Alberta's government has unveiled a 10-year strategy to end gender-based violence that outlines more than 100 initiatives aimed at awareness, prevention, intervention and long-term support for survivors. Status of Women Minister Tanya Fir says it's a comprehensive plan to help co-ordinate provincewide efforts and will aim to address the root causes, including financial insecurity. As part of that strategy, she's committing to supporting Indigenous-led solutions, and to reporting annually on rates of gender-based violence in the province as soon as next year. February's budget put

Amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday challenged Putin to join peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey. Zelensky said that he would not join the talks with any other Russian official except Volodymyr Putin. In fact, Putin had said that he would start direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul from May 15 without delay, after which Zelensky said that he would wait for Putin and challenged the Russian President to join the face-to-face talks himself if he is moving forward for peace in the war in the right direction. If President Putin agrees to join thi

At least 22 children were killed in Gaza overnight Tuesday and early Wednesday in a punishing series of Israeli airstrikes on homes in northern Gaza, according to local hospitals. The strikes killed at least 48 people in total, the Indonesian Hospital in Jabaliya reported. The strikes came a day after Hamas released an Israeli-American hostage in a deal brokered by the United States, and as President Donald Trump was visiting Saudi Arabia. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was “no way” Israel would halt itswar in Gaza, dimming hopes for a ceasefire.Israeli ai

Rule changes designed to reduce opioid overdose deaths in British Columbia in 2016 inadvertently harmed cancer and palliative-care patients by reducing their access to pain killers, a new study has found. The study published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal describes the impact of a practice standard issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. that June, about two months after the province declared a public health emergency over opioid deaths. The rule changes were designed to mitigate prescription drug misuse, including the over-prescribing of opioids among p

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says picking Julie Dabrusin as Canada's environment minister is a bad idea that forecasts renewed federal opposition to her province's wellspring oil and gas industry. ``I am very concerned the Prime Minister (Mark Carney) has appointed what appears to be yet another anti-oil and gas environment minister, ``Not only is she a self-proclaimed architect of the designation of plastics as toxic, but she is a staunch advocate against oilsands expansion, proponent of phasing out oil and gas, and for the last four years, she has served as the right hand to former enviro

The union representing thousands of Alberta government workers has voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees says members have voted 90 per cent in favour of hitting the picket lines, but says the goal remains to get a deal at the bargaining table. A strike date has not been set, but could happen in the next four months. The union represents roughly 23,000 people working in jobs ranging from law enforcement to social work. The union says it's seeking wage hikes, improved working conditions and job security. Alberta's finance minister did not

Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled his 28-member cabinet and it's a mix of familiar and new faces from across Canada.Carney's cabinet is smaller than that of his predecessor — former prime minister Justin Trudeau's government had 35 ministers by the end — and adds 10 secretaries of state, who are essentially junior ministers.Carney continued with the practice of gender parity in cabinet started by Trudeau in 2015.Some mainstays of the Trudeau government are also missing from Carney's cabinet. Some portfolios are new or have been split, and some ministers have changed positions.Some Tr

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's chief of staff is sounding the alarm over Prime Minister Mark Carney's pick to head up the government's environment portfolio. Rob Anderson says when it comes to new Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin, Albertans should ``sit down'' for what he suggests is a shocking announcement. He points to Dabrusin's website, which touts her support for putting a price on carbon pollution, her strong stance against oilsands expansion, and her push for a transition away from fossil fuels. Anderson, in a social media post, says, in his words, ``fire...mee

Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver has resigned from cabinet amid speculation he will run for the vacant position of Speaker of the house. Premier Danielle Smith says she's grateful for McIver's commitment and hard work in serving Albertans. She says Tourism Minister Joseph Schow will take on McIver's portfolio on an interim basis. McIver served as municipal affairs minister under two premiers and had previous experience as transportation minister, infrastructure minister and jobs minister. He was first elected to the legislative assembly in 2012 after more than a de