an email to CTV News Edmonton. 'Alberta's government is focused on having all workers return home healthy and safe after every workday.'
