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american-man-gets-50-years-for-horrific-sex-abuse-kidnapping-edmonton-teen
CanadaApr 09, 2025

American man gets 50 years for 'horrific' sex abuse, kidnapping Edmonton teen

An American man who abducted an Edmonton teen, took her over the U.S. border and subjected her to ``horrific sexual abuse'' has been given a 50-year prison sentence by a U.S. judge. The decision against Noah Madrano was meted in Portland, Ore., almost three years after the teen was located and Madrano was arrested by FBI agents at a hotel in the U.S. state. Earlier this year, the 43-year-old pleaded guilty to sexual abuse and kidnapping charges. The manhunt began in the summer of 2022 after the girl, then 13, failed to show up for class at her junior high school in Edmonton.
alberta-measles-outbreak-not-dire-enough-to-warrant-public-address-health-minister
AlbertaApr 09, 2025

Alberta measles outbreak not dire enough to warrant public address: health minister

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange says Alberta's measles outbreak isn't dire enough for the province's top doctor for public health to address the public, despite mounting calls for the government to do more to stop the spread. Alberta has reported 43 cases of the highly infectious disease over the past month.The Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association says the spread is a result of government inaction, especially around Alberta's low vaccination rates. The association is calling on the province to improve how it updates the public on the outbreak and develop a vaccination plan.
alberta-builds-groundwork-for-optional-provincial-police-agency-for-municipalities
AlbertaApr 08, 2025

Alberta builds groundwork for optional provincial police agency for municipalities

Alberta's government is taking another step toward giving municipalities the option of ditching the RCMP in favour of a new provincial police service. Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis says an independent Alberta service could step in to help address concerns he's heard about the Mounties' staffing shortages and rising costs. If passed, a proposed bill would mean a new agency must operate under a Crown corporation that would be at arm's length from the government. An extra $6 million has been set aside for the agency's leadership team, but Ellis says if the province shifts about
statue-of-prominent-canadian-solider-destroyed-in-sherwood-park-man-facing-arson-charges
CanadaApr 08, 2025

Statue of prominent Canadian solider destroyed in Sherwood Park; man facing arson charges

A man has been charged with arson after the memorial statue of a prominent Canadian solider was destroyed in a community east of Edmonton last month. RCMP say the statue of Sam Steele, which was made of wood, was burned on March 21st in Sherwood Park. Police say they arrested a 23-year-old Sherwood Park man shortly after the incident and he is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow. Steele was a key figure in the North-West Mounted Police and the Canadian military in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
alberta-revamping-health-care-grants-to-activity-based-hospital-funding-system
CanadaApr 08, 2025

Alberta revamping health-care grants to 'activity-based' hospital funding system

Alberta's government will soon tie public hospital funding to the number and type of procedures performed, a move critics warn won't improve the public system and will only accelerate private delivery. Premier Danielle Smith says the new ``activity-based'' model, expected to be implemented for some surgeries in 2026, will drive costs down by fostering competition among public and private providers who will be rewarded for delivering better results. Smith says it will make the system more efficient, lower wait times, provide more transparency and attract more surgeons to the province. Albert
final-canada-carbon-rebate-payment-before-april-28-election
CanadaApr 07, 2025

Final Canada Carbon Rebate Payment Before April 28 Election

Millions of Canadians are set to receive their final Canada Carbon Rebate payment ahead of the April 28 vote. Residents of eight provinces, including Alberta and Nova Scotia, which had a federal carbon fuel charge, will receive their final Canada Carbon Rebate payment on April 22. In addition, British Columbians will receive their final B.C. Climate Action Tax Credit payment. The federal government will distribute approximately $4 billion in payments under the Canada Carbon Rebate to around 13 million Canadians. According to the Canada Revenue Agency, only those who filed their tax returns be
special-to-the-world-supporters-hope-to-save-beloved-drumheller-dinosaur
AlbertaApr 07, 2025

'Special to the world': Supporters hope to save beloved Drumheller dinosaur

The mayor of Drumheller, Alberta, says the fate of Tyra the Tyrannosaurus is far from over. The Drumheller Chamber of Commerce plans to dismantle the towering tourist attraction in 2029 after it opened 25 years ago. Tyra brings in about 150-thousand visitors a year and is four times the size of a real Tyrannosaurus. But Mayor Heather Colberg wants to talk to the chamber and thinks an alternate solution can be worked out. She says the community is very fond of Tyra and she is an important part of the town and its tourism industry. Julia Fielding from Travel Drumheller says Tyra i
alberta-putting-17-million-toward-planning-urgent-care-centres
FeaturedMar 31, 2025

Alberta putting $17 million toward planning urgent care centres

The Alberta government says it will spend$17 million to plan nine new urgent care centres across the province. Health Minister Adriana LaGrange says the centres will besmaller than hospitals and designed to treat people with urgent but non-life-threatening medical needs, such as broken bones. Alberta has six urgent care centres in operation and LaGrange says the new facilities would help reduce emergency room wait times in hospitals. She says the funding is earmarked for cities across the province, including Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, Airdrie and Lethbridge. LaGrange s
alberta-premier-smith-rejects-criticism-u-s-meetings-amount-to-treason
CanadaMar 27, 2025

Alberta Premier Smith rejects criticism U.S. meetings amount to treason

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is channelling Winston Churchill to categorically reject accusations she is turning her back on Canada by meeting and talking to U.S. officials and influencers who wish her country harm. It comes as Smith prepares to fly to Florida today to join an event with an American podcaster who has mocked Canada as a ``silly country'' and spoken about it being annexed as the 51st state. Smith, in a speech to the house, says it is now apparently, in her words, ``treason'' to talk to American media personalities whom we disagree with. And she says she is being unjustly

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threat-prompts-brief-lockdown-at-nanaimo-high-school
BCDec 11, 2025

Threat prompts brief lockdown at Nanaimo high school

A Nanaimo high school was placed under a precautionary lockdown Wednesday afternoon after school staff were alerted to a threat directed at a student. The incident at Nanaimo District Secondary School began around 2:30 p.m., prompting administrators to activate established safety procedures. Nanaimo RCMP officers responded immediately and remained on site while classrooms were secured. Police and school officials said the lockdown lasted roughly 30 minutes, and students and staff were released shortly after 3 p.m. once officers determined there was no ongoing risk. The district says students w
vancouver-police-seize-loaded-rifle-and-drugs-during-downtown-eastside-arrest
BCDec 11, 2025

Vancouver Police seize loaded rifle and drugs during Downtown Eastside arrest

Vancouver Police say a loaded rifle and several other weapons were taken off the street this week after officers arrested a man suspected of trafficking drugs in the Downtown Eastside. The incident took place Tuesday afternoon near East Hastings and Columbia Street, an area where frontline police and community workers have long raised concerns about violence linked to the drug trade. According to the Vancouver Police Department, members of the Beat Enforcement Team were on routine patrol around 2:35 p.m. on December 9 when they arrested a 32-year-old Surrey resident outside a residential build
donald-trump-unveils-new-gold-card-immigration-program
WorldDec 11, 2025

Donald Trump unveils new ‘Gold Card’ immigration program

Former United States president Donald Trump announced on Thursday the launch of a new immigration initiative he calls the Gold Card, opening the application process for the program. Under the plan, individuals can apply for the Gold Card at a fee of US$1 million, while companies wishing to secure a card for executives or employees would pay US$2 million. Trump’s campaign says cardholders would receive a U.S. passport, full voting rights and the same benefits enjoyed by other American citizens. Trump framed the Gold Card as part of his broader “America First” policy agenda, asserting the
flooding-prompts-wider-evacuations-and-highway-closures-across-southern-b-c
BCDec 11, 2025

Flooding prompts wider evacuations and highway closures across southern B.C.

Communities across southern British Columbia are facing new evacuation orders and travel disruptions after heavy rainfall triggered flooding and landslides that severed key routes between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. Provincial officials say multiple highways, including the Coquihalla and Highways 1, 3, 5 and 11, remain shut as crews assess washouts and unstable slopes. The closure of Highway 11 has also halted access to the Sumas border crossing. In Abbotsford, 371 properties on the Sumas Prairie were ordered evacuated overnight as waters linked to the overflowing Nooksack River conti
cra-plans-major-hiring-push-to-boost-call-centre-capacity-ahead-of-tax-season
CanadaDec 11, 2025

CRA plans major hiring push to boost call centre capacity ahead of tax season

The Canada Revenue Agency says it plans to bring on roughly 1,700 additional call centre staff in the coming months as it prepares for a surge in taxpayer inquiries during the upcoming filing season. Agency officials say the goal is to expand the workforce to about 4,500 agents, citing internal forecasts that anticipate heavy call volumes. Melanie Serjak, an assistant commissioner with the CRA, told reporters that it is routine for the agency to scale up its operations for tax season, when daily call volumes can exceed 300,000. She said last year’s peak staffing level reached about 3,300 age