The Alberta government is proposing measures, to takeeffect in January, that aim to protect power consumers from wild price swings. Premier Danielle Smith says the default power rate currently called the Regulated Rate Option is misleadingly named because it can vary monthly according to weather and global events. She says her United Conservative Party government aims to introduce legislation this spring renaming it the Rate of Last Resort so consumers can better understand what they've signed up for. Smith says her government is also planning set the Rate of Last Resort every two ye

When Alberta hiked the province's minimum wage to $15 an hour in the fall of 2018, it was the highest rate in the country. But nearly six years and a pandemic later, the minimum wage hasn't budged even as Albertans face the highest inflation rate in Canada. Most provinces and territories are increasing their minimum wage this year, and those that aren't just raised theirs in 2023. That means one of Canada's wealthiest provinces is falling behind. Alberta now has the second-lowest minimum wage in the country. Saskatchewan remains at the bottom, at $14 an hour. Meaghon Reid, executive director o

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is coming to Alberta once again today. He has to make an announcement about housing in Calgary. The tour is being seen as a campaign-like tour ahead of the country's budget. PM Trudeau will interact with the local business community in the afternoon. A day before that, he had gone to Winnipeg. He announced yesterday the release of a new $1.5-billion housing fund, which will create not-for-profit rental units across the country and ensure they are affordable. The Canada Rental Protection Fund will provide $1 billion in loans and contribute $470 million

The Alberta government says it's making good on its promise to offer seniors a 25 per cent discount for registry services. It says the move is expected to benefit more than 725,000 Albertans 65 and older. The discount can be applied to vehicle registration, driver's licences, standard plates and marriage licences. The discount is also to be available for services purchased online. The United Conservative Party government estimates in its most recent budget that the discount will mean annual savings for seniors of up to $16.5 million to $20 million. The seniors' discount is to come into place M

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet up face-to-face in Calgary today. Smith’s office says the two will meet in the morning, and Smith will head to Edmonton to speak to reporters at a subsequent news conference. The two leaders have not met in person since last summer at the Calgary Stampede festival. Smith’s office did not say what is on the agenda for the meeting. However, her government has taken issue with Ottawa on a range of issues, including energy development, pharmacare, child-care funding and the federal consumer carbon price. Trudeau was in

Six contenders are competing for the helm of the Alberta New Democrats, with the successor to long-time party leader Rachel Notley to be chosen in June. Here are the candidates: Naheed Nenshi was mayor of Calgary from 2010 to 2021 and has made the colour purple a mix of Liberal red and Conservative blue a big part of his non-partisan political brand. Kathleen Ganley is the legislature member for Calgary Mountain View. She served as justice minister while the NDP was in government. In Opposition, she has been energy critic. Rakhi Pancholi, elected after the NDP's time in government, represent

The Alberta government announced in the budget presented yesterday that a $200 annual tax will be imposed on electric vehicles. This tax will be applicable from January 2025. This tax will be paid when the owners register their vehicles and the fee will be paid in addition to the existing registration fee. According to the Alberta government, electric vehicles will be charged the same amount of annual fuel tax that drivers of gas vehicles pay. This tax will not be applicable on owners of hybrid vehicles. The government says that electric vehicles are heavy and cause damage to roads but their

The Alberta legislature's spring session is set to start today, with health care expected to be a main focus. Premier Danielle Smith's government is planning to dismantle Alberta Health Services and has indicated legislation is coming to begin the process. AHS is to be replaced by four agencies while being reduced to the role of service provider in acute care. Thursday will see the release of the 2024 provincial budget.Smith said in a recent televised provincewide address that it will be balanced but fiscal belt-tightening is needed. She says softening oil prices means provincial funding won't

A town north of Edmonton has voted in favour of a bylaw that bans Pride flags and rainbow crosswalks on municipal property. A slim majority of Westlock residents who took part in a plebiscite Thursday voted in favour of the town only flying government flags and painting crosswalks in a white striped pattern. Those in favour won by 24 votes, as 49 per cent voted against the ban. Westlock Mayor Jon Kramer says councillors didn't support the move, as they felt it was against their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Kramer says the town of 4,800 will continue to find ways to embrace