The Alberta government is forecasting a $4.6-billion surplus this fiscal year, but Finance Minister Nate Horner says Alberta's in for a ``challenging'' future. The government's second-quarter fiscal update says just $2.9 billion of that surplus is expected to be cash, which would be split between paying down debt and the Heritage Savings Trust Fund. It says the surplus is largely the result of higher-than-expected income tax revenue thanks to Alberta's sharp population growth and oil and gas royalties. But the fiscal update also says ``global economic conditions''are presenting ri

Alberta’s government has appointed former prime minister Stephen Harper as chairman of the board of the $169-billion public-sector pension fund manager Alberta Investment Management Corp., and added deputy minister of the province’s finance ministry as a permanent director. Mr. Harper is taking the role unpaid after Alberta’s government dismissed AIMCo's entire 10-member board of director and four senior leader, including its chief executive officer, on November 7. The province also named four other members of the board on Wednesday. Three of them are returning less than two weeks after

Alberta's health minister says the province's new hospital agency will be operational next spring, months later than expected. Adriana LaGrange says hospitals now run by Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health will answer to the new agency, Acute Care Alberta. The United Conservative Party government is breaking apart Alberta Health Services as part of a major overhaul and had originally aimed to have all four new organizations replacing the agency running before 2025. LaGrange says the delay for acute care is necessary to ensure it succeeds. She says the province is establ

Business owners in the fire-ravaged Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper are getting some financial help getting back on their feet. The federal government says it will provide close to $4 million in grants and aid to rebuild the local economy and bring back tourists. Federal Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault says $3.5 million in grants will be made available for small business owners. The money goes to businesses with 50 or fewer employees licensed in either the Jasper townsite or Jasper National Park, and does not have to be repaid. There will be half a million dollars

Canada's top court has declined to hear the appeal of one of two men found guilty in the fatal shooting of two Métis hunters in eastern Alberta. As is usual, the Supreme Court did not give reasons for its dismissal of Anthony Bilodeau's leave to appeal. Court heard that in March 2020, Bilodeau and his father had been concerned about a truck parked at the end of their rural property, so they chased down the vehicle and there was a confrontation. Bilodeau was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Maurice Cardinal and of manslaughter in the death of Cardinal's nephew Jacob Sansom. He

Alberta's finance minister has sacked the board of directors of AIMCo, the body that manages more than $160 billion in pension, endowment and government funds for the province. Horner, in a statement, says the reason is poor performance, with rising staffing and management fees coupled with a consistent failure to meet mandated benchmark returns. Horner says the decision takes effect immediately and he will be sole director and chair for AIMCo until a new chair is appointed within 30 days, with a new board established after that. Horner says it's time to reset the investment corpora

The Alberta government is asking rural municipalities to send letters naming oil and gas companies that aren't paying their property taxes, but one rural leader says there's no hope for enforcement. Rural Municipalities of Alberta estimates oil and gas companies owe more than $250 million in overdue property taxes to rural communities across the province. Energy Minister Brian Jean sent letters to rural municipalities in September asking officials to name companies that haven't paid up. Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver says once the government gets those names, action can b

The judge leading a fatality inquiry into the knockout death of a boxer is recommending changes to how the sport is regulated and how head injuries are monitored. Timothy Hague, who was 34, competed in a boxing match licensed by the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission in June 2017 when his opponent, Adam Braidwood, knocked him unconscious. Hague came to and was able to walk to the dressing room, where he vomited, and was then taken to hospital where he underwent surgery for a large brain bleed. His condition did not improve, care was withdrawn and Hague died two days after the fi

Alberta's surging population has the provincial government planning to add more seats to the legislature. Justice Minister Mickey Amery has introduced a bill that calls for the creation of two additional electoral districts to bring the new total to 89 ahead of the 2027 general election. Amery says the decision is driven by Alberta's recent population growth, which is now at almost five million. Government figures show that nine of Alberta's current 87 constituencies are overpopulated, and Amery says having two additional representatives in the legislative assembly will improve voter