Nearly 400 specialist doctors in Alberta have expressed interest in participating in the province’s new dual-practice system, which will allow physicians to work within the public health-care system while also providing private services for selected surgeries, including hip and knee replacements. Although the legislation enabling the model is now in place, the office of Surgical Services Minister Adriana LaGrange said doctors must complete a formal application process before any private surgeries can begin. The first dual-practice surgeries are expected to take place this fall, following a r

Preparations are ramping up for Alberta’s 10-question referendum, with Elections Alberta beginning to distribute special mail-in ballots ahead of the Oct. 19 vote. Voters who have already registered for a special ballot will begin receiving their voting packages by mail. They can also choose to pick up their ballots in person. The special-ballot option is available to eligible Alberta voters who want to vote by mail. The referendum will feature 10 questions covering immigration, constitutional reform and Alberta’s future within Canada. The 10th question asks voters to choose between keep

Police are searching for a suspect vehicle following a road rage incident that led to a collision near Vegreville, east of Edmonton. Officers were called around 12:45 p.m. Friday after a collision related to a road rage incident on Range Road 152, north of Township Road 522. According to police, the driver of a black Dodge Ram overtook an SUV at a high speed before suddenly braking, causing the SUV travelling behind it to crash into the truck. Following the collision, the suspect got out of the truck and used a crowbar to smash the driver’s side of the SUV before fleeing the scene. The SUV d

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith avoided addressing the province’s separatist movement in her speech at Heritage Park in Calgary during an Alberta Day event. The remarks came ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum, in which Albertans will be asked whether they want to remain part of Canada or proceed with a second referendum on Alberta separation. Smith has already said she intends to vote for Alberta to remain in Canada. In her brief speech, she praised the province’s cultural diversity and said Canada recognizes Alberta’s economic and strategic importance. At the same time, Smith said the refer

Lloydminster RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest in connection with the attempted abduction of a nine-year-old girl. Police received a report of the incident on August 14 and immediately launched an investigation. No further details about the circumstances have been released. As part of the investigation, RCMP investigators worked with a forensic sketch artist to create a composite sketch of the person believed to be involved. Police say the suspect’s age is unknown and describe the individual as having short hair, a nose ring and a moustache. An

A 16-year-old youth has been arrested in northern Alberta after allegedly threatening to shoot students at a school just days before the start of the new academic year. RCMP officers said they received a report in Manning about a student threatening to shoot other students on the first day of school. After nearly six days of investigation, Mounties executed a search warrant at a local residence on Tuesday. During the search, police seized seven weapons. RCMP said the 16-year-old is expected to face a charge related to uttering threats, subject to Crown approval. Manning RCMP Sgt. Gavin Ool sai

Former Alberta premiers Jason Kenney and Rachel Notley are joining forces in an effort to keep the province in Canada. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce says the two former political rivals will co-chair its campaign to keep the country united. Kenney became premier in 2019 after his United Conservative Party defeated Notley’s NDP government. Notley says she and Kenney disagree on many issues, but they agree that the separation question expected in the upcoming referendum would be bad for Alberta businesses and comes at the wrong time, amid the ongoing U.S.-Canada trade war.

Federal NDP MP for Edmonton Strathcona Heather McPherson, along with leaders from across the country, has strongly condemned the attack at Nanaksar Gurdwara Sahib and expressed solidarity with the Sikh community. They called for a full investigation into the incident, urging authorities to take the growing anti-Sikh hatred in Canada seriously and implement stronger measures to protect places of worship. McPherson said everyone has the right to practise their religion freely and that such violent attacks are unacceptable under any circumstances. Meanwhile, Surrey-Newton MP Sukh Dhaliwal express

A stabbing incident at Nanaksar Gurdwara Sahib in Edmonton early Friday morning left two people injured. Police have arrested a suspect at the scene. According to police, the incident occurred at around 5:08 a.m. at the gurdwara located near 14 Street and Horsehills Road. The two injured individuals were treated at the scene, and their injuries were considered non-life-threatening. Police are questioning the arrested suspect, while officers continue their investigation in and around the gurdwara to ensure the safety of the congregation. Meanwhile, the World Sikh Organization of Canada said in