A group advocating for Alberta’s separation from Canada is expected to submit petition signatures today to trigger a potential referendum on the issue. Mitch Sylvestre, who leads Stay Free Alberta, said the organization plans to deliver thousands of signed petition sheets to Elections Alberta’s head office in Edmonton. According to Sylvestre, the group had already surpassed the required threshold of about 178,000 signatures more than a month ago, after beginning its campaign in January. Under provincial rules, Elections Alberta must verify the signatures before any referendum question can

A 37-year-old man is facing two counts of first-degree murder after the bodies of two children were found inside a vehicle in Calgary, according to court records. Police have said the victims were under the age of 10. Their identities are protected under a publication ban. According to police, the man was arrested outside the vehicle on Thursday. Court documents indicate the children were killed on or about Wednesday, though the circumstances surrounding their deaths have not been detailed publicly. The accused appeared in court Friday morning. A bail hearing is scheduled for next week. The ch

Alberta’s privacy commissioner is calling for changes to provincial law following allegations that a separatist group accessed and published the province’s official voter list. Elections Alberta says it is investigating a group known as the Centurion Project after an app linked to the group allegedly made public the names and addresses of nearly three million voters. According to the agency, official voter lists are only distributed to elected officials, registered political parties and authorized party representatives. The app was removed following a court order earlier this week. Electio

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says a newly approved cross-border pipeline expansion could significantly increase the flow of Alberta crude to the United States, following a presidential permit signed by U.S. President Donald Trump. According to a statement from Smith’s office, the permit authorizes the Bridger Pipeline expansion, described as a partial revival of the previously cancelled Keystone XL project. The expansion is part of a joint venture between Calgary-based South Bow and U.S.-based Bridger. Smith said the project could transport more than 500,000 barrels of Alberta oil per day

An evacuation alert has been issued for the community of Draper in northern Alberta after rising river levels linked to a large ice jam raised concerns about possible flooding. According to a notice from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, approximately 140 residents of the unincorporated community have been advised to prepare to leave on short notice. Draper is located along the southern bank of the Clearwater River, about 12 kilometres southeast of Fort McMurray. Officials say a roughly 20-kilometre-long ice jam on the Athabasca River has contributed to a rapid increase in water level

Alberta health officials are warning of a potential measles exposure at a hospital emergency department in Grande Prairie. According to an Alberta Health Services advisory, the exposure is believed to have occurred on April 20 and April 22 at the emergency department. Officials say individuals who were present at those times may have been exposed to the virus. Health authorities say people who are not fully vaccinated are at higher risk of infection. Symptoms of measles can include fever, cough and a spreading rash. Alberta Health Services is urging residents to review their immunization recor

Police in Alberta are asking for the public’s help after a truck carrying two peacocks was reported stolen west of Edmonton. According to the RCMP, a 2005 Ford F-350 was taken from the community of Stony Plain on Sunday. Officers say the birds were inside the vehicle at the time of the theft. Mounties are asking anyone who may have seen the truck or the animals to contact police. No further details about the direction of travel or suspects had been released as of publication time. The investigation is ongoing.

A fire at an apartment complex in northeast Edmonton has caused an estimated $1.1 million in property damage and displaced residents, according to emergency response information. The blaze broke out April 20 at the Wyndham Crossing Apartments, where about 200 people live. Evacuating residents safely was a significant challenge for crews responding to the scene. One person was seriously injured in the fire and taken to hospital for treatment. A firefighter was also hurt during the response and received on-site care from emergency services. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and

Edmonton police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 19-year-old man, identified as Prayag Dalbhatwala. According to an Edmonton Police Service news release, Dalbhatwala was last seen on April 23 at حوالي 4 p.m. at a residence near 99 Street and 90 Avenue. Police and his family have expressed concern for his well-being. Investigators say Dalbhatwala had planned to travel to Calgary but cancelled those plans at the last minute. His whereabouts since then remain unknown. Police describe him as approximately five feet nine inches tall, with black hair, and he wears