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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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CanadaJan 09, 2026

Canada Faces Heightened Economic Risks Amid U.S. Political Turmoil, Eurasia Group Warns

Canada could face greater economic and political risks than any other country due to ongoing instability in the United States, according to a new report from the risk analysis firm Eurasia Group. The report notes that the historically close ties between Canada and the U.S. are undergoing significant strain, with trade uncertainty posing potential challenges for the Canadian economy. Efforts to expand trade relationships beyond the U.S. may encounter “powerful headwinds” this year, the report adds. Relations between the two countries deteriorated after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s
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BCJan 09, 2026

Prince George RCMP ask drivers for dash cam footage after report near Simon Fraser Bridge

Prince George RCMP are asking members of the public to come forward with dash camera footage following a report of a person seen near the Simon Fraser Bridge on Sunday morning. Police say the incident occurred shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Highway 97 near Ferry Avenue. According to RCMP, a caller reported seeing an individual wearing dark clothing and carrying a backpack standing near the guard rail on the south side of the bridge. Frontline officers responded quickly but the person was no longer at the location when police arrived. Search efforts were carried out with assistance from Prince Ge
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IndiaJan 09, 2026

Farm leaders meet in Chandigarh, announce nationwide farmers’ march in early 2026

A key meeting of farm leaders from across India was held Friday at Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh, bringing together representatives from several states to discuss a common strategy on farmers’ demands. Leaders from Punjab attended the meeting along with farmer representatives from Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said a consensus was reached to launch a nationwide farmers’ march in the first week of February 2026. According to him, the march will travel from Kanyak
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BCJan 09, 2026

B.C. posts job gains in 2025 despite December dip, province says

British Columbia added more than 24,000 jobs over the past year despite a modest employment decline in December, according to the latest Labour Force Survey released by Statistics Canada. In a statement issued on behalf of Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon, Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said the province recorded a net gain of 24,100 jobs in 2025, including 16,800 positions in construction. The government says the growth reflects continued public investment in schools, hospitals and transportation infrastructure across the province. The survey showed B.C. lost 3,300 jobs in December
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CanadaJan 09, 2026

Lula signals possible Brazil visit by Carney, leaders discuss Venezuela and global governance

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says Prime Minister Mark Carney has accepted an invitation to visit Brazil in April, following a phone call between the two leaders on Thursday. Lula made the comments in a social media post summarizing the discussion, highlighting shared views on Venezuela and international governance reform. According to Lula, both leaders criticized recent actions by the United States in Venezuela and agreed on the need to strengthen global institutions. The Brazilian president has been an outspoken advocate for reforms to bodies such as the United Nations and h