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AlbertaOct 15, 2025

Alberta government set to receive report into health contract scandal

Alberta's government says it expects to receive a final report today from the investigation into allegations of corruption over health contracts. Former Manitoba judge Raymond Wyant was hired in March to review multimillion-dollar contracts for children's medication and for surgeries by for-profit providers. He was to determine whether any staff with the Health Ministry, Alberta Health Services or companies involved in the contracts properly disclosed and dealt with any potential conflicts of interest. The allegations stemmed from a wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed earlier this year by the fo
AlbertaOct 14, 2025

Alberta teachers, province set to meet for first time since strike began last week

Negotiations between the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the provincial government are scheduled to resume today, marking the first formal talks since thousands of teachers walked off the job on October 6. The provincewide strike has now entered its sixth day, leaving more than 740,000 students across 2,500 schools out of classrooms. The dispute centres on wages and class sizes. The government’s last proposal, which teachers decisively rejected late last month, offered a 12 per cent salary increase over four years and a plan to hire 3,000 additional teachers. Finance Minister Nate
alberta-education-minister-concerned-about-private-school-funding-petition
AlbertaOct 08, 2025

Alberta education minister concerned about private school funding petition

Alberta's education minister says cutting government funding to private schools would only escalate the pressure faced by the province's strained public school system. Demetrios Nicolaides says thousands of children would need to find new schools to attend, likely public schools, which he says are already under immense pressure. The funding cut is a move one Calgary teacher is hoping to put to a vote. This week Alberta's chief electoral officer approved the teacher's proposed referendum question, which asks: ``Should the Government of Alberta end its current practice of allocating
alberta-premier-in-ottawa-to-push-for-federal-partnership-on-energy-projects
AlbertaOct 07, 2025

Alberta Premier in Ottawa to push for federal partnership on energy projects

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is in Ottawa this week, following up on her now week-old pledge to help fund the development of a proposal for a new oil pipeline to Canada's West Coast. Smith is hopeful the project _ which as of yet has no private sector proponent or a suggested route option _ can be submitted for consideration by Prime Minister Mark Carney's new Major Projects Office by next spring. Smith met with Carney on Monday at the Ottawa airport, just before he boarded a plane to Washington, where he is to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters in a br
AlbertaOct 07, 2025

Alberta teachers' strike, biggest in province's history, enters day two

As a provincewide strike by Alberta's teachers enters its second day, a labour expert says in terms of sheer size, it is already making history. Jason Foster, a labour relations professor at Athabasca University, says the strike by 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers' Association makes it the largest labour walkout in provincial history. Foster says the last teachers' strike was in 2002 and involved less than half that number, at 21,000. The current action affects more than 740,000 students across 2,500 public, separate and francophone schools. The two sides are at odds over
AlbertaOct 06, 2025

Alberta teachers say provincewide strike aims to fix underfunded system in crisis

Alberta's teachers are off the job and the head of their union says it's about taking a stand to fix a cycle of underfunding and overcrowding. Jason Schilling says Alberta is failing to adequately fund education, the system is in ``crisis,'' and teachers owe it to students and future students to do what they can to change that. The 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers' Association went on strike as promised this morning to back demands for a better deal. The labour action impacts more than 700,000 students across 2,500 public, separate and francophone schools. Premier Daniel
alberta-premier-smith-urges-talks-as-alberta-teachers-launch-provincewide-strike
AlbertaOct 06, 2025

Alberta Premier Smith urges talks as Alberta teachers launch provincewide strike

Alberta's teachers are off the job and PremierDanielle Smith is urging them to come back to the bargaining table. Smith, speaking to reporters in Montreal, says the two sides are not far apart and expects fixing classroom complexity issues to be the focus of future talks. The 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers' Association went on strike as promised this morning to back demands for a better deal. The labour action impacts more than 700,000 students across 2,500 public, separate and francophone schools. The teachers overwhelmingly voted against the government's latest offer, w
classes-suspended-in-alberta-as-provincewide-teachers-strike-set-to-begin-today
AlbertaOct 06, 2025

Classes suspended in Alberta as provincewide teachers strike set to begin today

Some 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers Association are poised to begin a strike today. The labour action, if it goes ahead, will impact more than 700,000 students across 2,500 public, separate and francophone schools. Most school boards _ including those in Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray and Lethbridge _ have sent notices telling families that barring an 11th-hour deal, classes would be paused beginning Monday. Both sides appeared far apart late last week but the union said Friday they had resumed ``exploratory conversations.'' Teachers rejected the government's latest offer
schools-set-to-close-as-alberta-provides-online-curriculum-ahead-of-teachers-strike
AlbertaOct 03, 2025

Schools set to close as Alberta provides online curriculum ahead of teachers strike

Schools across Alberta are preparing to close their doors while the province readies a home curriculum for students ahead of Monday's provincewide teachers strike. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the province has already put online a curriculum that parents can use to teach their children should the 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers' Association make good on their promise to walk out. Nicolaides says it's not fair that students would be forced to bear the brunt of the walkout, which would affect more than 700,000 students across public, separate and francophone sch

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canada-u-s-trade-talks-intensify-as-50-tariff-deadline-nears
CanadaAug 14, 2026

Canada-U.S. Trade Talks Intensify as 50% Tariff Deadline Nears

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is set to brief the federal trade cabinet and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s advisory committee today on the ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, as the August 19 deadline for a new 50 per cent tariff on Canadian goods rapidly approaches. Following a series of meetings in Washington with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Canadian officials are working on a common trade framework that could be presented to U.S. President Donald Trump for approval as early as next week. LeBlanc and Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette
AlbertaAug 14, 2026

Alberta plans 100-year study of province’s water security

The Alberta government has issued a request for proposals for a $400,000 study examining the long-term security of the province’s water supply. Environment Minister Grant Hunter says the study will look 100 years into the future and explore new ways Alberta should invest in and build water infrastructure, while also helping guide future water-management policies. Hunter says Alberta’s population, industrial sector and agricultural industry are all expanding, making reliable access to water essential to sustaining economic and population growth. The study will also examine major water infra
CanadaAug 14, 2026

Saskatchewan sees 40% drop in U.S. alcohol and wine sales

Saskatchewan recorded a 40% decline in sales of American alcohol and wine during 2025-26, with California wines among the hardest hit. The decline comes a year after the provincial government decided to return American alcohol to liquor stores despite the ongoing tariff dispute. However, consumers appear to have voluntarily distanced themselves from U.S. brands. At the same time, sales of locally produced Saskatchewan alcohol increased by 5%, suggesting that some consumers are choosing domestic alternatives. Retailers say demand for popular American bourbon brands such as Jack Daniel’s and J
b-c-finance-minister-brenda-bailey-reveals-early-stage-cancer-diagnosis
BCAug 14, 2026

B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey reveals early-stage cancer diagnosis

British Columbia Finance Minister Brenda Bailey has revealed that she has been diagnosed with early-stage cancer, saying doctors expect her to make a full recovery. Bailey said in a social media post that she learned about the diagnosis several weeks ago. She said she will undergo treatment this summer and expects to return to work in time for the fall legislative session. Bailey also said she is working with Premier David Eby to ensure government operations continue while she receives treatment. Eby described Bailey as a capable and important cabinet minister and wished her a speedy recovery.
groups-urge-canada-to-block-rss-chief-mohan-bhagwats-entry
CanadaAug 13, 2026

Groups Urge Canada to Block RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Entry

Leaders of several Sikh, Muslim and human rights organizations in Canada are urging the federal government to prevent RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat from entering the country. During a press conference in Ottawa, representatives of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, World Sikh Organization of Canada, Hindus for Human Rights and Justice for All Canada called on Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree to declare Bhagwat inadmissible to Canada. New Democratic Party MP Heather McPherson also supported the demand, saying the Canadian government is moving in the wrong direction by allegedly givin