The Alberta government is proposing changes to the provincial Bill of Rights aimed at giving residents the right to refuse medical treatments, including vaccines. But there would be exemptions around whether the person has the capacity to consent, and if they are likely to harm themselves or others. Justice Minister Mickey Amery says the United Conservative government wants to make it clear no one will be forced to receive a treatment they don't want. But Premier Danielle Smith says the legislation is worded in such a way that it wouldn't conflict with the U-C-P's plans to allow polic

The federal government says Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan haven’t formally responded to an offer of funding to tackle homelessness. But Alberta’s minister in charge of the file says the province isn't saying no and his officials have been actively meeting with Ottawa on the file.Ottawa committed $250 million over two yearsin its budget to provide more shelter spaces, transitional homes, harm reduction spaces and services.Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser said in a Tuesday statement that the three provinces have yet to officially get on board.Fraser said he reached out with a Sept. 1

The Alberta government has announced 250 units of interim housing for Jasper, Alta., residents displaced by a wildfire this summer. Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon says the housing will cost the province $112 million, and the units will be rented at or near market rates. The July wildfire destroyed one-third of the tourist town's structures, including more than 800 units of housing. Nixon says it's still being determined how many of the interim housing units will be single occupancy and how many will be designed for families. Mayor Richard Ireland says the ne

The Alberta government says long-term care and supportive living programs will no longer be under the purview of the provincial Health Ministry. Instead, Seniors and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon will be responsible for continuing care programs across Alberta. The change comes as part of the provincial government's health-care system overhaul that is seeing Alberta Health Services broken up into four new agencies, including one responsible for continuing care. Nixon says details about the new agency, such as what it will be called and when it will be operational, are still being final

Alberta's government has launched a national ad campaign targeting the federal government's incoming emissions cap for the oil and gas sector.Premier Danielle Smith says it's a de facto production cap that would kill jobs and stifle the economy. The province's $7-million ``Scrap the Cap'' campaign also says the federal regulations expected later this year would make groceries, gas and all of life's necessities even more expensive. University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe says he believes the emissions cap is bad policy, but the argument that it would drive up gas, and therefore grocery,

A former Alberta justice minister is to be sanctioned after the provincial law society determined he undermined respect for the administration of justice'' when he phoned Edmonton's police chief after receiving a traffic ticket. The Law Society of Alberta cited Kaycee Madu for the 2021 Call last year, and a hearing took place in June. In a hearing report, committee members say Madu's conduct is worthy of sanction, although a punishment has yet to be determined. The report says the committee is to reconvene to determine a proper sanction, which could amount to a suspension or even disbarment.

Alberta's health minister says a new agency responsible for primary health care should be up and running by next month. Adriana LaGrange says Primary Care Alberta will work to improve Albertans' access to primary care providers like family doctors or nurse practitioners, create new models of primary care and increase access to after-hours care through virtual means. Her announcement comes as the provincial government continues to divide Alberta Health Services into four new agencies. LaGrange says Alberta Health Services hasn't been able to focus on primary health care, and has b

The operator of a pulp mill in northwestern Alberta has been fined $1 million for letting almost 31 million litres of toxic wastewater flow into the Peace River. Environment and Climate Change Canada says the effluent released in April 2021 was ``acutely lethal'' to fish. Mercer Peace River Pulp Ltd. pleaded guilty last month to asection of the Fisheries Act. The conviction means the company's name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry. The federal government says the pulp mill was shut down for maintenance and waste was directed to a spill pond, where it was to

A Calgary official says a water main break has closed a road and left some homes and businesses dry, but says it is not related to a feeder main rupture earlier this year in the same area of the city that resulted in months of water restrictions. Ryan Kidd, the city's deputy director of water services, says the recent break happened in a smaller, 250-millimetre cast-iron distribution line that serves the immediate area, which is near Bowness Road and 51 Street Northwest. Kidd says water began bubbling up at street level on Sunday night and crews immediately shut down the line for repairs, ad