NRI Law Group Canada: More than 1,500 Canadians detained abroad in forei...

NRI Law Group Canada: More than 1,500 Canadians detained abroad in forei...:                                         John Greyson, right, and Tarek Loubani  MONTREAL - For nearly two months all eyes were turne...

                                       John Greyson, right, and Tarek Loubani 

Driver's child amongst three in critical condition after school bus crash near Crossfield

CROSSFIELD, Alta. - Children injured in a rural school bus crash include the hospitalized driver’s own kids, the Herald has learned.

The woman’s five-year-old son was among the most seriously injured. He was flown to hospital by STARS with critical, life-threatening injuries following a collision between a work truck and a school bus in an rural intersection north of Calgary Friday morning.

Emergency officials say three children are in critical condition.

The bus driver and a total of nine children were reported to be involved in the crash. 

The yellow bus was upright against a guardrail and the large pickup truck was nose down in a ravine. The front end of the bus was crushed and missing its windshield. Glass and auto parts were scattered across the road.

17-vehicle crash in Mississauga sends dozens to hospital

Seventeen-car pileup in Mississauga when vehicle hits store, utility pole 

Hurontario - A collision in Mississauga involving 17 vehicles sent dozens of people to hospital, with scores of other people reportedly treated on the scene for minor injuries.

Peel Regional Police media tweeted that one car apparently drove into a store, then later struck several other vehicles at the intersection of Hurontario and Dundas. The car was reportedly a black Lincoln Navigator, and the female driver was among those sent to hospital.

A bus was also struck and a hydro pole was damaged, although power was not cut.

Emergency and hydro crews were on the scene of the crash, which occurred shortly after 6 p.m.

Police said those involved in the collision were lucky to walk away, and that most of the injuries were due to airbag deployments, or facial and neck injures from the impact.

It happened Friday evening in the Dundas and Hurontario area.

A total of 17 vehicles are said to be involved, including a transit bus.

The intersection was expected to remain closed for several hours on Friday.

Police have also ruled out drugs and alcohol as causes for the collision.

Ontario will bring in changes to better protect animals

Province to spend $5.5 million a year to inspect zoos, target puppy mills

The Ontario government will spend $5.5 million a year to increase enforcement of animal welfare laws, crack down on puppy and kitten mills and improve care for marine mammals in the province.

In making the announcement on Friday, Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur said the government's plans include regular inspections of zoos and aquariums to ensure animals in captivity are healthy and well cared for. The Minister made the announcement at the High Park Zoo in Toronto. The province has worked on these changes for over a year.

Meilleur also said annual funding will go to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to help it strengthen its animal protection work.

She said the government will create a centralized dispatch service so its officers can respond to animal abuse calls from anywhere in the province.  

"The OSPCA will provide regular progress reports to the government to ensure our enforcement goals are being met," she said.

A squad of specially trained investigators will also be formed to crack down on puppy and kitten mills.

The OSPCA will also conduct twice-yearly inspections of zoos and aquariums.

Meilleur says the new measures will strengthen enforcement of animal welfare laws in areas that have been under-served, such as rural and northern communities, and address concerns about proper inspections of facilities where animals are held in captivity.

"Our government cares deeply for the well-being of animals wherever they live in this province," she said Friday.

Many animal rights activists applauded the additional monies dedicated to protecting animals. Rob Godfrey, the chair of the OSPCA, said, "The announcement begins a new era for animal protection in Ontario. We are pleased and proud to partner with the province on this historic initiative." And the Toronto Zoo, "welcomed" the announcement of the changes and additional funds.

Despite the enthusiasm of some, there are critics. NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo said, "These announcements that we're now the best jurisdiction anywhere for animal protection is laughable. Absolutely laughable." The MPP pointed out the changes do nothing to improve the quality of life for exotic animals such as tigers and large whales. DiNovo also said nothing in the changes would prevent what happened in New Brunswick when a snake killed two young boys.

DiNovo described the changes as having no teeth. "We need a licence in this province for a cat or dog. You still don't need a licence for an Orca or a tiger. We were hoping for animal laws changed."

DiNovo also criticized the government for not doing anything about roadside zoos.

Mike Wales, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, was also of the view that the announced changes did not go far enough. Wales said, "What wasn't discussed but should have been was any level of accountability for the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to the Ontario legislature or the community safety and correctional services minister. We've said all along the OSPCA needs to be accountable. They've been running amuk (sic) and they don't answer to anybody."

There are more than 60 zoos and aquariums in Ontario, more than any other province, the government says.

Quick Facts:-

• Ontario is providing the OSPCA with $5.5 million annually to strengthen protection for animals. OSPCA will also provide regular progress reports to government that demonstrate how it’s delivering on these enforcement initiatives.
• The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was last amended in 2009, making it the strongest animal welfare legislation in Canada.
• There are over 60 zoos and aquariums in Ontario — more than any other province.

New environmental review rules anger oilsands critics

Government unveils changes to review requirements

Edmonton - Many oilsands projects will not have their potential environmental impacts reviewed by the federal government under updated rules announced today, environmentalists warn.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency released lists Friday outlining changes to the types of resource development and infrastructure projects that will routinely require a federal environmental assessment. The federal review is intended to look at possible environmental impacts under federal jurisdiction, such as impacts on waterways or greenhouse gas emissions.

One concern that environmentalists have with the new rules is they won't require environmental reviews for a growing type of oilsands development.

In-situ oilsands developments — projects where the oil is melted directly out of the ground rather than being mined and then processed later — were not specifically addressed in the previous list of projects requiring federal environmental assessments, said Keith Stewart, climate and energy campaign coordinator and energy policy analyst for the environmental group Greenpeace. And now, they are not included in the new list of projects requiring them.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's announcement lists the types of projects that once required a federal environmental assessment that no longer do, including:

• Groundwater extraction facilities.
• Heavy oil and oilsands processing facilities, pipelines (other than offshore pipelines) and electrical transmission lines that are not regulated by the National Energy Board.
• Potash mines and other industrial mineral mines (salt, graphite, gypsum, magnesite, limestone, clay, asbestos).
• Industrial facilities (pulp mills, pulp and paper mills, steel mills, metal smelters, leather tanneries, textile mills and facilities for the manufacture of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pressure-treated wood, particle board, plywood, chemical explosives, lead-acid batteries and respirable mineral fibres).

The government also released a list of projects that did not specifically require a federal environmental assessment before but now do, including:

• Diamond mines. 
• Apatite mines.
• Railway yards; international and interprovincial bridges and tunnels.
• Bridges that cross the St. Lawrence Seaway.
• Offshore exploratory wells.
• Oil sands mine expansions.

Focus on 'major projects'

The government said the changes were made so that the agency’s work is focused on “major projects” that have the “greatest potential” to generate negative environmental impacts under federal jurisdiction, such as impacts on waterways, and other projects would not be “unduly burdened” with extra work.

A leak at the Primrose Lake oilsands project had released an estimated 1.5 million litres of bitumen into the environment as of the end of September.

The federal government heard from a wide range of stakeholders, including industry and environmental groups, before deciding what would be covered under the new rules.

Stewart said that while the government acknowledged environmental groups’ concerns, it did not make changes based on those concerns.

Most notably, he said Greenpeace is concerned about the lack of routine environmental assessments of in-situ oilsands developments. He noted that this type of project is the source of a huge bitumen leak Northern Alberta. As of the end of September, the leak near Cold Lake had already released 1.5 million litres of bitumen – a mixture of oilsands, heavy crude and water into the environment. The Alberta government has ordered the project operator, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., to drain two-thirds of a lake in an effort to stop the leak.

Stewart said 80 per cent of known oilsands deposits are so deep that they are only accessible with in-situ technology.

"Yesterday, Environment Canada released report which projected that by 2020, this type of oilsands development will be generating more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the Maritime provinces put together today,” he added.

“They’re exempting themselves from environmental oversight over what’s going to be the biggest source of new pollution in the country in coming decades.”

The group that represents oilsands producers said developments will still face provincial environmental reviews.

“The province still has a mandate to do an assessment, so this eliminates two layers of doing the same thing — the provincial government will still do its review and it will be equally as comprehensive,” said Geraldine Anderson from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. 

While acknowledging that provincial environmental assessments will still be required for some projects, Stewart calls the permitting process for in-situ oilsands development in Alberta “a rubber stamp.”

In 2012, the federal government announced a major overhaul of the federal environmental assessment program, introducing fixed timelines for major projects and reducing the number of departments and agencies that can do environmental reviews from 40 to just three.

Prince George christened in London

Prince William with Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, holding their son Prince George

London -  All eyes were on three-month-old Prince George this Wednesday as he made his second public appearance to be christened in front of family and friends.

The christening of Prince George has taken place in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace in London.

The prince, third in line to the throne, was baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The christening was private, with only senior royals, four members of the Middleton family, the seven godparents and their spouses among the 22 guests.

Prince George, son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was born in London on 22 July.

The duchess carried her newly christened son out of the chapel after the ceremony, and the guests then left for tea hosted by the Prince of Wales at Clarence House.

The young heir wears an exact replica of the gown worn 172 years ago by Queen Victoria's first daughter.

The Duchess of Cambridge looked gorgeous in a cream-coloured ruffled Alexander McQueen dress and a Jane Taylor fascinator. 

But it was His Royal Highness who stole the spotlight. Before entering the ceremony, Will and Kate proudly showed off the tiny royal. Wearing a delicate christening gown (an exact replica of the one worn 172 years ago by Queen Victoria's first daughter), Prince George sure looked the part of a future King.

While many royal christenings take place at Buckingham Palace, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge broke tradition by having Georgie baptized in a private 45-minute ceremony at Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace.

Guests included Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Prince Philip, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, and of course, proud aunt and uncle Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton. Prince George's seven godparents were also likely in attendance.

Attending a reception at Buckingham Palace after the event, the Queen told guests how much she had enjoyed the ceremony.

"It was very nice though, wasn't it?" she told the Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Richard Chartres, at the event for the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.

The duke and duchess chose two hymns, two lessons and two anthems for the christening.

The hymns were Breathe on Me, Breath of God and Be Thou My Vision.

Lessons from St Luke and St John were read by Pippa Middleton and Prince Harry, and the anthems were Blessed Jesu! Here we Stand and the Lord Bless You and Keep You.

The anthems were sung by the Choir of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal, which performed at the royal couple's wedding.

After the ceremony, celebrity photographer Jason Bell was expected to take a picture of the Queen and princes Charles, William and George together.

This will echo a 1894 picture from the christening of the future Edward VIII, showing him with his father, grandfather and great-grandmother - George V, Edward VII and Queen Victoria.

The picture is expected to be released on Thursday.

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Sobeys to sell 23 stores in Western Canada

Competition Bureau orders sale to preserve grocery competition in Western Canada

STELLARTON, N.S. –  The Competition Bureau has ordered Sobey’s Inc. to sell 23 stores in Western Canada before it will approve its $5.8-billion purchase of grocer Safeway Canada. 

The Nova Scotia-based supermarket chain says it has agreed to put the supermarkets on the block and it expects to close the acquisition of the Canadian assets of Safeway in early November. .

Sobeys, which is owned by Empire Co. Ltd., says the stores are under various labels, including Safeway, Sobeys, IGA and Price Chopper.

The Competition Bureau said it decided to order the sale of 23 stores to preserve competition in certain markets in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Sobeys says it will put 23 stores up for sale in exchange for regulatory approval for its $5.8-billion purchase of grocer Safeway Canada.

The supermarket chain says the Competition Bureau approved the transaction with the understanding that certain locations in Western Canada would be put on the market.

Sobeys, which is owned by Empire Co. Ltd., says the stores are under various labels, including Safeway, Sobeys, IGA and Price Chopper.

The retail stores to be divested are located in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. A full list of the stores to be divested can be seen in the Position Statement.

“I am confident this agreement will ensure that Canadian consumers continue to benefit from competitive prices for a wide selection of grocery products,” said John Pecman, Commissioner of Competition. “I commend the parties for their stellar cooperation with the Bureau throughout our review of the proposed transaction.”

Mergers in Canada are subject to review by the Bureau under the Competition Act .

The company says it expects to close the acquisition of the Canadian assets of Safeway in early November.

Five of the affected stores are in Winnipeg, four in Edmonton and two in Victoria. The full list:

• Sidney, B.C., Safeway Sidney, 2345 Beacon Ave.
• Tsawwassen, B.C., Safeway Tsawwassen, 1143 — 56th Street.
• Victoria, Safeway University Heights, 3958 Shelbourne Street.
• Victoria, Safeway Fort and Foul, 1950 Foul Bay Road.
• New Westminster, B.C., Thrifty Foods Sapperton, 270 East Columbia Street.
• Edmonton, Safeway Millwoods, 2331– 66th Street.
• Edmonton, Sobeys Hawkstone, 18370 Lessard Rd.
• Edmonton, Sobeys Goldbar, 5036 — 106th Ave.
• Edmonton, IGA Ottewell, 6204 — 90th Avenue NW.
• Canmore, Alta.,  Sobeys Canmore, 950 Railway Ave.
• Cochrane, Alta.,Sobeys Cochrane, 65 Bow Street.
• Leduc, Alta. Sobeys Leduc, 5421 — 50th Street.
• Fort McMurray, Alta., Safeway Thickwood, 131 Signal Rd.
• Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., Sobeys Station Square, 10004 — 99th Ave.

• Taber, Alta., Safeway Taber, 4926 — 46th Avenue
• Wetaskiwin, Alta., Sobeys Wetaskiwin, 4703 — 50th Street
• Regina, Safeway Regina, 3801 Albert Street
• Saskatoon, Safeway 8th/Circle, 3310 — 8th Street East
• Winnipeg, Safeway Main Street, 1441 Main St.
• Winnipeg, Safeway Southdale Centre, 77 Vermillion Rd.
• Winnipeg, Safeway Grant Park, 1120 Grant Ave.
• Winnipeg, Safeway St. Vital, 850 Dakota St.
• Winnipeg, Price Chopper Stafford Square, 677 Stafford S.

Amarjeet Sohi re-elected from Ward 12.

Amarjeet Sohi

Edmonton (ET)  -  Incumbent city councillor Amarjeet Sohi, first elected in 2007, took a clear and decisive lead as soon as early results came in, ultimately winning by more than 9,800 votes.

ET congrats him on this glorious victory.

Amarjeet Sohi IncumbentElected	13,427	76.8
Chinwe Okelu	3,572	20.4
Raja Abbas	479	2.7

HISTORY OF WARD

Ward 12 is the southern portion of the former Ward 6, served most recently by two long-time councillors, Terry Cavanagh and Dave Thiele. Amarjeet Sohi served as Ward 6 councillor for one term, and was elected Ward 12 councillor in the last election. Sohi, the only member of a visible minority on council, is running again.

Ward 12 makes up the extreme southeast corner of the city, south of Whitemud Drive and west of 50th Street.

It comprises the eight eastside neighbourhoods of Mill Woods, plus the new developments of Silver Berry, Wild Rose to the east and south of the Anthony Henday ring road, including Charlesworth, Summerside and others.

This is a ward of very young people -- one-quarter are under 20 years old, while one in eight is under 10, the highest proportion in the city. It is also diverse, with more than one in ten a non-Canadian, the second highest proportion in Edmonton.

Support for the southeast LRT expansion, which would primarily service Mill Woods, is high in this neighbourhood. Currently, the vast majority of people -- 84 per cent -- drive as their primary form of transport, the highest proportion in the city.

Crime, particularly in Mill Woods, is a growing concern in this area, especially after a botched early-morning robbery and deadly shooting at a Mac's convenience store in 2005. Local volunteers started the Mill Woods Crime Council, a highly regarded group that works with police to reduce crime, and a model that has been repeated elsewhere in Edmonton.

DEMOGRAPHICS

• Population: 77,338 (9.5% of city)
• 0 to 9 years old: 12.8%
• 0 to 19 years old: 23.7%
• 65+ years old: 4.5%
• Owned / Rented accommodations: 74.1% / 16.6%
• Unoccupied Residences: 3.2%
• Non-Canadian: 11.0%
• Drive vehicle / Transit as main transport: 84.1% / 8.6%
• 5 years or more in house: 39.4%
• Average neighbourhood household income: $83,239 (2006)
• Unemployed: 2.0%

Million-dollar Mill Woods Edmonton fire sparked by burning cigarette butt in flower pot

Fir Fighters trying to douse the flames

Edmonton - A cigarette butt discarded in a planter on the back deck of a Mill Woods home sparked the $1-million blaze that razed two homes.

Edmonton Fire Rescue investigators determined that the 10 p.m. Oct. 20 blaze originated on the back deck of a home at 20 Street and 37A Avenue. The cigarette butt was discarded in a planter, smoldered in the soil, and then eventually ignited the plastic planter and spread up the vinyl siding into the attic.

Two homes were lost in the fire and it required 45 firefighters about five hours to bring the blaze under control.

Fire officials remind everyone that organic matter in planters insulates cigarette butts rather than extinguishing them. Smoldering can last for several hours until ignition point is reached.

Fire officials urge smokers to use a metal can with sand or commercial ashtray to dispose of smoking materials.

Dry conditions have also led to an "extreme" warning on the Fire Weather Index. Fire Rescue is not currently issuing any permits for open burning until the weather conditions change.

Edmonton Civic Election Diary

Timeline:-

7:05 p.m.

The face of Edmonton City Council is due for a radical makeover tonight, as a new mayor and at least six new councillors will be elected.

Polls close at 8 p.m. and the rush will be on to name 12 councillors and the successor to Mayor Stephen Mandel, who retired at the age of 68 after serving three terms over nine years in the big chair. The new mayor and council will be elected for a four-year term.

Don Iveson headed into election day as the favourite to succeed Mandel, based on polling data provided to the Journal by Leger on Oct. 17. Of decided voters, 54 per cent said they supported Iveson, while 23 per cent opted for Karen Leibovici and 19 per cent for Kerry Diotte.

All three candidates vacated their city council seats to challenge for the top job. As well, Linda Sloan (Ward 1), Kim Krushell (Ward 2) and Jane Batty (Ward 6) decided not to run for another term, leaving a total of six ward vacancies to be filled.

If advance polling numbers are any indication, Edmontonians might be flocking to voting stations in greater numbers than in the previous two elections. A total of 23,076 advanced votes were cast, a 15 per cent increase over the 20,069 from 2010. Three years ago, voter turnout was a disappointing 34.3 per cent, and it was even worse in 2007, at 27.3 per cent.

This civic election is the first since 1968 in Edmonton not to feature an incumbent in the mayoralty race. Vince Dantzer retired as mayor and three councillors entered the race to replace him. Ivor Dent beat Les Bodie and Reg Easton for the top job.

A total of 119 candidates are up for election today, six in the mayoralty race, 73 for council, 22 public school board trustee hopefuls and 18 Catholic board candidates. Ward 6 boasts the highest number of candidates, with 16, though Javed Sommers decided he could not win and has endorsed fellow candidate Heather MacKenzie. The record number of candidates in one ward was set in 1971 as 18 people ran in Ward 3 and three were elected – Ed Leger, Ron Hayter and W.E. McLean.

The record number of total candidates is 135, also set in 1971, which was the first year for the ward system.

7:40 p.m.

A few supporters start to trickle into mayoralty candidate Karen Leibovici's campaign party at the Art Gallery of Alberta, but the place is still pretty empty. Trays of cheese, crackers and cold cuts are still wrapped in cellophane, while the wine and meagre selection of beer remain on ice untouched. The small crowd seems calm.

8:03 p.m.

Karen Leibovici’s campaign manager Catherine Keill said the four-term councillor was watching the returns at an undisclosed location with a small gathering of family and friends. She said the mood among the group was upbeat, knowing that they had done all they could do to get their vote out. “We’re feeling good,” Keill said. “The team worked very hard. We’ve had tens of thousands of contacts with voters, so it was an excellent day as far as the team is concerned.”

8:09 p.m.

Former councillor Kim Krushell, acting as an analyst for CTV, predicted a two-way race for the mayor’s chair between Karen Leibovici and Don Iveson. She said Kerry Diotte “has not resonated” with people on the issues he claimed to own.

8:10 p.m.

True to the stereotype, young people make up the vast majority of the crowd packing Don Iveson’s headquarters. He really does draw in what he once jokingly referred to as the “Sugar Bowl hipsters,” a reference to the popular University of Alberta-area restaurant. Unlike political campaigns at all levels of government, there are not many seniors here – the most luxuriant head of grey hair belongs to Iveson’s father.

8:12 p.m.

The lights are dimmed at Kerry Diotte's campaign headquarters as supporters settle in around a projector screen to watch live results coverage. About 50 to 60 supporters have gathered at the nerve centre on 104th Street and 79th Avenue.

8:15 p.m.

As about 200 supporters nosh on fruit, cheese and cold cuts, there is no sign of mayoralty candidate Don Iveson in the Matrix Hotel ballroom. He is not likely to make his entrance until results are known. Preliminary results won’t be available until at least 8:30 p.m.

8:20 p.m.

Supporters are now streaming into mayoralty candidate Karen Leibovici's campaign party at the Art Gallery of Alberta. There is a line at the bar and people are walking around with plates of buns and cold cuts. A cheer goes up as a live shot of the party is displayed on the big screen at the front of the room. Supporters are told Leibovici will arrive sometime around 9 p.m. or a bit later.

8:30 p.m.

In St. Albert, incumbent Noland Crouse has the early lead over Shelley Biermanski for the mayor’s chair. Crouse had 963 votes to 684 for Biermanski, with two of 20 polls reporting.

8:32 p.m.

It could be a close mayoralty race in Strathcona County. With three polls reporting, Mayor Linda Osinchuk has 2,135 votes, Roxanne Carr has 2,124.

8:41 p.m.

Don Iveson is the runaway leader in the mayor’s race for Edmonton. With 15 of 279 polls reporting, Iveson had 1,940 votes, well ahead of Karen Leibovici with 770 and Kerry Diotte with 577.

8:46 p.m.

The ward leaders in the early going are Andrew Knack (Ward 1), Bev Esslinger (Ward 2), Dave Loken in a close vote over David Dodge in Ward 3, Ed Gibbons in Ward 4, Michael Oshry in Ward 5, Scott McKeen in Ward 6, Tony Caterina in Ward 7, Ben Henderson in Ward 8, Bryan Anderson in Ward 9, Michael Walters in Ward 10, Sonia Bitar in Ward 11 and Amarjeet Sohi in Ward 12.

8:55 p.m.

At Karen Leibovici’s campaign headquarters at the Art Gallery of Alberta, the mood was initially upbeat but has now turned more sombre as the early results came in showing Don Iveson well ahead. About 250 guests are keeping their eyes glued to the big screen at the front of the room where results are shown. Supporters were told Leibovici would turn up by about 9 p.m. but is now expected a bit later. “Don’t worry, it’s just five per cent of the polls,” one supporter said, trying to get the crowd smiling. With 17 of 279 polls reporting, Iveson had 2,262 votes to 969 for Leibovici and 632 for Kerry Diotte. Gordon Ward had 49, Joshua Semotiuk 40 and Kristine Acielo 22. Meanwhile, in Strathcona County, Roxanne Carr is now leading Mayor Linda Osinchuk by fewer than 300 votes with 17 of 27 polls reporting.

9:02 p.m.

Another huge cheer and chants of ‘Don, Don, Don’ as CTV declares Don Iveson elected mayor, with just 29 of 279 polls reporting. Now waiting for the candidate to confirm the results and come to the ballroom for his acceptance speech.

9:05 p.m.

A small groan is heard at Karen Leibovici's gathering as numbers shown on the screen indicating Don Iveson has widened his lead. Virtual silence follows a few minutes later as CTV calls the election for Iveson. No word yet when Leibovici will come to the party.

9:10 p.m.

With 40 of 279 polls reporting, Don Iveson has been elected mayor of Edmonton, with 60.78 per cent of the vote. He had 15,176 votes, well ahead of Karen Leibovici at 4,881 and Kerry Diotte at 4,019. There had been 24,970 votes cast.

9:17 p.m.

A pre-election poll showed Don Iveson with 54 per cent of decided voters. He’s gone well past that. With 74 of 279 polls reporting, he had 60.2 per cent of the vote. Karen Leibovici grabbed 19.75 per cent and Kerry Diotte had 16.26 per cent. The most interesting ward races were 3, where Dave Loken led Dave Dodge 696 to 587, Ward 5 where Michael Oshry’s 668 votes led Rob Hennigar at 659 and Jim Gibbon with 609, and Ward 6 where Scott McKeen held a 1,490 to 1,162 lead over Heather MacKenzie.

9:20 p.m.

Despite Don Iveson apparently clinching the mayoralty race with an early commanding lead, Kerry Diotte refused to concede defeat, and supporters gathered at his campaign headquarters maintained an upbeat attitude. "It is still somewhat early. It's not looking great now, but we'll see how it shapes up," Diotte said.

9:24 p.m.

Andrew Knack has a comfortable lead in Ward 1. Other candidates well out in front are Bev Esslinger in Ward 2, Ed Gibbons in Ward 4, Ben Henderson in Ward 8, Bryan Anderson in Ward 9, Michael Walters in Ward 10 and Amarjeet Sohi in Ward 12.

9:25 p.m.

More cheers at buoyant Don Iveson headquarters as Ben Henderson, Bev Esslinger, Ed Gibbons, Amarjeet Sohi declared winners in council races. Obviously, these are people Iveson’s crowd thinks the apparent new mayor of Edmonton can work with on council.

9:28 p.m.

Premier Alison Redford issues a statement: “I want to congratulate all of the candidates who ran for public office in today’s municipal and school board elections. To the successful candidates, I wish all of you the best in your upcoming term. Whether you are a newly elected official or a veteran returning to a post, I look forward to working with all of you

as we continue to build Alberta for all four million Albertans - and the next million who will arrive in the next decade - by investing in families and communities, living within our means and opening new markets. To all the candidates who took the courageous step of putting their names on a ballot, I want to thank you, your families, your campaign teams and volunteers for your willingness to serve the public and take part in the democratic process.”

9:29 p.m.

Karen Leibovici concedes victory to Don Iveson.

9:30 p.m.

Karen Leibovici offered congratulations to Don Iveson, said she spoke to him and offered her help in any way she can to continue building Edmonton. She said she leaves the stage "knowing we did all we could."

9:38 p.m.

Challenger Roxanne Carr has beaten Mayor Linda Osinchuk by 446 votes in Strathcona County. In St. Albert, Nolan Crouse retained his spot in the mayor’s chair with 55 per cent of the vote.

9:45 p.m.

Don Iveson supporters pay some attention to Kerry Diotte and Karen Leibovici concession speeches, but lots of party-level chattering going on. People in the room really appear keen to hear from their man when he comes to make his victory speech.

9:46 p.m.

Kerry Diotte makes his concession speech. He says all three major candidates for mayor “fought tough but fair campaigns that were a credit to our city.”

9:51 p.m.

Looks like former Journal columnist Scott McKeen has been successful in his second run at council. He leads the 16-candidate Ward 6 race with 5,223 votes. Nearest challenger is Heather MacKenzie with 3,996 and 16 of 24 stations reporting. All 16 candidates received votes, though six of them had 150 or fewer votes. McKeen lost to incumbent Tony Caterina in Ward 7 in 2010.

9:56 p.m.

Michael Walters has the runaway lead in Ward 10, Don Iveson’s old haunt. Walters had 9,741 votes, with 17 of 22 stations reporting. Nearest challenger was Richard Feehan with 3,151. Three other candidates polled 1,216 or fewer votes.

10 p.m.

Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman has issued a statement: “As Albertans have now had their say in the municipal and district elections held across the province, I would like to thank the many men and women who ran for office in their communities.

10:03 p.m.

Don Iveson is on pace to obliterate Stephen Mandel’s high-water mark from 2010. With 70 polls yet to report, Iveson had 108,369 votes. In 2010, Mandel garnered 109,432 votes in a landslide win over David Dorward, who had 58,856.

10:09 p.m.

Don Iveson’s victory speech now underway. He thanked Kerry Diotte and Karen Leibovici and said he asked the latter for help “mentoring the many new faces we see on Edmonton City Council.”

10:11 p.m.

Tom Flynn has a 1,166-vote lead over Mayor Don Rigney in Sturgeon County with three polls still waiting to report.

10:16 p.m.

Mayor-elect Don Iveson thanks the voters. “My name and photograph have been on those green signs but this has been about you and I’m deeply grateful to the voters.”

10:20 p.m.

All incumbent councillors have retained their seats on Edmonton City Council – Bryan Anderson, Ben Henderson, Amarjeet Sohi, Ed Gibbons, Dave Loken and Tony Caterina. Newcomers are Michael Walters, Andrew Knack, Bev Esslinger, Michael Oshry, Scott McKeen and Mike Nickel. The final vote tally for the mayoralty candidates is: Don Iveson with 132,162, Karen Leibovici with 41,182 and Kerry Diotte with 32,917.

10:38 p.m.

With 213,585 votes cast, voter turnout was 34.5 per cent in Edmonton. That beats 33.4 per cent from 2010 and 27.24 from 2007.

10:40 p.m.

The biggest runaway winners, besides mayor-elect Don Iveson, are councillors Bryan Anderson, with 79.6 per cent of the vote in Ward 9, Amarjeet Sohi with 75.37 per cent in Ward 12, Ed Gibbons with 75.12 per cent in Ward 4 and Ben Henderson with 70.63 per cent in Ward 8. On the flip side, Michael Oshry won Ward 5 with just 28.32 per cent of the vote and Bev Esslinger took Ward 2 with 28.54 per cent.

10:51 p.m.

Mayor-elect Don Iveson’s total of 132,162 votes gives him the highest total in Edmonton mayoralty history, by 19,077 votes. Jan Reimer garnered 113,085 votes in a 1992 win over Bill Smith for the previous record.