February 8 Edmonton Headlines

Are you excited, Edmonton?

I’m talking about the provincial budget, of course. It’s revealed tomorrow. So, that makes today Provincial Budget Eve.

That’s the night when all the organizations and agencies that are funded, in whole or in part, by the provincial government fall into an uneasy sleep. They’ll dream of the Finance Minister, riding his magical sleigh, piled high with calculators and budget books. While they dream, the real minister will be dropping little notes into their stockings. It will either be continued funding, possibly even more funding (probably not in this economy), or a big red cut to their funding.

Exciting!

Or terrifying.

It depends how much you like stuff provided by the provincial government.

At least these guys appreciate what the pending cuts, and the cuts in the 90s, are all about.

In lighter news, they’re still talking about our new art gallery over here.

from the Edmonton Journal:

Old Strathcona alliance fights city plans to develop parking lot

Hertz car-sharing division launches first Canadian outlet at U of A (This, plus the car-sharing co-op, and you’d think everyone here isn’t driving giant trucks.)

Couple falls down condo ‘rabbit hole’

A flurry of government communication, lacking only co-ordination

The race is on, and the choices as of now are, well, diverse (There’s also an online push for Raj Pannu.)

from the Edmonton Sun:

Schools may face closure

Groups fear drastic cuts (Mmm…budget cuts…)

Mounties to stay on highway beat

Alberta sees year-over-year decrease in beer sales (What is going on?!)

from 630CHED/iNews880:

LRT extension testing may cause some delays (But it will be worth it when we get sweet, sweet LRT.)

Edmonton housing starts up from a year ago

from CBC Edmonton:

Province to consult on new Health Act

Alberta challenges move to one securities regulator (Because scammers never cross a provincial border. It’s like a velvet rope to them.)

from Global Edmonton:

Dodge-off (Remember the 5 Ds!)