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AlbertaApr 13, 2026

Alberta court pauses referendum petition process tied to separation effort

An Alberta court has ordered a temporary halt to key steps in a citizen-led petition campaign seeking to advance a referendum on the province separating from Canada. In a written decision released Friday, Justice Shaina Leonard said petition organizers may continue collecting signatures. However, Elections Alberta is barred from verifying those signatures or forwarding the matter to Premier Danielle Smith’s government while the case is under review. According to the court decision, the pause follows a legal challenge filed by several First Nations. Their lawyers argue that Alberta’s citize
AlbertaApr 10, 2026

Calgary Stampede chuckwagon tarp auction raises record $6.1M ahead of 2026 festival

The Calgary Stampede’s annual chuckwagon tarp auction generated a record $6.1 million in sponsorship bids, according to event organizers, marking a significant increase of about $2 million from the previous year. The funds secure advertising partnerships for 27 drivers competing in the Rangeland Derby, one of the festival’s signature events. This year’s Calgary Stampede is scheduled to begin July 3. The highest bid reached $550,000, placed by Bar L5 Ranch for driver Rae Croteau Jr., organizers said following the Thursday evening auction. The annual auction allows corporate sponsors, many
AlbertaApr 10, 2026

Alberta nurses union calls for weapons screening, more officers after hospital stabbing

The president of the United Nurses of Alberta says weapons screening systems and more protective services officers are urgently needed in Alberta hospitals, citing what she describes as near-daily threats of violence against frontline staff. Heather Smith made the call following a stabbing last week in the emergency department at Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital. According to hospital officials, a 42-year-old man was treated for life-threatening injuries after the incident. In a statement after the attack, Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones said the province is work
AlbertaApr 08, 2026

Edmonton man charged with human trafficking offences involving five women, police say

Police in Edmonton say a 47-year-old man is facing multiple human trafficking-related charges following an investigation involving five women. According to a release from ALERT Edmonton’s Human Trafficking unit, Jonathan Allard was arrested March 26 and is charged with 26 Criminal Code offences, including trafficking in persons, forcible confinement and assault. Investigators say the case began in June after one of the alleged victims contacted police seeking help. She told officers she had been recruited through social media to move to Edmonton, where she was allegedly forced into the sex t
AlbertaApr 08, 2026

Alberta defence lawyers call for probe into Edmonton police chief over manslaughter case comments

A group representing criminal defence lawyers in Alberta is calling for an independent investigation into Warren Driechel and the Edmonton Police Service’s top lawyer, Megan Hankowich, over public comments tied to a recent manslaughter case. The Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association says the statements may warrant a third-party review to determine whether any criminal conduct occurred. The group is asking Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery to direct the province’s Police Review Commission to assess whether there are grounds for charges, including intimidation or obstruction of justice. Ac
AlbertaApr 08, 2026

First Nation chief challenges Alberta separation petition in court, citing treaty rights

The chief of a First Nation seeking a court injunction against a citizen-led petition on Alberta’s potential separation from Canada says legal action was necessary to defend treaty rights. Chief Sheldon Sunshine of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation said the constitutional challenge targets the province’s citizen-initiated referendum process, which he argues could affect First Nations without proper consultation. According to statements made at the start of the hearing, Sunshine said the case is about ensuring treaty obligations are upheld. A court hearing began Tuesday and is expected to include a
AlbertaApr 07, 2026

Late-season Alberta clipper to bring snow across Prairies, Environment Canada says

Environment Canada says a late-season Alberta clipper is expected to bring snowfall to parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba through Tuesday and into Wednesday. According to an Environment Canada weather statement, heavy snow is forecast in Alberta from Peace River toward Cold Lake, as well as between Banff and Jasper, beginning overnight and continuing into Wednesday morning. In Saskatchewan, the agency says snowfall is expected to develop across central regions of the province on Tuesday and persist into Wednesday. Manitoba is expected to see some of the highest accumulations, with 15
first-nation-seeks-court-injunction-to-halt-alberta-separation-petition
FeaturedApr 07, 2026

First Nation seeks court injunction to halt Alberta separation petition

An Alberta First Nation is in court Tuesday seeking an injunction to stop a citizen-led petition campaign advocating for the province to leave Canada. The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation has filed an application in the Court of King’s Bench in Edmonton, asking a judge to suspend the campaign while legal questions over treaty rights are addressed. According to the court filing, the First Nation argues that any move toward Alberta’s separation from Canada would require the consent of First Nations under existing treaties. The application alleges that the governments of Alberta and Canada, along wi
lethbridge-police-seek-suspect-driver-in-hit-and-run-investigation
AlbertaApr 06, 2026

Lethbridge police seek suspect driver in hit-and-run investigation

Lethbridge Police Service says it is seeking the public’s help to identify a driver involved in a hit-and-run that damaged a parked vehicle. According to a police release, the incident occurred between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on March 24 in the 900 block of 18 Street North. Investigators say a vehicle struck a parked white SUV and left the scene without stopping. Police confirmed the SUV sustained significant damage. No injuries have been reported. Based on debris recovered at the scene, officers have identified the suspect vehicle as a 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander. The investigation remains ongoing.

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quebec-helicopter-crash-kills-pilot-and-three-family-members
CanadaSep 28, 2026

Quebec Helicopter Crash Kills Pilot and Three Family Members

A private helicopter crashed in Quebec on Saturday, killing four people, including the pilot. The helicopter went down in a field shortly after takeoff in an area about 50 kilometres from Montreal and caught fire. Emergency crews and police arrived at the scene and confirmed that all four people on board had died. Media reports identified the pilot as 50-year-old Suzanne Jutras, while the other three victims were members of the same family who had gone on a helicopter ride to celebrate a birthday. The cause of the crash remains unknown. Quebec police and the Transportation Safety Board of Cana
poilievre-calls-for-federal-taxes-on-diesel-to-be-removed
CanadaSep 28, 2026

Poilievre calls for federal taxes on diesel to be removed

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for the removal of all federal taxes on diesel and for measures to ensure a reliable domestic supply of the fuel. Speaking at a news conference Sunday at a gas station in suburban Ottawa, Poilievre said Canada produces enough diesel to meet domestic demand but that transportation barriers have left some provinces dependent on imports from the United States. Poilievre proposed extending the exemption from the federal fuel excise tax on diesel until July 1 next year. He also called for the elimination of other federal taxes on diesel, including the
CanadaSep 25, 2026

Canada, Germany Sign Intelligence-Sharing Agreement

Canada has announced a significant intelligence-sharing agreement with Germany aimed at strengthening cooperation in defence, security, trade and advanced technologies. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and German Foreign Affairs Minister Johann Wadephul signed the agreement in Ottawa on Friday. The deal will enable the secure exchange of intelligence not only on sensitive defence and security matters but also in areas such as trade and advanced technologies. Referring to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech to the European Parliament last week, Anand said Germany plays an important role i
CanadaSep 25, 2026

Canada-U.S. Air Travel Rebounds, Passenger Numbers Rise 5.9% in August

The decline in air travel from Canada to the United States, which had continued year over year for 18 consecutive months, has now come to an end. According to August data from Statistics Canada, the significant slowdown in Canadian travel to the U.S. caused by trade and political tensions between the two countries earlier in 2025 appears to be easing. The number of Canadian air passengers travelling to the U.S. increased by 5.9% year over year in August, compared with a 0.9% decline in July. Statistics Canada said Toronto Pearson and Montréal-Trudeau airports recorded double-digit growth in a
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BCSep 25, 2026

Eby Announces New Tax on Empty Condos in B.C.

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby announced during a campaign stop in Burnaby that, if re-elected, his government would introduce a new empty condo tax targeting developers who leave completed condo units unsold and vacant for more than a year. Under the proposed measure, the tax would increase by one percentage point for each additional year a unit remains vacant. Eby said just 10 developers are holding more than $2 billion worth of completed condos that they are unwilling to sell at what he described as reasonable prices. He warned developers that they would have to either sell the units or pay the