The Alberta government is proposing changes to the Public Health Act to allow politicians to make final decisions in public health emergencies.Justice Minister Mickey Amery says elected officials have a responsibility to act in the best interest of Albertans and the amended legislation would make sure they can make decisions.In August, several health charges were dropped against an Edmonton-area pastor and church as well as a central Alberta man who hosted a rodeo in protest of COVID-19 restrictions.The cases were quashed after a court decision a month earlier found the Alberta government unde

Finance ministers from across the country will meet up virtually with their federal counterpart Chrystia Freeland today to discuss Alberta’s proposal to quit the Canada Pension Plan.Freeland called the meeting amid concerns about the ramifications of Alberta leaving the federal retirement plan to set up its own standalone program.The Alberta government says its workers have contributed an oversized share to the national fund and would be in line for big savings and payouts if it were to leave the CPP.Freeland says Albertans need to know the CPP delivers among the best returns in the world an

Newly released data suggest Alberta is projected to spend about $41.9 billion on health care this year. The Canadian Institute for Health Information released its national health expenditure trends report today, highlighting national and provincial spending forecasts. Alberta's forecast for spending increased by 4.6 cent, up from just over 40-billion dollars in 2022. The 2023 figures represent approximately $9,000 per person in the province. Alberta trails Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia in projected spending for 2022.

Officials say the restrictions, which have been in effect for two months, will be removed Tuesday.They were implemented in mid-August due to record low flows in the Bow and Elbow rivers that supply the city and other downstream communities across the Prairies.City officials say they expect decreasing temperatures and seasonal shifts in water use to stabilize demand.They say the restrictions helped to save 1.5 billion litres of water, which is the equivalent of 606 Olympic-size swimming pools.It was the first time that the city had asked its residents to reduce their outdoor water use due to dr

Alberta's legislature resumes today, beginning with the speech from the throne.Government house leader Joseph Schow has said there will be between seven and nine bills in the sitting, which is to run until early December.Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative government is to spell out in legislation that a referendum must be held before Alberta could leave the Canada Pension Plan and set up a provincial one.The government has also promised legislation on Albertans having a direct say on any future tax hikes.The throne speech is to give a broad outline of the government's goals and prior

The Town of Cochrane made the declaration earlier this week after an accident on Saturday affected its water and wastewater pipelines, causing sewage to flow into the Bow River.There haven't been any issues with water quality in the town or in downstream communities such as Calgary, and the sewage leak was contained earlier this week.Damage to the water pipeline, however, led to significant water loss in Cochrane.The town had asked its 32,000 residents, as well as its businesses, to follow mandatory water restrictions to make sure there was enough available for fire suppression and other emerg

The Alberta government has dismissed the entire board of the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and replaced it with a temporary administrator.The centre in the mountain town of Banff, west of Calgary, develops and promotes creative work in the arts, sciences, business and the environment.The government says in a statement late Thursday that it's supporting the centre as it focuses on its mandate while 'strengthening its future competitiveness and sustainability.'It says the temporary administrator, Paul Baay, will review the internal processes and policies at the Banff Centre over the next

Edmonton continues to experience light snow overnight and into this morning.The first snowfall of the season across much of central and southern Alberta Monday morning left some roads and highways in poor condition.Early morning traffic in Edmonton was slow and slippery.Special Weather Snow Warnings were issued by Environment Canada yesterday for central and southern Alberta.A total of two to five centimeters of snow is expected by Monday evening.Innisfail RCMP reported very poor conditions on the QEII highway and drivers were asked to avoid the area entirely.

According to the RCMP, a school bus overturned on Highway 2A in North of Calgary, with several students on board, including six children with injuries.Six people, including five children and one adult, were admitted to the hospital.Three children are in medical care in Didsbury while two other children and an adult were taken to a hospital in Calgary.Didsbury RCMP say the crash happened just after 10:20 a.m., when the school bus was traveling on Township Road 320 on Highway 2A.Investigators have closed the section of Highway 2A between Township Roads 320 and 314.Drivers have been asked to take