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premier-danielle-smith-voices-concern-over-surgery-wait-times-in-alberta
AlbertaApr 14, 2025

Premier Danielle Smith Voices Concern Over Surgery Wait Times in Alberta

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has expressed concern over the lengthy wait times for surgeries in the province, announcing plans to introduce a new funding model aimed at addressing the issue. Smith made the remarks during a phone-in segment on the show Your Province, Your Premier. She noted that some patients are forced to travel long distances within Alberta to receive treatment, and in some cases, even seek medical care abroad. To address these challenges, Smith said her government is working to implement activity-based funding. The premier emphasized that the current strain on the health c
fatality-inquiry-for-columbia-icefield-bus-rollover-to-be-held-in-june
AlbertaApr 11, 2025

Fatality inquiry for Columbia Icefield bus rollover to be held in June

A fatality inquiry is to take place in June for the three people killed five years ago when a tour bus tumbled down an embankment on the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park. Three people died and 14 suffered life-threatening injuries after the bus lost control and landed on its roof in the popular tourist destination south of Jasper in July 2020. Alberta's government says the inquiry is to take place June 10 at the Jasper Court of Justice. RCMP did not lay criminal charges, but bus operator Brewster Inc. was charged in May 2022 under Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety
alberta-bill-enables-hydrogen-home-heating-electricity-market-remodelling
AlbertaApr 11, 2025

Alberta bill enables hydrogen home heating, electricity market remodelling

Alberta's government is looking to give the green light to hydrogen as a home and commercial heating fuel in a move it says will boost demand and reduce emissions. If passed, legislation tabled by Utilities Minister Nathan Neudorf will allow utility companies to blend hydrogen into their supply of natural gas _ provided customers sign off on receiving the blended heat source. Neudorf says safety is top of mind and the province will work with regulators to set an acceptable blending rate, as hydrogen is easily ignitable and more explosive than methane. Neudorf's bill also sets th
two-killed-when-house-on-small-british-columbia-island-collapses
AlbertaApr 11, 2025

Two killed when house on small British Columbia island collapses

Two people have been killed after being trapped under a house on a small island off British Columbia's coast. RCMP in Powell River say they received a call on April 6 about two people trapped under the house on Savary Island, just off the coast of the small city, about 150 kilometres northwest of Vancouver. Police say when the island's volunteer fire department and emergency health services personnel arrived they determined the house was under renovation and was being lowered onto a new foundation when it collapsed. Two men under the house were found dead, while a third man was t
alberta-spending-900-000-to-upgrade-monitoring-as-wildfire-season-begins
AlbertaApr 11, 2025

Alberta spending $900,000 to upgrade monitoring as wildfire season begins

As Alberta heads into the heart of wildfire season, the province is committing almost $1 million to upgrade its early-warning systems. Forestry Minister Todd Loewen says $900,000 is being allocated to upgrade and expand its network of 150 weather stations. These stations monitor environmental conditions, like temperature, humidity, wind and moisture, in real time to help fire crews know where they will be needed when the weather gets hot and dry. The monitors will also be able to monitor snowpack levels, which are strong indicators of Alberta's fire risk early in the season.
nenshi-calls-proposed-alberta-cut-of-council-conduct-rules-an-affront-to-voters
AlbertaApr 10, 2025

Nenshi calls proposed Alberta cut of council conduct rules 'an affront' to voters

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says the government's proposal to wipe out municipal councils' codes of conduct could create a free-for-all of delinquency and grift. It comes a day after Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver proposed a new bill, saying codes of conduct have been weaponized to silence dissent on municipal councils. McIver says the changes won't offer free rein to misbehave, and the aim is to create a better system of standards that can't be misused. But Nenshi, the former Calgary mayor, says the proposed bill is part of a naked attempt to slant elections in Alberta'
alberta-moves-to-restrict-public-boards-power-to-police-trustees-councilors
AlbertaApr 09, 2025

Alberta moves to restrict public boards' power to police trustees, councilors

Alberta is looking to reduce the self-policing powers of elected public school boards and municipal councils. The changes are included in two bills put forward by Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative government. In one bill, Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver proposes pulling local council's codes of conduct and also ending any related ongoing complaints or sanctions that aren't before the courts. McIver says in some cases, codes of conduct have been weaponized to silence dissent on municipal councils. In the second bill, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides propo
american-man-gets-50-years-for-horrific-sex-abuse-kidnapping-edmonton-teen
CanadaApr 09, 2025

American man gets 50 years for 'horrific' sex abuse, kidnapping Edmonton teen

An American man who abducted an Edmonton teen, took her over the U.S. border and subjected her to ``horrific sexual abuse'' has been given a 50-year prison sentence by a U.S. judge. The decision against Noah Madrano was meted in Portland, Ore., almost three years after the teen was located and Madrano was arrested by FBI agents at a hotel in the U.S. state. Earlier this year, the 43-year-old pleaded guilty to sexual abuse and kidnapping charges. The manhunt began in the summer of 2022 after the girl, then 13, failed to show up for class at her junior high school in Edmonton.
alberta-measles-outbreak-not-dire-enough-to-warrant-public-address-health-minister
AlbertaApr 09, 2025

Alberta measles outbreak not dire enough to warrant public address: health minister

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange says Alberta's measles outbreak isn't dire enough for the province's top doctor for public health to address the public, despite mounting calls for the government to do more to stop the spread. Alberta has reported 43 cases of the highly infectious disease over the past month.The Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association says the spread is a result of government inaction, especially around Alberta's low vaccination rates. The association is calling on the province to improve how it updates the public on the outbreak and develop a vaccination plan.

Just In

quebec-plans-new-law-to-ban-religious-symbols-in-daycare-centres
CanadaOct 23, 2025

Quebec plans new law to ban religious symbols in daycare centres

The Quebec government is moving to prohibit the wearing of religious symbols in the province’s daycare centres, expanding its existing secularism policies in early childhood settings. Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge said there is broad public agreement that Quebec’s commitment to secular values should be reinforced. The decision follows recommendations made earlier this year by a provincial advisory committee that studied ways to strengthen secularism laws. Quebec’s current legislation already restricts public employees in positions of authority, including teachers, police off
alberta-government-plans-back-to-work-legislation-as-teachers-strike-enters-third-week
AlbertaOct 23, 2025

Alberta government plans back-to-work legislation as teachers’ strike enters third week

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will introduce back-to-work legislation on Monday if no deal is reached to end the provincewide teachers’ strike. Smith said the walkout, now in its third week, has caused “intolerable hardship” for students and families, adding that the government cannot allow the disruption to continue. The strike has shut down classrooms for about 51,000 teachers and 750,000 students in public, separate, and francophone schools across the province. While formal negotiations between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the province are not currently
superintendent-peri-mainwaring-appointed-new-head-of-north-vancouver-rcmp
BCOct 23, 2025

Superintendent Peri Mainwaring appointed new head of North Vancouver RCMP

The North Vancouver RCMP has a new Officer-in-Charge. Superintendent Peri Mainwaring has been appointed to lead the detachment, bringing more than three decades of policing experience with the RCMP. Mainwaring began her career in Saskatchewan and has served in municipal, provincial and federal roles across the country. Before her latest promotion, she was the Community Programs Officer with the Burnaby RCMP, where she helped strengthen community safety initiatives and led work on mental health and crisis intervention. Her connection to North Vancouver is longstanding — Mainwaring previously
pm-modi-invites-canadian-pm-to-new-delhi
CanadaOct 23, 2025

PM Modi invites Canadian PM to New Delhi

India has invited Prime Minister Mark Carney to New Delhi early in the new year for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This could pave the way for a new economic relationship and a free trade agreement between the two countries. India's High Commissioner to Canada Dinesh Kumar Patnaik said that a sincere effort is being made by the two leaders to improve diplomatic relations and increase trade and investment opportunities amid the tariff war with the US. Patnaik said that if the two countries negotiate a far-reaching agreement, annual trade between Canada and India could cross $50-billio
interior-health-testing-virtual-emergency-care-to-support-rural-hospitals
BCOct 23, 2025

Interior Health testing virtual emergency care to support rural hospitals

Interior Health is planning a pilot project that would use virtual emergency care to help keep small hospitals in British Columbia’s Interior open during staffing shortages. The proposal would link hospitals in Clearwater, Nakusp, Lillooet, and Princeton, allowing physicians to share responsibilities through a combination of on-site and remote support. Interior Health says the four facilities face similar challenges, with low overnight patient volumes but frequent service interruptions due to limited staffing. The health authority says it is consulting with local doctors and staff to determi