Edmonton residents will continue to pay a 25-cent fee for paper bags when ordering through drive-thrus or shopping at stores. City council narrowly voted Tuesday afternoon to reject a motion that would have eliminated the paper bag fee. The decision followed discussions on the city’s Single-Use Item Bylaw, introduced in 2023. According to an administrative report, single-use waste has declined by 30 per cent since the bylaw came into effect, with retail bags accounting for the largest share of the reduction. The motion to remove the fee was defeated in a 7-6 vote, meaning the 25-cent charge

Alberta RCMP have seized an estimated $30 million worth of illegal cigarettes following a months-long investigation in the Westlock area. A 50-year-old Westlock man has been arrested and charged with multiple offences. Police began the investigation in January after receiving information that unstamped cigarettes were being sold in the Westlock area. During the investigation, an undercover officer purchased cigarettes from a store called The Boutique. Search warrants were executed on June 17 and 18. On September 15, police searched a rural property in Westlock County and arrested the suspect.

The Amber Alert issued for 7-year-old Aspen Wilson of Valleyview, Alberta, has been cancelled. Police said the child was found safe and the suspect involved in the incident, Alexander Stone, was also arrested. Authorities thanked members of the public for their quick assistance and vigilance during the emergency.

An Amber Alert has been issued in Valleyview, Alberta, for a 7-year-old girl who police say was abducted by her stepfather. According to Alberta Emergency Alert, Aspen Wilson, 7, was abducted from her home in Valleyview, a community in northeastern Alberta located about 350 kilometres from Edmonton. Aspen is approximately 4 feet tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Police are searching for 28-year-old Alexander Stone, who is described as approximately 6 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 185 pounds, with brown hair. He is believed to be travelling in a Chevrolet Venture van with Alberta licence pla

Alberta Tourism Minister Andrew Boitchenko is visiting Mexico to promote the province and strengthen tourism partnerships with the country. Minister Boitchenko and representatives from Travel Alberta will hold meetings with airlines, travel trade partners and media organizations through Friday. Government officials say Mexico is a key international tourism market for Alberta. Mexican visitors spent approximately $51 million in Alberta in 2025. According to government data, the number of Mexican visitors to Canada is projected to increase by 40% by 2030, while visitor spending is expected to gr

Police in Alberta have issued arrest warrants for two suspects wanted in connection with a credit card fraud and money laundering investigation spanning three cities, including Calgary. The investigation began in March last year after a Fort McMurray resident’s bank account was compromised, resulting in approximately $120,000 in fraudulent transactions. Victims in Calgary and St. Albert were also identified during the investigation. Based on an investigation by the Wood Buffalo RCMP’s Financial Crimes Unit, arrest warrants have been issued for 22-year-old Calgary resident Divianshu and 63-

A report commissioned by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce warns of significant economic consequences if Alberta were to separate from Canada. The study, led by University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe, estimates that trade costs could increase by 5% to 8%, potentially resulting in 44,000 to 69,000 fewer jobs in Calgary compared with remaining in Canada. The report notes that Alberta is Canada’s most trade-exposed jurisdiction, making the province particularly vulnerable to higher trade costs. The report comes three weeks before Albertans vote on 10 referendum questions, including one on

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are set to meet in Calgary today to discuss Canada’s energy policy and ways to bring the country’s natural resources to global markets. The discussion comes as Canada continues to deal with shifting geopolitical tensions and an ongoing tariff dispute with the United States. Energy has been a key priority for Smith’s government, including efforts to expand oil exports to the British Columbia coast and markets in Asia. Smith has rejected using oil as leverage in the tariff dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ford, however,

Friday is the final day for Albertans to apply for a mail-in ballot for the upcoming referendum. Elections Alberta will accept applications until midnight tonight. Completed special ballot packages must be received by Elections Alberta by 5 p.m. on October 16. As of Thursday afternoon, approximately 673,000 Albertans had requested mail-in ballots, a sharp increase from the 59,589 special ballot requests recorded during the 2023 provincial election. Elections Alberta has attributed the high demand, in part, to changes that removed the requirement to provide a reason for requesting a special bal