Overview
- The 2026 federal budget pledges $11.2 billion over four years for homelessness, $2 billion for mental‑health and addictions treatment facilities, and $1.5 billion over nine years to build and upgrade community ice rinks.
- Mayor Andrew Knack called the budget promising but said implementation matters and warned that Alberta’s Provincial Priorities Act could block or slow municipal access to federal grants.
- The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce praised business measures such as the productivity tax deduction and noted four city projects named in the budget, while some local readers criticized the budget speech for not mentioning oil or pipelines.
- Former Oiler Ryan McLeod was a healthy scratch for Buffalo after recent defensive errors reduced his ice time, and he still carries a $5.0 million‑per‑year contract with three years remaining.
- Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin was ejected after fighting Anaheim’s Drew Helleson for a hit on Connor McDavid, a sequence that drew wide media support for Podkolzin and sharp criticism of the referees for inconsistent penalties.