Some residents forced from their homes earlier this week due to a wildfire northwest of Edmonton could begin returning Friday as fire conditions stabilize in parts of Woodlands County. Woodlands County officials said on social media that re-entry is expected to begin for residents in Zone 1 only, while evacuation orders for other affected areas remain in place. Residents returning to the area are being asked to complete a waiver because the wildfire is still considered active. About 140 residents were ordered to evacuate Monday as crews responded to a wildfire near the town of Whitecourt, loca

An Alberta court has dismissed a petition related to separating the province from Canada, ruling the provincial government failed to meet its duty to consult First Nations before advancing the process. The court said any move toward separation from Canada could directly affect rights protected under Treaties 7 and 8, making consultation with affected Indigenous communities a constitutional requirement. Premier Danielle Smith criticized the ruling, calling it “wrong” and “anti-democratic.” Smith said the provincial government plans to appeal the decision immediately, arguing consultatio

RCMP say several passengers were taken to hospital with serious injuries after a charter bus rolled off a highway near Beaverlodge in northwestern Alberta early Wednesday morning. Police said officers responded to the crash at about 7 a.m. on Highway 672, west of Grande Prairie and northwest of Edmonton. According to RCMP, 17 people were on board the bus at the time of the rollover. Several passengers were transported to hospital, while others were assessed at the scene for minor injuries. Cpl. Mathew Howell said no fatalities had been reported as of Wednesday morning. Police have not said wha

An Edmonton court heard testimony Wednesday about a previous violent dog attack involving two Cane Corsos at the centre of a criminal negligence trial tied to the death of an 11-year-old boy. Shawn Hesse testified that in 2023, his Pomeranian escaped from his property and ran toward the two dogs later involved in the death of Kache Grist. According to Hesse, the Cane Corsos grabbed the smaller dog from opposite sides and attempted to tear it apart. Hesse told the court he rushed the injured Pomeranian to a veterinarian, but the dog later died from its injuries. The Cane Corsos were owned by Cr

Elections Alberta says the man linked to a major voter information leak has not co-operated with an ongoing investigation into the unauthorized use of the province’s official voter registry. In a statement, the agency said Centurion Project leader David Parker has not complied with a cease-and-desist letter issued last week. The letter required Parker to sign a declaration confirming he would stop using Alberta’s official voter list, which contains the names and addresses of nearly three million residents. According to Elections Alberta, investigators identified the Centurion Project as th

Alberta’s Opposition NDP is accusing Premier Danielle Smith of allowing a United Conservative caucus staffer to take responsibility for a privacy breach involving Albertans’ personal information. The issue stems from an April meeting where private information was allegedly displayed through an app used during discussions attended by UCP caucus members and staff. According to the UCP caucus, a staffer present at the meeting later briefed the caucus executive director about the incident. Smith said the information was not passed on to her office by the executive director, resulting in a dela

Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney says federal Members of Parliament should publicly oppose efforts aimed at separating Alberta from Canada, warning that a referendum on sovereignty would create deep divisions across the province and country. Speaking at an event at the University of Calgary on Monday evening, Kenney said a vote on Alberta leaving Confederation would cause a “huge rupture” in society and argued federal politicians need to take a clearer position on national unity. Liberal MP Cory Hogan, who also attended the event, said Alberta MPs and Prime Minister Mark Carney should s

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has not ruled out the possibility of holding a referendum on Alberta separation this October, as separatist organizers publicly increase pressure on the provincial government to allow a vote. Asked directly whether she would commit to not holding such a referendum, Smith said the government is still waiting on several developments before making a decision. She said discussions with caucus members and cabinet ministers would help determine the province’s next steps. Some members of Smith’s United Conservative cabinet have publicly distanced themselves from sep

RCMP lifted a shelter-in-place order in St. Albert on Saturday after searching for a suspect connected to a recent armed robbery, according to police. Mounties issued the order earlier in the day for residents in the city northwest of Edmonton, advising people to remain inside their homes and avoid opening their doors to anyone while officers searched the area. Police said the order was lifted about two hours later, although the suspect had not been located. According to RCMP, investigators no longer believe the suspect is in the community. No additional details about the armed robbery or the