Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says it may be too late for a citizen-led petition seeking a ban on new coal mining projects to be included in the province's Oct. 19 referendum vote. Earlier this month, Alberta musician Corb Lund submitted what he said were more than 200,000 signatures in support of a petition that would require the Alberta government to consider legislation banning new coal mining or submit the matter to a provincewide referendum if the signatures are verified. According to Alberta's citizen initiative rules, a successful petition can compel the government to either introduce

The Alberta government has announced that it will replace fuel tax relief on gasoline and diesel with direct cash payments under a new Alberta Energy Rebate program. According to the government, the program will begin on July 1, 2026. Adults in households with annual incomes below $225,000 will receive a $100 rebate payment. Premier Danielle Smith said the province opted for direct payments after a previous fuel tax suspension did not fully translate into savings at the pump for consumers. Smith said the government is returning a portion of increased revenues generated by higher oil prices dir

An 11-year-old boy has died after a suspected drowning during a school field trip at Echo Dale Regional Park in Medicine Hat, according to Alberta RCMP. Police said officers responded Monday afternoon after receiving a report that a child had gone missing during a school outing at the park. Staff from the school division, park employees and emergency responders searched the area, while drones were deployed to assist in locating the child. Staff Sgt. Darren Lole said the boy was found in the water within about an hour of the initial report. He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead

A four-year-old girl has died after being struck by a vehicle in northeast Edmonton, according to the Edmonton Police Service. Police said the child was walking through a parking lot with her mother on Sunday evening when she broke free and ran onto a nearby street. Investigators say she was then struck by a Jeep driven by a 23-year-old man. Bystanders immediately provided assistance and the girl was transported to hospital. Police said she later died from her injuries. According to the Edmonton Police Service, investigators do not believe speed or impaired driving were factors in the collisio

Calgary police are searching for two suspects following an incident in which three vehicles were vandalized last week in northeast Calgary. Investigators believe the incident may be connected to ongoing extortion-related activity targeting members of the city's South Asian community. According to the Calgary Police Service, the vandalism occurred at approximately 5:15 a.m. on June 12 in the 300 block of Skyview Parkway N.E. Officers responded to reports that three vehicles had been damaged. The investigation remains ongoing. Police said the incident took place at the same location where an ext

RCMP in Lake Louise say the theft of two plaques from a First World War internment memorial in Banff National Park is being treated as a priority investigation. According to an RCMP news release, the plaques were removed from the Castle Mountain Internment Camp memorial, which commemorates people detained in Canada during the First World War. Police also reported vandalism to a statue located at the site. The memorial includes historical information about the Castle Mountain camp and a statue of a Ukrainian immigrant bearing the word “Why?” at its base. The site serves as a place of rememb

Calgary police say the deaths of a 42-year-old woman and her seven-year-old son have been determined to be a murder-suicide. According to police, the bodies were discovered Wednesday after officers conducted a welfare check at a home in northeast Calgary. Investigators said the case has been reviewed and no other suspects are being sought. Police have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Authorities also said there was no reported history of family violence involving those involved.

Calgary police say a man was stabbed twice in the face after being subjected to racial slurs in what investigators are describing as a hate-motivated attack. Police allege the incident occurred on the night of May 22, when a man in his 40s was approached by a neighbour outside his home in southwest Calgary. During the confrontation, the victim was allegedly targeted with racial remarks before being stabbed. The injured man managed to get inside his home, call police and was taken to hospital for treatment. Authorities say he has since recovered from his injuries. Investigators also allege the

The last remaining recall petitions aimed at removing members of the Alberta legislature have been dismissed. It marks the first time since October that there are no active recall campaigns seeking to unseat Alberta politicians. Elections Alberta says petitions targeting Opposition NDP MLA Marie Renaud and former United Conservative cabinet minister Peter Guthrie have both come to an end. According to the agency, the petition against Renaud was withdrawn, while the campaign against Guthrie was declared invalid after no documents were submitted by Wednesday’s deadline. Under Alberta’s recal