Alberta’s United Conservative government has approved legislation that reinforces its plan to rely on the Charter’s notwithstanding clause for several measures affecting transgender residents. The vote took place in the early hours of Tuesday after hours of debate in the legislature. The bill confirms the province will invoke the constitutional override to protect three existing laws from legal challenges. Those laws include restrictions on names and pronouns used for students in schools, a prohibition on transgender girls competing in amateur female sports, and limits on gender-affirming

Alberta RCMP say a Lloydminster man is facing hate-related and firearms charges following a police search that uncovered several weapons and symbols associated with extremist ideology. Officers executed a warrant at a home in the border city after receiving reports of threats directed at identifiable groups, according to investigators. Police say the search led to the seizure of multiple long guns, a crossbow, ammunition and two flags, including one bearing a swastika. A second flag displayed a Confederate design with the phrase “The South will rise again.” RCMP officials say the items wer

Calgary police say five people are facing charges after a southeast casino reported concerns about possible collusion among staff and players. Investigators were contacted by casino management in November after employees noticed irregular activity involving card-game payouts. According to police, two staff members allegedly issued unearned winnings to three individuals over a three-week period. The activity was flagged internally and forwarded to law enforcement for review. All five suspects – two men and three women – were arrested on November 19 and are scheduled to appear in court on De

Northern and southeastern Alberta are bracing for significant winter weather as a fast-moving system pushes across the province. Environment Canada says communities throughout the Peace Region, including Grande Prairie and areas near Athabasca, could receive 15 to 30 centimetres of snow by late Monday, with some brief pauses possible before the system intensifies again. South of Edmonton, a winter storm watch has been issued for regions around Red Deer and Medicine Hat. Forecasters warn the incoming front may deliver heavy rain, strong winds and periods of snow, creating unpredictable conditio

Calgary police say a 17-year-old has been charged following two fatal overdoses on the neighbouring Tsuut’ina Nation earlier this summer, an incident that has renewed concerns about youth involvement in the province’s illicit drug trade. Investigators allege the teen had been selling cocaine, including during school lunch hours. Officers executed a search warrant at a Calgary residence as part of the investigation. Police say they seized several items, including cellphones, cash, digital scales, bear spray and quantities of cocaine and methamphetamines. Authorities note that Alberta contin

A 70-year-old man from Sherwood Park has died after an SUV collided head-on with a school bus on a rural road south of Edmonton. RCMP were called to the intersection near Millet shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday, where officers found the SUV driver deceased at the scene. Police say five people were on the bus, including four students, and none of them were injured. The bus was operating within the Wetaskiwin-area school system, which serves families across central Alberta, including commuters who regularly travel the region’s grid roads during winter weather. Investigators say poor road conditi

Alberta’s provincial health authority is undergoing another leadership change as Alberta Health Services says chief executive officer Andre Tremblay has taken a leave of absence. The organization did not disclose the reason for his departure, citing personnel limitations. The provincial government has appointed senior AHS official Erin O’Neill to oversee the agency on an interim basis. She will serve both as acting CEO and temporary board chair as the organization continues its transition into a dedicated provider of hospital and clinical services under the government’s health system res

Alberta has consolidated its police oversight system under a new Police Review Commission, a move the provincial government says will simplify how the public files concerns about police conduct. Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis announced the start of operations on Monday, saying the province wanted a clearer and more consistent process for handling complaints. The new commission replaces a mix of police service units and external agencies that previously managed different parts of the disciplinary process. The province says the centralized model is intended to reduce confusion for residents a

A provincewide petition asserting that Alberta should remain within Canada has met the legal threshold and has been formally validated by Elections Alberta. The petition, launched by former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, gathered more than 400,000 verified signatures, surpassing the minimum needed to trigger a legislative review. Under provincial law, the successful verification sends the matter to an all-party committee of the Alberta legislature, which will determine whether a provincewide referendum on national unity should move ahead. The process is part of Alberta’s citizen-initiative