The Alberta government is expected to record a budget surplus of billions of dollars this fiscal year, driven by higher crude oil prices. According to University of Calgary economics professor Trevor Tombe, the province has already accumulated a $3.8-billion surplus so far this fiscal year. He said every $1-per-barrel change in oil prices can make a difference of about $680 million to the provincial treasury. Tombe estimates that if oil prices remain above $66 per barrel, Alberta could end up with a surplus of around $6 billion, instead of the previously projected $9.4-billion deficit. Alberta

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again claimed that the United States has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz and said Washington intends to maintain that control. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump described the U.S. Navy’s blockade as a “wall of steel” and said there was nothing Iran could do about it. His comments come as shipping traffic through the strategic waterway has dropped sharply. Only eight vessels passed through the Strait on Tuesday, compared with around 130 to 140 vessels per day before the war. Iran, meanwhile, says full maritime traffic through

Vancouver police have arrested a 19-year-old man after he allegedly caused a disturbance with a knife and created a sense of fear in the Granville Entertainment District. According to police, the incident occurred at around 1:50 a.m. today. An employee at a business reportedly saw the man flipping over tables and displaying a knife toward people passing by. When the employee attempted to intervene, the suspect became angry and began striking the business’s sign with the knife. The employee then backed away and called police. Officers arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect just two blo

The federal government has announced $34 million in funding to help communities across Canada deal with the impacts of climate change. The funding will support municipalities and local organizations in launching projects aimed at reducing the risks posed by natural disasters such as floods, wildfires and extreme heat. Federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin announced the funding in Halifax today, acknowledging that Canada’s climate is changing and that communities need to be better prepared for its impacts. According to Dabrusin, the funding will support 141 climate-related projects acro

Surrey Police Service (SPS) is investigating an early morning shooting in Surrey’s Cloverdale neighbourhood that left one adult male with a minor, non-life-threatening injury. Police responded at approximately 3:52 a.m. on August 12 to reports of a shooting near a residence in the area of 60 Avenue and 177 Street. Two people were reportedly shot at, with one person sustaining a minor injury that did not require medical treatment. The suspects fled the scene. SPS’s Major Crime Section has taken over the investigation, while forensic officers are processing physical and digital evidence in t

British Columbia’s simplified licensing rules are attracting American doctors, with some moving to the province with their families. Two doctors have recently settled in the remote coastal community of Pender Harbour and are now providing services at the local health centre. The area had long struggled with a shortage of doctors, with only one part-time physician serving more than 500 residents. Among the new arrivals are Dr. Leo Bay, who moved from Utah, and Dr. Derek Williams, a Montana physician with 25 years of experience. Both are now providing permanent medical services to thousands of

Two recent surveys on Canada’s trade outlook have raised concerns about the impact on small businesses and employment. A survey released Wednesday by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says small Canadian exporters could face a revenue loss of at least 50 per cent if a new 50-per-cent tariff is imposed. Meanwhile, a separate survey conducted by Oxford Economics for the Canadian American Business Council has warned about the potential impact of the CUSMA trade agreement. According to the report, if CUSMA comes to an end, around 102,000 jobs in Canada could be at risk. The

Canada’s federal government is investing $24 million to establish the Canadian Cannabis and Brain Health Consortium, aimed at better understanding how cannabis affects the brain and overall health. Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel announced the funding Wednesday. Supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the consortium will bring together 10 research teams from across Canada to study the potential benefits and risks of cannabis use among people of different ages. Researchers will examine cannabis’s effects on conditions and areas including epilepsy, anxiety, po

Canada’s chief trade negotiator Janice Charette has warned the United States that imposing new tariffs on Canadian exports starting August 19 could jeopardize the ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries. According to reports, Charette delivered the message during a key meeting last week with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. She reportedly made it clear that if the U.S. imposes a 50 per cent tariff, the federal government may not be able to contain the political and public backlash in Canada, potentially forcing Ottawa to retaliate against American imports. Sources say U