Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says a suite of pandemic aid programs for businesses and individuals will come to an end on Saturday as scheduled. In their place -- she has announced more direct subsidies to still-hurting sectors of the economy. Freeland says the support now needs to be more narrow, more targeted, and less expensiveFreeland says the government estimates the total cost of the new benefits from October 24th through to May 7th of next year will be 7.4-billion dollars. She says that compares to 289-billion spent on income and business supports since the start of the pandemic.

A Calgary man charged following two downtown machete attacks has been found fit to stand trial. Conner Dery, who is 25, is charged with aggravated assault and carrying a concealed weapon in the attacks last week at a light-rail transit platform and a nearby bus shelter.Police say the attacks appeared to be random and two people were sent to hospital. Police have confirmed that Dery is the son of a Calgary Police Service officer who recognized his son on CCTV footage and notified investigators.Dery was in court this morning and a psychiatrist found that, despite having suffered a brain injury w

Premier Jason Kenney says a Calgary city councillor should resign if allegations of sexual impropriety are true. Sean Chu was re-elected on Monday in the municipal vote.Chu was never charged with a criminal offence. He was found guilty of discreditable conduct by the Law Enforcement Review Board for touching a 16-year-old girl's leg when he worked as a Calgary police officer in 1997. Chu could not immediately be reached for comment.

Conservatives say they disagree with a committee of federal representatives deciding who is allowed to enter the House of Commons based on their vaccination status against COVID-19. The position presents the first challenge to the all-party board of internal economy ruling only people who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter the House of Commons precinct. The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois agree members of Parliament should be fully vaccinated to take their seat, and made it a rule for their candidates who ran in the recent federal election. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole did not

Inflation hit an 18-year high in September, rising to 4.4 per cent.On top of a 32.8 per cent year-over-year jump in gas prices, it's costing a lot more to put food on the table.Food prices rose 3.9 per cent last month, with meat prices rising 9.5 per cent -- the fastest pace since April 2015.Statistics Canada reports dairy products cost 5.1 per cent more, while prices for edible fats and oils rose 18.5 per cent, which was the largest year-over-year increase since January 2009.The cost of fresh vegetables fell 3.2 per cent, largely due to a 26.1 per cent drop in tomato prices.

Alberta's two major cities are set to make history in their mayoral races after Monday's municipal elections across the province.Jyoti Gondek is set to become Calgary's first female mayor and in Edmonton, Amarjeet Sohi appears to have been elected as the capital city's first mayor of colour.Sohi is a Sikh immigrant from India who previously served as an Edmonton city councillor and a federal Liberal cabinet minister. Celebrating his victory, he thanked Edmontonians for making the impossible possible after dreaming as a young adult to "build a better life in a new home."Gondek will replace Nahe

Alberta's environment minister says a new pass for a popular Alberta mountain park has generated more than $10 million from users of Kananaskis Country.Jason Nixon says money from the pass has been used entirely on upgrades to the park, located just west of Calgary. He says the money has paid for trail and facility maintenance, visitor services, search and rescue and waste management. He also says revenues from the pass have allowed Alberta's government to hire 20 conservation officers.Parks visitors began paying the fee for the first time on June 1,with a yearly pass costing $90 for a private

Saskatchewan is transferring six COVID-19 patients from its overcrowded intensive care units to Ontario hospitals. Some are arriving as soon as today. And Premier Scott Moe is asking the federal government to send help in the form of health-care workers able to work in intensive care settings. Moe says he appreciates any help Ottawa can provide and realizes that while it may not be a large number of staff, it will be a specialized contingent. Although Moe says more people are getting vaccinated since the province announced a new proof of vaccination or proof of negative test requirement.

Saskatchewan is transferring six COVID-19 patients from its overcrowded intensive care units to Ontario hospitals. Some are arriving as soon as today. And Premier Scott Moe is asking the federal government to send help in the form of health-care workers able to work in intensive care settings. Moe says he appreciates any help Ottawa can provide and realizes that while it may not be a large number of staff, it will be a specialized contingent. Although Moe says more people are getting vaccinated since the province announced a new proof of vaccination or proof of negative test requirement.