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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
rcmp-slated-to-deliver-update-on-missing-six-year-old-alberta-boy
AlbertaOct 01, 2025

RCMP slated to deliver update on missing six-year-old Alberta boy

RCMP are expected to give an update later today on the search for a six-year-old boy missing from the southern Alberta Rockies. Darius Macdougall was reported missing on Sept. 21 after he didn't return from a walk with six young relatives in the Crowsnest Pass area, where his family had been camping. Mounties say his chances of survival in the mountainous terrain are slim, but that they won't scale back the search, noting there's been nothing to suggest foul play. The boy's family says they're grateful to the searchers and won't rest until he's brought home. Hundreds of searcher

Just In

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
house-of-commons-prepares-to-adjourn-for-six-week-winter-break-as-key-bills-remain-unfinished
CanadaDec 11, 2025

House of Commons prepares to adjourn for six-week winter break as key bills remain unfinished

Members of Parliament are expected to wrap up the fall sitting as early as Thursday, ending the session ahead of the scheduled Friday adjournment and beginning a six-week winter break. MPs are due to return to the House on January 26, leaving several major pieces of government legislation still awaiting final approval. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon said the minority Liberal government considers the fall session productive, noting progress on budget and public-safety bills that have not yet cleared Parliament. This sitting was the first full session under Prime Minister Mark Carney,
BCDec 11, 2025

Two Maple Ridge residents sentenced to five years for 2023 killing of Surinderjit Singh

Two people have been sentenced to five years in prison for the 2023 killing of Maple Ridge resident Surinderjit “Jack” Singh. The case, which involved extensive work by homicide investigators and local RCMP, concluded last week with a pair of manslaughter convictions. Police were called to the 21800 block of 122 Avenue on the morning of March 4, 2023, where officers found the 55-year-old victim deceased at the scene. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team took charge of the file, working with Ridge Meadows RCMP, forensic specialists, and the BC Coroners Service. Investigators later ide
rcmp-shuts-down-suspected-fentanyl-lab-in-surrey-as-officers-seize-drugs-and-weapons
BCDec 11, 2025

RCMP shuts down suspected fentanyl lab in Surrey as officers seize drugs and weapons

Federal RCMP officers say a synthetic drug lab operating in a Surrey neighbourhood has been dismantled following coordinated searches in Surrey and Richmond this fall. Investigators with the RCMP Federal Policing Pacific Region CLEAR Team carried out warrants on September 14, uncovering large quantities of suspected fentanyl along with a cache of weapons and precursor chemicals. Police say the investigation began earlier in the summer and led officers to a property in the 12900 block of 54A Avenue in Surrey, where they located what they believe was an active fentanyl production site. Officers
quebec-anticorruption-unit-opens-criminal-probe-into-provincial-liberal-party
CanadaDec 10, 2025

Quebec anticorruption unit opens criminal probe into provincial Liberal Party

Quebec’s anticorruption police force has launched a criminal investigation into the provincial Liberal Party, adding to a period of internal turmoil for the long-standing political organization. A spokesperson for the force confirmed the probe today but declined to provide details, citing the active nature of the case. The confirmation follows disclosures last month that investigators were reviewing allegations of wrongdoing to determine whether a formal investigation was warranted. The decision to proceed suggests authorities found sufficient grounds to examine the matter further. The Liber