An Alberta MLA who was expelled from the United Conservative Party caucus last year for comparing transgender children to feces has been reinstated after issuing a public apology and pledging to support inclusivity. Lacombe–Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson said she has grown “personally and professionally” since being removed from caucus 17 months ago. “Now, I am eager to apply what I have learned to benefit everyone who calls this province home,” Johnson said in a statement released Friday. Johnson was removed from the UCP in 2023 after a 2022 recording surfaced in which she compared tra

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and former public safety minister Marco Mendicino are set to appear today before the federal commission of inquiry examining foreign interference in Canada’s democratic and institutional affairs. The latest phase of the inquiry is focusing on how well federal agencies detect, assess, and respond to attempts by foreign actors to influence Canadian politics, policy, and society. Officials from Global Affairs Canada, Joly’s department, testified late last week about the challenges of monitoring and countering international interference efforts. Commissio

The William Osler Health System in Brampton has issued a public apology after hospital staff shaved the beard of an 85-year-old Sikh man without his consent, an act that violated his religious beliefs. In a joint statement released Wednesday, Dr. Frank Martino, president and CEO of the William Osler Health System, and board chair Pardeep Singh Gill admitted the hospital “failed to uphold religious and cultural care practices.” They said the incident, which occurred in August, was done without medical necessity. “We take full responsibility for this incident and have extended our deepest

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault to oversee the federal government’s role in helping rebuild Jasper, Alberta, following this summer’s devastating wildfire. The July fire destroyed roughly one-third of the Rocky Mountain community, displacing about 2,000 residents and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, and local infrastructure. Boissonnault, who represents Edmonton Centre in Parliament, will coordinate federal support alongside the Alberta government, the Municipality of Jasper, and Indigenous partners. “This role that the prim

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is urging Canadians currently in Florida to leave immediately and warning others to postpone travel plans as Hurricane Milton moves toward the state’s west coast. The storm, downgraded early Thursday to Category 4 strength, is still expected to bring deadly storm surge, torrential rain and destructive winds. Milton is forecast to make landfall later today in the Tampa Bay region — home to more than 3.3 million people — before moving east through Sarasota, Orlando and Daytona Beach. Millions of residents have been ordered to evacuate as emergency cre

One of Premier Danielle Smith’s closest advisers and a key figure in shaping Alberta’s addiction recovery model is leaving the provincial government. The premier confirmed that her chief of staff, Marshall Smith, will retire from public service at the end of October. Marshall Smith has played a central role in developing Alberta’s recovery-oriented approach to the drug crisis, which emphasizes treatment and rehabilitation over harm-reduction measures such as supervised consumption sites. The strategy has been both praised for expanding treatment capacity and criticized by public health e

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Laos this week to attend the ASEAN Summit, marking the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to the Southeast Asian nation. The gathering brings together leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to discuss regional cooperation and global trade. While Canada is not a member of ASEAN, the two sides have maintained a strategic partnership since 2022. Ottawa is working toward finalizing a free trade agreement with the bloc by the end of next year, as part of its broader Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at strengthening economic an

A former high school football coach in Winnipeg has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting nine male students over a 13-year period. Kelsey McKay was handed the sentence today after pleading guilty last year to nine counts of sexual assault and two counts of luring. The assaults took place between 2003 and 2016, when the victims were between 12 and 18 years old. Court heard that McKay had been regarded as a mentor and father figure to the students. In some cases, he provided them with alcohol and pornography as part of his grooming behaviour. During an earlier court appea

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make a historic visit to Laos later this week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, marking the first-ever official trip by a Canadian prime minister to the Southeast Asian nation. The summit will take place in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on Thursday and Friday, where Trudeau will participate in the ASEAN-Canada Special Summit. His office says he will emphasize Canada’s leadership in tackling global security challenges, including cybercrime, and reinforce ongoing efforts toward a Canada-ASEAN free trade agreement targeted