Edmonton Daily Digest — 2026-03-23

Stuck without a truck? Ashutosh Pathak bought a Ford F-150 for just under $40,000 last fall and had it seized by RCMP after officers said the VIN was altered; after five months and repeated dead ends with AMVIC and insurance, Summit Ram (Kaizen Automotive Group) repaid him the nearly $40,000 once the story ran on Global News. Police warn VIN tampering is rising — ALERT estimates about 1,500 fraudulent vehicles since 2022 — and advise buyers to do extra checks because criminals can re-VIN cars and create fake paper trails.

Wetaskiwin’s city hall ban stays mysterious: Mayor Joe Branco was barred from city hall about two months ago and his lawyer Robert Noce says he still hasn’t received the investigation report. The city says the restriction is tied to confidential personnel matters protected by the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) and the Municipal Government Act; council discussed threats on Mar. 2 and a motion about outside help was tabled to Mar. 24.

Alberta promises speedier project approvals: the UCP government says it will introduce legislation to set a 120‑day approval timeline for major projects, a direction included in Energy Minister Brian Jean’s October mandate letter. Critics like Richard Masson and Indigenous leaders such as Sturgeon Lake Chief Sheldon Sunshine worry the details aren’t clear and that faster timelines must still protect environmental reviews and Indigenous consultation; the province says it will keep those protections and will work with Ottawa.

Your tap water might smell stronger this spring — but it’s safe: EPCOR says spring runoff into the North Saskatchewan River brings organics that make treated water smell or taste more chlorinated; Jonathan Gelinas at the Rossdale plant says the city uses chloramine and the smell should ease in about 3–5 days. If it bothers you, run cold tap water for ~3 minutes in the morning or use a carbon filter like a Brita; EPCOR tests water multiple times daily.

Tragic weekend avalanches in B.C.: three heli‑skiers were killed on Mount Knauss north of Terrace after an avalanche; search and rescue responded after a 1:30 p.m. alert and one other skier was airlifted with serious injuries. A separate slide near the Klehini River by the B.C.–U.S. border also killed one person; the BC Coroners Service is investigating and Avalanche Canada rated danger “considerable” around Terrace.

Huge avalanche shuts Icefields Parkway: avalanche control work near Mount Hector north of Lake Louise released a slide about 500 m wide that traveled ~2.5 km and left debris ~250 m long and 6–8 m high, closing Highway 93. Parks Canada says clearing the dense, icy debris could keep the road closed until at least Saturday, Mar. 28, and warns a storm Tues–Wed could add up to 40 cm of new Alpine snow.

Former minister warns new rules hide answers: ex‑cabinet minister Peter Guthrie says recent legislature rule changes let the government delay or dodge written questions by stretching response time to 120 sitting days and removing debate when questions are rejected. The government’s house leader Joseph Schow says the rules add debate time and stop misuse, but opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi and others say the changes weaken legislative accountability ahead of the Oct. 2027 election.

Alberta plans law against deepfake intimate images: Technology Minister Nate Glubish says the province will change existing law so people can sue others who share AI‑created fake intimate images and audio, with legislation aimed for this fall. Sexual assault advocates like Kristine Cassie welcome the move but want strong enforcement and meaningful protection.

Riverfront lots listed for sale in Calgary after 2013 flood: six Roxboro riverfront lots that were bought and cleared under the province’s Floodway Relocation Program are now on the market (112, 116, 122, 220, 310 and 312 Roxboro Rd.) with list prices from $1.75 million to $3 million. Officials say upstream flood mitigation, including the Springbank Offstream Reservoir, reduces risk and titles include covenants allowing only single‑family homes.

Oilers give Tristan Jarry another chance in goal: after Connor Ingram allowed 15 goals in five games, Edmonton will start Tristan Jarry in one of two road games (Tuesday in Utah or Thursday in Las Vegas); Jarry has one win in his last five starts and allowed 22 goals in that span. He’s trying to regain form after a lower‑body injury following his December trade from Pittsburgh, while Connor McDavid is on a maintenance day and Leon Draisaitl is out for the rest of the regular season.

QEII shooting kills Edmonton man; suspect at large: on Mar. 14 south of Leduc, 22‑year‑old Birinder Singh was shot in the neck and died after someone in a pickup opened fire on a Honda Civic; two survivors say all occupants were wearing turbans. RCMP found the suspect vehicle (a grey 2022 Ford F‑150) but no arrests have been made; police are investigating motive, including whether hate played a role.

Calgary’s blanket rezoning debate returns to council: more than 350 people signed up to speak as council reconsiders the citywide rezoning policy approved in 2024 and targeted for repeal in December by a 13–2 vote. If repealed, 306,774 residential parcels (about 68% of residential properties) would revert to low‑density rules; the public hearing will run long hours this week and the city has received about 2,400 written submissions.

Teen wanted in two Ontario homicides arrested in Calgary: 19‑year‑old Isaiah Thomas Badger was arrested last Thursday in Calgary and charged with first‑degree murder in the deaths of Chandan Kumar Raja Nandakumar (37), shot Feb. 7 at Woodbine Shopping Centre in Etobicoke, and Sergio Lopes (65), shot Jan. 26 in Vaughan. Investigators say Jacob Wallace (19) is accused of driving a getaway car in one slaying; both suspects face additional arson charges tied to burned vehicles.