A Calgary man accused of abducting his young son and evading authorities for nearly two years will remain in custody after a judge denied his request for bail. Court heard that Muhammad Zia-Ur Rahman, 62, was considered a significant flight risk, with the judge agreeing with Crown prosecutors that his past actions showed a willingness to flee Canadian jurisdiction. The Crown argued detention was necessary to ensure his appearance at future court proceedings. Rahman is charged in connection with the alleged abduction of his son, who was five years old at the time, in December 2023. Police say t

Mounties serving the Piikani Nation in southern Alberta say a 19-year-old man with a prior criminal history is facing several charges following a vehicle incident that occurred around the Christmas period. Piikani Nation RCMP report they were called after receiving complaints that a vehicle was deliberately rammed into another car multiple times. Police say the suspect fled the area before officers arrived. The investigation continued for several weeks, and RCMP say the man was located and arrested nearly one month after the incident. No serious injuries were reported, but police describe the

Alberta’s education minister says a failed recall petition against him signals continued support for the United Conservative government’s agenda rather than dissatisfaction among voters. Demetrios Nicolaides said in a letter to constituents that the unsuccessful campaign reinforces the province’s current direction on education and other priorities, adding that the outcome encourages the government to continue with its work. He described the result as a validation of policies introduced over the past year. Nicolaides was the first MLA among more than two dozen members of Alberta’s legis

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