Nursing care staff represented by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees have voted to ratify a new collective agreement with Covenant Health, the union announced Monday. According to the union, 89.2 per cent of participating members supported the deal. The agreement is retroactive to April 1, 2024, and will remain in effect until the end of March 2028. The four year contract includes a 12 per cent wage increase spread over the term of the agreement, along with what the union describes as significant market adjustments aimed at addressing recruitment and retention challenges. The agreement

Canada’s federal government says it is preparing a plan to assist Cuba as the island nation faces mounting energy shortages linked to renewed U.S. oil sanctions. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed Ottawa is developing options to provide support but did not outline what form the assistance might take. Her comments come as Cuba grapples with prolonged power outages and rising food prices following U.S. measures aimed at restricting oil supplies from Venezuela and other sources. The sanctions were imposed under the administration of former U.S. president Donald Trump, which tightene

Canadian airlines have restarted service to Puerto Vallarta after suspending flights over the weekend amid violence in parts of Mexico linked to a government security operation. Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat and Porter Airlines confirmed they are resuming flights to and from the popular resort city on Mexico’s Pacific coast. WestJet has also restored service to Guadalajara and Manzanillo, destinations that were affected as authorities responded to unrest following the reported death of a cartel leader during a federal operation. Mexican officials urged residents and tourists in several re

As Ukraine marks four years since Russia launched its full scale invasion, a Calgary man recovering from serious injuries says he intends to rejoin his unit once he is medically cleared. Mac Hughes has been serving with the Ukrainian armed forces since the early months of the conflict in 2022. He was badly burned last year when an exploding drone pinned him between a vehicle and a wall, leaving him with significant injuries that required ongoing treatment. Now recovering, Hughes says the anniversary of the invasion is unlikely to carry special meaning for troops still stationed along the front

Widespread violence has been reported across parts of Mexico following the reported death of a senior drug cartel leader during a military operation, according to statements from the country’s defence authorities. Officials said the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, widely known as El Mencho, was detained by Mexican armed forces on Sunday in the town of Tapalpa. During the operation, an exchange of gunfire broke out between his security detail and military commandos. Authorities said the suspect was seriously injured and later died while being transported to Mexico City. Mexico’

A portion of the residence of Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira was demolished on Monday in the Ramgarh area of Bhulath, as a team from Punjab Police and local administration carried out what officials described as an action against alleged unauthorized construction. Supporters of Khaira gathered in large numbers at the site during the operation. The legislator sat in front of a JCB machine in protest and began a sit-in against the Punjab government and police, accusing authorities of targeting him. Administrative officials said the demolition was limited to structures deemed illegal under ap

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says the number of Canadians registering with federal officials while in Mexico has increased sharply, as Ottawa works to assess the situation and provide assistance. Anand said 26,305 Canadians have now registered with Global Affairs Canada. As of the previous day, that number was approximately 8,000. She cautioned that the actual number of Canadians currently in Mexico could be significantly higher, as not everyone has completed registration with the federal government. According to the minister, Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre r

Flights between Edmonton and the Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta have been cancelled following reports of widespread violence in the state of Jalisco over the weekend. Edmonton International Airport confirmed that one outbound flight to Puerto Vallarta and three return flights to Alberta were cancelled after unrest broke out in several parts of Jalisco on Sunday. The disruptions have left a number of Edmonton-area travellers stranded in Mexico and families in Alberta seeking updates. The Government of Canada has issued a travel advisory for the state of Jalisco, urging Canadians to exer

Albertans are expressing sharply divided opinions over the provincial government’s plan to hold a referendum this October, with Premier Danielle Smith fielding support and criticism over the weekend. During her regular call-in radio program Saturday morning, Smith heard from several callers who said the proposed vote reflects public concerns, particularly around immigration levels and provincial authority. Supporters told the premier the referendum questions are timely and align with what they see as mounting pressures on housing, health care and other services. At the same time, dozens of p