EDMONTON – A 26-year-old Edmonton man was arrested in Sherwood Park, Alta., Sunday afternoon after a traffic stop led to the discovery of what police believe to be a “large quantity” of methamphetamine and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

Police say Daniel Hinks was pulled over near the Flying J on Pembina Road at around 2:35 p.m.

Mounties found Hinks had outstanding warrants out of Edmonton and arrested him.

During the arrest police say they found what they believed to be cocaine on Hinks.

Then, during a search of the vehicle, officers found what they believed to be methamphetamine and GHB.

Hinks has been charged with:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x2)
• Fail to comply (x2)

He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Sherwood Park provincial court on Nov. 24. 

CALGARY – A man who was to face trial later this month in the slaying of a family doctor at a central Alberta medical clinic has died.

Deng Mabiour, 54, was charged with first-degree murder in last year’s death of Dr. Walter Reynolds at the Village Mall Walk-In Clinic in Red Deer.

Mabiour had been representing himself in court and a jury trial was to start Nov. 22.

Red Deer lawyer Jason Snider, who was appointed as an amicus curiae, or friend of the court, to help Mabiour, said he died in a Calgary hospital.

“I can confirm from the information I received from the correctional authorities that he has died in the Foothills hospital,” Snider said in an email to The Canadian Press on Tuesday.

“I do not know the cause of death. It has not been shared with me.”

At a court appearance in March, the Crown said a letter from psychiatrist Dr. Yuri Metelitsa indicated Mabiour had an appointment at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary for “a serious medical condition.”

Mabiour had previously undergone two assessments after exhibiting erratic behaviour but was found mentally fit to stand trial.

Reynolds, a 45-year-old father of two who was originally from South Africa, was attacked with a weapon while working at the clinic on Aug. 10, 2020. He later died in hospital.

At the time, one witness told media that she was in the waiting room when she heard cries for help and saw a man with a hammer and a machete.

RCMP have said the crime was not random and that the two men knew each other through the clinic. Although they have not said if Mabiour was a patient of Reynolds.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2021

EDMONTON – The minimum income needed to maintain a modest standard of living in Edmonton has increased by more than $1.50 an hour since 2019, the Alberta Living Wage Network (ALWN) found.

The ALWN, a newly launched network of local agencies and municipalities, released its list of 2021 living wages for 12 Alberta municipalities on Monday.

The living wage for Edmontonians was calculated at $18.10 an hour, compared to $16.56 per hour two years ago.

According to the ALWN, a living wage is calculated based on the income needs of a young family of four to maintain a modest standard of living after government transfers have been added and taxes have been subtracted. 

“We’re not talking about living high on the hog by any means, even within a living wage,” executive director for the Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) Susan Morrissey told CTV News Edmonton.

“It’s what people need to do in order to not have to be all stressed out about where they’re going to buy their groceries, whether they have to go to the food bank, whether they can continue to rent where they live.”

Morrissey said the ESPC hopes the latest numbers help people recognize that a living wage is not the same as minimum wage.

“As costs continue to go up, and we see this every single day, cost of food going up, cost of utilities, whatever, minimum wage is really not keeping pace with that,” she said.

“(The living wage) is beyond just minimum of what people need to live. This is the ability to live with a little bit of dignity, with a modest income that covers off your food costs, appropriate shelter costs, transportation, maybe a little bit of money set aside for the odd emergency.”

Alberta’s minimum wage is $15 an hour, but that figure is currently under review by the province.

The ESPC executive director said Alberta employers should be expected to pay their workers a living wage at least.

“I think it’s good for our province,” said Morrissey. “It increases spending power when people have money in their wallets.”

“How do low income individuals spend their money when they have it? They spend it on their kids, they spend it on better quality food, they spend it on more appropriate housing and safe housing.”

Morrissey also pointed out that a single individual, or single parent household would need a higher income than the listed living wage.

“You’ve only got one income coming into the household, or in the case of a single person you don’t necessarily qualify for any subsidies or any of the government transfers and help that a single parent may be.”

The living wage calculated for Edmonton was on the lower end compared to some other Alberta communities.

Canmore was deemed the most expensive with a living wage of $37.40 an hour, while Strathcona County was listed as the least expensive at $16.80 an hour.

Here is the ALWN’s full list of living wages for 2021:

• Calgary: $18.60
• Canmore: $37.40
• Chestermere: $18.60
• Cochrane: $22.60
• Drumheller: $19.70
• Edmonton: $18.10
• Fort McMurray: $27.35
• Lethbridge: $19.00
• Red Deer: $17.15
• Rocky Mountain House: $18.05
• Stony Plain: $17.20
• Strathcona County: $16.80

EDMONTON – A couple of logs that were lost from the back of a haul truck punched through a bus taking Alberta kids to school Tuesday morning.

No one was injured in the incident in Barrhead, 120 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, Mounties said.

According to officials, the “collision” happened in the 8 o’clock hour at 53 Avenue and Highway 33 as the log truck was turning. 

In pictures from the scene, two logs hang out of a driver’s side window toward the back of the bus. Two window panes appear broken and the bus’ roof crumpled. A third log lays on the ground.

No other details were provided. RCMP said their investigation was still in its preliminary stages.

Pembina Hills School Division said families of the students on board were contacted, and student support services were called to the scene and would be available for the rest of the day. 

“We are so thankful that no one was injured. The school division will continue to provide support for students and families in consideration of their emotional needs due to this incident,” a statement from the division read. 

The Barrhead intersection was expected to be closed for several hours. 

EDMONTON – Firefighters were still working in Beverly Heights Tuesday morning at a home that caught on fire the night before.

A neighbour reported smoke coming from an address at 46 Street and 115 Avenue just before 11:15 p.m.

Crews who arrived first found heavy black smoke and flames pouring out the front of the home, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services told CTV News Edmonton.

The blaze was considered under control shortly after midnight, and at 6:30 the next morning., firefighters were finishing extinguishing hot spots.

No one was hurt.

In total, seven units responded.

Investigators were due to return Tuesday during the day to investigate the case of the fire.