More than 30 Alberta lawyers, including two former Progressive Conservative justice ministers, are publicly criticizing the provincial government, saying its recent conduct toward the justice system is unacceptable and risks weakening democratic institutions. In an open letter published this week, the group argues that recent legislation and public comments by government officials have contributed to what they describe as growing pressure on judicial independence. The letter raises concerns that repeated attacks on courts and legal oversight bodies could undermine public confidence in the rule

The Alberta Court of Appeal has overturned the conviction of a Calgary man previously sentenced to life in prison for the 2020 killings of two men in northwest Calgary. Gerald Benn was initially found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder three years after the fatal shooting. At trial, the judge cited surveillance footage and DNA found on plastic bags at the scene as key evidence. In its ruling, the Court of Appeal concluded that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to conclusively prove Benn was the shooter. The decision means Benn’s conviction has been quashed, though th

Keyera Corp. has temporarily shut down its Alberta Envirofuels facility following the failure of a critical component, the company confirmed. The unplanned outage began earlier this month, affecting the company’s biofuels operations in the province. The Calgary-based energy company, which operates pipelines, storage terminals, and natural gas processing facilities across Canada and the United States, said it anticipates the plant will resume operations in May. In light of the unexpected shutdown, Keyera plans to advance a six-week major turnaround originally scheduled for the fall, completin

Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to impose a 16-year prison sentence on a Calgary man convicted of participating in the activities of the Islamic State group after travelling to Syria more than a decade ago. Jamal Borhot, now 35, was found guilty in December of three counts related to involvement with a listed terrorist organization. The court heard Borhot travelled to Syria in 2013 and knowingly assisted ISIS while the group was carrying out widespread violence across the region. During sentencing submissions, the Crown said Borhot was not a passive supporter. Prosecutors told the court

The Alberta government has initiated a formal review of Calgary’s recurring water main failures, requesting extensive records from the city spanning the past 20 years. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said in a letter to Calgary officials, shared publicly on social media, that the review aims to ensure the city’s 1.6 million residents have access to safe and reliable water services. Williams noted that while the city is actively addressing the latest rupture, the province must take steps to prevent future incidents. The concerns focus on the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, a key pipelin

Two people were taken to hospital with serious injuries after being attacked by two pit bulls at a rural property near Vermilion, east of Edmonton, according to RCMP. Mounties say officers were called Wednesday to a home in the Vermilion area, roughly 190 kilometres east of Edmonton, after the dogs turned on their caretakers. Police did not release details about the extent of the injuries but confirmed both victims required medical treatment. Following the attack, the dogs escaped from the property, prompting authorities to warn residents about the potential risk of the animals being loose in

Alberta health officials are expected to provide an update today on hospital capacity pressures as concerns grow over emergency room overcrowding across the province. The briefing comes amid renewed calls from physicians for structural changes to how patient flow is managed within Alberta’s health-care system. Hospital and Surgical Services Minister Matt Jones is scheduled to appear alongside senior health leaders. Officials are also expected to address the death last month of a man who died while waiting for care in an Edmonton emergency department, a case that has intensified scrutiny of w

Calgary police say a man who died last week following an altercation with a woman in northwest Calgary is believed to have lured her to a home under the false pretence of a property showing before attacking her without provocation. Officers were called to a residence on Friday afternoon after reports of an incident inside the home. When police arrived, they found a man with serious injuries, along with a witness and the woman involved in the altercation. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the woman was taken to hospital for treatment. Investigators believe she had been invite

Alberta’s Official Opposition NDP is pressing Premier Danielle Smith and the province’s four health ministers to implement emergency measures as doctors raise alarms over overcrowded hospitals. The call comes after the Alberta Medical Association reported that hospitals have been operating at more than 110 per cent capacity for over a year, creating strains on both staff and patient care. Dr. Brian Wirzba, president of the association, said public statements are a last resort for physicians who have repeatedly voiced concerns through internal channels without seeing adequate action. Meanwh