Political observers say this week's United Conservative leadership debate demonstrated that former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith is the front-runner in the race to replace Jason Kenney as party leader and premier. Pollster Janet Brown and political scientist Duane Bratt say the way Smith was attacked and criticized by multiple opponents at the debate make it clear she is seen as the one to beat. Smith came under fire for her proposed Alberta sovereignty act, which she promises to pass this fall if she wins. The act would grant the province the power to ignore federal laws and court rulings de

Alberta is expanding its eligibility for the monkeypox vaccine. Starting today, residents 18 and older can make a booking for the shot if they are determined to be at a high risk for exposure to the virus. Previously, the vaccine was available only to close contacts of a confirmed case. Shots for the new eligible group start tomorrow. Alberta has confirmed 13 cases of monkeypox, according to Alberta Health Services. Alberta is working with the federal government to secure more doses of the vaccine. The federal government will release additional doses from the National Emergency Strategic Stock

Danielle Smith was the target of most of her United Conservative leadership race colleagues at the party's first debate. Many of the candidates in the Medicine Hat debate criticized Smith's proposal to bring in a bill to give Alberta the power to ignore federal laws and court rulings deemed not in its interest. Former finance minister Travis Toews (TAVES) says Alberta must be tough with Ottawa but a plan to cancel laws is delusional and former cabinet minister Rajan Sawhney (RAW-jun SAW'-nee) says the bill would bring chaos to the economy. Smith, the former Wildrose party leader, says her bill

The price of electric power in Alberta has taken another big jump. Sophie Simmonds, the director of Anova Energy, says the regulated rate for consumers has increased by more than 150 per cent in the past 18 months. The Alberta Utilities Commission has approved the regulated rate option prices for the month of August and they remain at historic highs. Both Enmax and Epcor have had rates higher than 17 cents per kilowatt-hour and Direct Energy's regulated rate sits at just under 17 cents. Energy analysts say the rising prices are because of high demand, tight supply and the high cost of natural

Mounties in northern Alberta say a shelter in place order has been lifted after a shooting. RCMP say officers received a 911 call Tuesday night about someone with a firearm and a man injured in a home on the Woodland Cree First Nation in the Cadotte Lake area. The 35-year-old man was taken to a hospital in a helicopter in serious condition. Police ordered residents to stay inside their homes while they investigated. There was no word on an arrest. Woodland Cree Nation is made up of four reserves in northern Alberta, about 500 km northwest of Edmonton.

The seven candidates vying to become the next United Conservative Party leader and Alberta premier are to tackle health, the economy and other key issues in their first debate tonight. They are to square off in Medicine Hat for the first of two scheduled debates ahead of Oct. 6, when party members vote on who should replace Premier Jason Kenney. The debate will be moderated by former Calgary city councillor Jeff Davison and focus on unity, leadership and the environment. The candidates include former cabinet ministers Travis Toews, Rebecca Schulz, Rajan Sawhney and Leela Aheer. Current legisla

Pope Francis blessed a statue of Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Indigenous person to be canonized as a saint, when he visited an inner-city Catholic church in Edmonton yesterday. He held the hands of elders while at Church of Sacred Heart, touching some on the head, as he was wheeled out. Earlier in the day, Francis visited Maskwacis (MASS'-kwah-cheez), south of Edmonton, and said he was sorry the church took part in the cultural destruction and forced assimilation of Indigenous people. The Pope is scheduled to lead mass at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton today, and is expected to travel later

MASKWACIS — Pope Francis says he is in Canada to express his sorrow and ask for forgiveness for residential schools. The Pope is giving an address before residential school survivors and elders in Maskwacis, Alta., where the former Ermineskin Indian Residential School was one of the largest institutions in the country. Francis says he feels sorrow, indignation and shame. He says the memory of children who attended the schools is painful and every child should be treated with love, honour and respect. An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools in Canada

A downtown Calgary landmark has been severely damaged by vandalism. Councillor Terry Wong says 40 glass side panels on the Peace Bridge over the Bow River were shattered over the weekend. The tubular bridge was designed and manufactured in Spain and shipped to Calgary, where it opened in 2012. Witnesses and video footage show a man in his 40s smashing the panels using a hammer, rebar and bricks.