Police in Edmonton say a 47-year-old man is facing multiple human trafficking-related charges following an investigation involving five women. According to a release from ALERT Edmonton’s Human Trafficking unit, Jonathan Allard was arrested March 26 and is charged with 26 Criminal Code offences, including trafficking in persons, forcible confinement and assault. Investigators say the case began in June after one of the alleged victims contacted police seeking help. She told officers she had been recruited through social media to move to Edmonton, where she was allegedly forced into the sex t

A man has been arrested after multiple witnesses reported seeing a woman being struck in the street in New Westminster on Sunday afternoon. According to a New Westminster Police Department news release, officers responded to two separate 911 calls at 1:20 p.m. reporting an assault involving a man and a woman walking along the street. Police attended the area near Nanaimo Street and 18th Street, where they located both individuals. Officers arrested the man without incident at the scene and provided assistance to the woman. Investigators also interviewed multiple witnesses who remained in the a

A group representing criminal defence lawyers in Alberta is calling for an independent investigation into Warren Driechel and the Edmonton Police Service’s top lawyer, Megan Hankowich, over public comments tied to a recent manslaughter case. The Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association says the statements may warrant a third-party review to determine whether any criminal conduct occurred. The group is asking Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery to direct the province’s Police Review Commission to assess whether there are grounds for charges, including intimidation or obstruction of justice. Ac

Ontario MP Marilyn Gladu says she has left the Conservative caucus and will sit with the Liberals under Prime Minister Mark Carney, becoming the fifth member of Parliament to cross the floor since November. Gladu confirmed the move in a statement, saying she will support the government’s agenda going forward. The reasons for her decision were not immediately detailed, and it is not clear whether she will take on a formal role within the Liberal caucus. Floor crossings do not trigger a byelection under federal rules, meaning Gladu will continue to represent her Ontario riding as a Liberal MP

The chief of a First Nation seeking a court injunction against a citizen-led petition on Alberta’s potential separation from Canada says legal action was necessary to defend treaty rights. Chief Sheldon Sunshine of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation said the constitutional challenge targets the province’s citizen-initiated referendum process, which he argues could affect First Nations without proper consultation. According to statements made at the start of the hearing, Sunshine said the case is about ensuring treaty obligations are upheld. A court hearing began Tuesday and is expected to include a

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s communications director, Katy Merrifield, is stepping down from her role, according to an internal email sent to the Conservative caucus on Tuesday. In the message, Merrifield said her last day in the Opposition Leader’s Office will be Friday. She also outlined changes to the senior communications team, stating that Micah Green will take over as communications director and Sam Lilly will become media relations director. Merrifield said both appointments were made at her recommendation. Merrifield joined Poilievre’s team in 2025, around the time the

Prime Minister Mark Carney and nine European leaders say they welcome a reported two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, according to a joint statement released Wednesday. The statement follows remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Tuesday that an agreement had been reached after tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. Trump had earlier warned of severe consequences if negotiations to reopen the waterway failed. According to Trump’s social media posts, discussions between the United States and Iran are expected to include reconstruction ef

The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire following approximately 40 days of conflict, according to statements attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump and media reports. The pause in hostilities is expected to halt attacks involving the United States, Israel and Iran during the agreed period. Trump said the decision followed appeals from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the country’s military leadership. Reports also indicate the arrangement was facilitated through Pakistan’s mediation, with last-minute diplomatic involvement from China. These claims ha

Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to speak today with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen following the completion of the Artemis II mission’s lunar flyby, according to a media advisory from the Canadian Space Agency. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly is also expected to participate in the call, the agency said. Hansen and three American crewmates completed a six-hour flyby of the moon on Monday, travelling farther into space than any human mission to date and surpassing the distance record set during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, according to the Canadian Space Agency. Carney has said Can