Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced that anyone seeking a position on the United Conservative Party (UCP) board will have to sign a pledge opposing provincial separation at the party’s annual general meeting next month. Smith said Albertans voted overwhelmingly to remain part of Canada in last week’s referendum, and the party must respect the result. Current board members are also expected to honour the commitment. Candidates running under the UCP banner in next year’s provincial election will also be required to respect the referendum results. The move is aimed at keeping separ

Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that at least two Canadians were injured in a major train accident in Spain on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Carney expressed his condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the crash. He also said the Canadian government was ready to provide any assistance Spain might need during this difficult time. The accident occurred in Spain’s central Toledo province when a high-speed train struck another stationary train from behind. More than 60 people have reportedly died in the incident. Both trains were travelling in the same direction

A special weather alert has been issued for Edmonton and surrounding communities in Central Alberta, with up to 15 centimetres of snow expected by Thursday morning. According to the warning, the first major snowfall of the season began Tuesday night and is expected to continue through Thursday morning. Snowfall overnight has already caused difficulties for commuters travelling to work early Wednesday. Drivers are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys and prepare for rapidly changing and deteriorating road conditions. Mainroad Alberta Contracting, which maintains approximately 4,

Jamie Dacosta, who is accused of making death threats against Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, is expected to plead guilty. His defence lawyer has been instructed to arrange a sentencing date. A court appearance on Thursday is expected to set a date for the guilty plea and request a pre-sentence report. The 31-year-old faces several other charges, including extortion, criminal harassment, uttering death threats and property damage. Dacosta’s mother, Kathie Dacosta, says he has been struggling with serious mental and emotional health issues. He is currently being held at the Calgary Reman

B.C. premier-designate Lorne Doerkson has signalled that he may take a different approach from federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on the oil tanker ban along British Columbia’s northern coast. Poilievre recently called on the Carney government in the House of Commons to lift the ban. However, Doerkson has given a lukewarm response to the proposal, saying his main focus is the Pacific Link pipeline project, which has been declared a project of national interest by the federal government. The proposed pipeline would run from Alberta to Delta, B.C., and is expected to create significa

The Bank of Canada has raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points for the first time in three years, increasing it from 2.25% to 2.50%. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said the decision was aimed at keeping inflation under control amid economic pressures caused by a sharp rise in crude oil prices. The central bank had held its policy rate at 2.25% for seven consecutive decisions. Following the latest increase, mortgages, car loans and other commercial borrowing are expected to become more expensive, putting additional financial pressure on Canadians. Citing elevated oil

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra has reportedly warned that Canada could be held responsible if President Donald Trump’s Republican Party loses the upcoming midterm elections. According to reports, Hoekstra hosted a private business lunch at his official residence in Ottawa on Tuesday, where he specifically mentioned border states such as Michigan and Maine. Republican victories in these states are considered important for the party’s efforts to maintain its Senate majority. Hoekstra reportedly told business leaders that if these states swing in favour of Democrats, Canada could fac

Canada and the United Arab Emirates have signed a historic free trade agreement in Ottawa. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed during a ceremony on Parliament Hill attended by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Canada’s Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi signed the agreement, which was concluded in a record 47 days after free trade negotiations began. The deal aims to eliminate tariffs, reduce regulatory barriers and create new business opportunities

A 45-year-old woman has died after being struck by an SUV while crossing the street in Vancouver. According to police, the collision occurred around midnight on Sunday at a marked crosswalk at Main Street and National Avenue. The impact threw the woman approximately 30 metres away. Despite efforts by paramedics, she could not be saved. Police said it was dark and raining heavily at the time of the collision. The SUV driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. Investigators do not believe alcohol or drugs were factors in the incident. This marks the second pedestrian col