Alberta’s fall legislative session closed this week with Premier Danielle Smith’s government advancing two major bills that relied heavily on the Charter’s notwithstanding clause, a move that has renewed debate over the limits of provincial authority and the protection of individual rights. The clause was applied four times in the sitting, shielding the legislation from certain court challenges for up to five years. The government first invoked the clause when it passed a law ordering more than 51 thousand public school teachers back to work following a three-week provincewide strike. Th

Two national advocacy organizations say they are pivoting their legal strategy as they continue efforts to challenge Alberta’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for youth. Egale Canada and the Calgary-based Skipping Stone Foundation launched a constitutional challenge last year after the province passed legislation prohibiting doctors from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy to people under 16, and from performing gender-affirming top surgery on anyone under 18. The groups say the path through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has become significantly more difficult since th

Elections Alberta has approved recall petitions targeting Premier Danielle Smith and two members of her cabinet, marking the latest wave of challenges under the province’s recall legislation. The petitions, issued this week, add to a growing list of United Conservative Party MLAs facing organized campaigns in their constituencies. Heather VanSnick, the applicant behind the recall effort in Brooks–Medicine Hat, alleges the premier has not meaningfully engaged with residents or subject-matter experts when shaping provincial policy. She also argues that recent government decisions have contri

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