Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney will participate in two public debates this spring on the question of provincial separation, facing off against a Calgary lawyer who supports Alberta leaving Canada. The first debate is scheduled for May at a member-only conference hosted by Civitas Canada, a conservative non-profit, in Edmonton. Conference materials say both sides share a goal of “economic fairness for Alberta,” with Kenney and lawyer Keith Wilson debating whether staying in or leaving Canada best allows the province to “fulfil their destiny.” A second debate is planned for Calgary

Residents in Wetaskiwin, a city south of Edmonton, say frustration is growing over a lack of information surrounding restrictions placed on Mayor Joe Branco that have kept him out of city hall for more than two months. Branco has been attending council meetings virtually since mid-January. The city has said the decision relates to “confidential personnel matters,” but has not provided further details, citing privacy obligations. According to statements made during recent council discussions, the lack of public information has contributed to speculation in the community. Resident Maggie Tol

Alberta RCMP say a suspect remains at large following a fatal shooting on a highway south of Edmonton earlier this month, with investigators still working to determine a motive. According to an RCMP news release, the shooting occurred near Leduc on the afternoon of March 14. Witnesses reported seeing a pickup truck pull up alongside a car before speeding away. Police say the driver of the car had been shot. He managed to pull over to the side of the road, where he later died. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said officers have since located the grey pickup truck believed to be involved, b

Danielle Smith says she is extending condolences to the families of those killed following a crash involving an Air Canada Express flight in New York City. In a statement, Smith said she shares sympathies with the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident. According to Air Canada, the aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members at the time of the crash, which occurred late Sunday after arriving in New York. The airline said both the pilot and co-pilot were killed. Both were identified as Canadian. U.S. authorities said 41 people were tr

A Calgary truck driver convicted in the United States after an online child luring sting is scheduled to be sentenced next month, according to court records. The 41-year-old man pleaded guilty in February to a charge of luring a minor, stemming from an investigation led by an undercover detective in Idaho. According to court proceedings, the officer posed as a 14-year-old girl during online conversations with the accused. Court heard the man directed the fictional girl to call him “Daddy” and sent sexually suggestive messages before arranging to meet at a truck stop south of Idaho Falls in

Alberta’s government has introduced legislation that would significantly narrow who qualifies for medical assistance in dying, or MAID, limiting access to those expected to die of natural causes within a year. According to the provincial bill tabled by Justice Minister Mickey Amery, eligibility would be restricted to patients whose deaths are considered reasonably foreseeable within 12 months. The proposal mirrors the narrower criteria in place when Canada first legalized MAID in 2016. Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party government is positioning the change as a return to ea

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she travelled on a private aircraft arranged by the Saudi government during an official trip to the Middle East last fall, adding that the travel was approved in advance by the province’s ethics commissioner. Smith confirmed the arrangement Tuesday during a legislative committee meeting while responding to questions tied to Alberta’s 2026 budget. The premier said the non-commercial flight was proposed by Saudi officials to allow for more efficient travel between engagements. According to Smith, the trip included meetings in Saudi Arabia and the United Ar

A 27-year-old woman is dead after a head-on collision on Anthony Henday Drive in Edmonton early Saturday, according to police. The Edmonton Police Service says the woman was driving west in an eastbound lane of the expressway when her vehicle collided with another vehicle. Police said the crash occurred on Anthony Henday Drive, one of the city’s major ring-road routes. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released her name. The 37-year-old man driving the other vehicle was taken to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Police have not said what led

A driver was killed after shots were fired at a moving vehicle Saturday afternoon on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway near Leduc, according to police. Investigators say the incident happened around 2:50 p.m. near Township Road 490. Police said a black Honda Civic was travelling on the highway when a white or grey pickup truck pulled alongside and gunfire was directed at the car. The driver of the Honda Civic was struck by the gunfire and died at the scene, police said. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity. Police say the suspects fled the area in the pickup truck at a high rate