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AlbertaJun 18, 2025

Minor suffered serious injuries, taken to Edmonton hospital

Mounties in Alberta say an 18-year-old driver is facing multiple charges after a youth was allegedly pinned against a building by a truck. St. Paul R-C-M-P say officers responded to a call for a collision at a convenience store early Saturday morning. When police arrived on scene, they found a youth still stuck between a truck and the building. The driver has been charged with various offences, including aggravated assault, while the youth is recovering from serious injuries.
lethbridge-police-chief-accused-of-breaking-covid-rules-has-complaint-dismissed
AlbertaJun 17, 2025

Lethbridge police chief accused of breaking COVID rules has complaint dismissed

A police oversight board says it has dismissed a complaint that a southern Alberta police chief allegedly broke public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. It comes after a former deputy chief with the Lethbridge Police Service had claimed Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh violated a public health order by taking a chaplain out for lunch in March 2021. A disciplinary hearing by the Lethbridge Police Commission concluded Monday and dismissed the allegations. An agreed statement of facts says Mehdizadeh and the chaplain were masked and properly socially distanced throughout the lun
evacuation-order-issued-for-two-properties-near-squamish-wildfire
AlbertaJun 17, 2025

Evacuation order issued for two properties near Squamish wildfire

The Mayor of Squamish says two properties are on evacuation order due to slope instability from a wildfire. Armand Hurford says the Dryden Creek wildfire remained at nearly 60 hectares in size yesterday, but burned tree roots and wildfire crews have reported large trees falling and disturbing debris. Squamish Fire Rescue Chief Aaron Foote says the wildfire service is now the lead agency on the blaze, and cooler temperatures and rain are expected this week. Foote says Squamish has a busy fire department even without a wildfire, and about 57 wildfire fighters remain on the Dryden Cree
alberta-reports-53-more-cases-of-measles-surpasses-900-total-cases-since-march
CanadaJun 17, 2025

Alberta reports 53 more cases of measles, surpasses 900 total cases since March

Alberta has surpassed 900 cases of measles since the beginning of March. Data from the provincial government's dashboard shows 53 more cases were confirmed over the weekend, bringing Alberta's total to 932. The case count is the highest the province has seen in more than 40 years. Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Shelley Duggan has said Canada is at risk of losing its measles-elimination status come October and that she doubts cases will be brought under control before then. Health Canada says measles was eliminated in 1998 after being ruled no longer endemic. Alberta's governm
health-care-union-calls-for-alberta-government-to-halt-plan-to-limit-free-vaccines
AlbertaJun 17, 2025

Health-care union calls for Alberta government to halt plan to limit free vaccines

A union representing 30,000 health-care workers in Alberta is calling on Premier Danielle Smith's government to reverse course and provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all front-line workers and any other Albertan who wants the shot. The Health Sciences Association of Alberta says that is the best way to protect patients, reduce hospitalizations, and keep the health-care system strong. Smith says the aim of the new policy, announced last week, is to prevent wastage, recover costs, and protect those who need it the most by giving them the COVID shot for free. However, most Albertans
alberta-premier-defends-charging-most-albertans-for-covid-19-vaccines
AlbertaJun 16, 2025

Alberta premier defends charging most Albertans for COVID-19 vaccines

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government's new policy forcing many Albertans to pay out of pocket for a COVID-19 vaccination is about focusing on those who need it the most. Smith says $135 million got ``flushed down the drain'' last year from doses wasted in part because of low vaccine uptake. Her government will still pay for some, including for those who have compromised immune systems or are on social programs, to get shots. Smith says she thinks low vaccination rates for COVID-19 in Alberta last year are because the vaccine ``doesn't work particularly well.''
former-alberta-health-agency-ceo-asks-for-speedy-ruling-in-lawsuit-against-government
AlbertaJun 13, 2025

Former Alberta health agency CEO asks for speedy ruling in lawsuit against government

A former health agency C-E-O is asking a judge to deliver a quick decision on her wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the Alberta government. But the province says it will push back. Athana Mentzelopoulos (MENT-suh-LOW-po-luss), the former head of Alberta Health Services, has applied for a summary judgment on the legality of her firing, which would keep the case from going to trial. Her lawsuit alleges she was improperly fired after investigating questionable, multimillion-dollar health contracts. She says her version of events will be confirmed by former A-H-S board members, if t
alberta-premier-faces-raucous-angry-town-hall-on-provinces-coal-policy
AlbertaJun 12, 2025

Alberta premier faces raucous, angry town hall on province's coal policy

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and three of her ministers got an earful from southern Alberta locals at a rowdy, hours-long town hall to discuss the province's coal policy. About 500 people, dressed in cowboy hats, belt buckles, and jeans, packed a community hall in Fort Macleod, Alta., for an event marked by heckling, competing applause, and placards. The premier and her ministers of energy, environment and agriculture took questions and were shouted down on several occasions by attendees as they defended changes to the province's coal policy. The town hall came weeks after the
alberta-premier-says-province-is-looking-to-entice-private-sector-pipeline-builder
AlbertaJun 11, 2025

Alberta premier says province is looking to entice private-sector pipeline builder

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is working to entice a private-sector player to build a crude pipeline to coastal waters. She urged attendees at the Global Energy Show to keep up the pressure on Ottawa to help speed along such a nation-building project. Smith has been enthusiastic about reviving a plan to ship oilsands crude to Prince Rupert on the northern B.C. coast for export to Asia. But she says that's never going to happen as long as there's a tanker ban in place on the West Coast. Smith is also keen on accessing global markets via a pipeline to the Port of Churchill i

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CanadaMay 22, 2026

China’s foreign minister to visit Canada next week amid improving bilateral ties

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit Canada from May 28 to 30 in what officials describe as a step toward strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. The visit will mark the first trip to Canada by a Chinese foreign minister in nearly a decade. Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said relations between China and Canada have recently improved and that both countries are working toward what he described as a “new type of strategic partnership.” According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Beij
alberta-voters-to-weigh-referendum-question-on-provinces-future-in-canada-on-oct-19-says-premier-smith
FeaturedMay 22, 2026

Alberta voters to weigh referendum question on province’s future in Canada on Oct. 19, says Premier Smith

Albertans will take part in a province-wide referendum on Oct. 19 that will ask voters to weigh in on Alberta’s future relationship with Canada, Premier Danielle Smith announced Thursday evening during a televised address. Smith said the provincial government plans to include a new “blended question” on the ballot aimed at reflecting the views of both groups advocating for Alberta to remain within Canada and those supporting greater sovereignty or separation. She said the wording was developed with input from the pro-Canada group Forever Canadian and the separatist group Stay Free Albert
poilievre-says-conservatives-would-campaign-against-alberta-separation-referendum
CanadaMay 21, 2026

Poilievre says Conservatives would campaign against Alberta separation referendum

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he and all Conservative MPs would campaign to keep Alberta in Canada if a referendum on separation is held in the province. Poilievre said the party would take the same position in Quebec if a Parti Québécois government were elected and moved ahead with a sovereignty referendum there. The comments come as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is expected to deliver a televised address later today. Her United Conservative government is considering whether to include a question related to Alberta’s future within Canada in a series of referendums planned for
alberta-premier-to-deliver-televised-address-amid-renewed-separation-referendum-debate
AlbertaMay 21, 2026

Alberta premier to deliver televised address amid renewed separation referendum debate

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is scheduled to deliver a televised address Thursday evening amid renewed political debate over a possible referendum on Alberta’s future within Confederation. The address is set to air at 6:45 p.m. on CTV, Global and Rogers television networks and will also be livestreamed on the premier’s social media channels. The appearance follows controversy at a United Conservative Party caucus committee meeting Wednesday, where members debated a motion urging Smith to call an Oct. 19 referendum on Alberta’s place in Canada. The motion, introduced by UCP member Nate
alberta-premier-danielle-smith-announces-cabinet-shuffle-amid-referendum-process
AlbertaMay 21, 2026

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces cabinet shuffle amid referendum process

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced a cabinet shuffle Thursday, with several senior ministers receiving new portfolios as the provincial government continues work related to a proposed referendum process in the province. Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani administered the oath of office to the newly appointed ministers during a ceremony in Edmonton. Jason Nixon was appointed Alberta’s new finance minister, while Adriana LaGrange returned to the hospitals and surgical health services portfolio. Tara Sawyer was named minister of agriculture and irrigation. Nathan Neudorf was appointed mini