A provincewide petition asserting that Alberta should remain within Canada has met the legal threshold and has been formally validated by Elections Alberta. The petition, launched by former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, gathered more than 400,000 verified signatures, surpassing the minimum needed to trigger a legislative review. Under provincial law, the successful verification sends the matter to an all-party committee of the Alberta legislature, which will determine whether a provincewide referendum on national unity should move ahead. The process is part of Alberta’s citizen-initiative

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is stressing that the United Conservative Party remains committed to working within Canada, even as internal divisions over the province’s future surfaced at the party’s weekend convention. The gathering came one week after Alberta and the federal government announced a major energy agreement, a deal that drew a mixed response from grassroots members and prompted renewed questions about the party’s stance on Confederation. During the convention, several figures associated with the party’s pro-independence movement received strong support, including standi

Police in Nanaimo say officers will be stationed throughout the day at three secondary schools after an unspecified threat prompted a precautionary response from local RCMP. The increased presence affects Dover Bay Secondary, Wellington Secondary and Nanaimo District Secondary. According to RCMP, the schools will remain open and classes are expected to continue as scheduled. Officers say the additional patrols are intended to reassure students, staff and families while the nature of the threat continues to be assessed. The Mounties say school liaison officers will be visible on campus througho

Algoma Steel says it will lay off roughly 1,000 employees as the company accelerates a major shift in its operations to respond to steep U.S. trade tariffs. The Sault Ste. Marie–based producer confirmed the notices were issued Monday, with the cuts taking effect in March. Company representatives say the 50 per cent tariff imposed by the United States last year sharply reduced access to its largest export market. With about 2,700 employees, Algoma has been among the Canadian steelmakers most affected by the ongoing trade dispute, which replaced a previously integrated North American steel sup

Residents across British Columbia’s central Interior are being advised to prepare for challenging weather as a strong Pacific system collides with cold Arctic air over the region. Environment Canada has issued multiple alerts, warning of heavy snowfall, pockets of freezing rain, and hazardous travel conditions lasting into Monday evening. Snowfall of up to 15 centimetres is expected in areas surrounding Williams Lake, with advisories also covering stretches of Highway 97 between Clinton and 100 Mile House. Emergency officials are urging motorists to allow extra travel time and be ready for r

Prime Minister Mark Carney is preparing a limited cabinet shuffle on Monday, following the sudden resignation of Steven Guilbeault late last week. Guilbeault left his role as Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and as the government’s Quebec Lieutenant, a decision that came only hours after Ottawa unveiled a new energy agreement with Alberta. In a letter made public Thursday, Guilbeault wrote that he respects the prime minister’s efforts to navigate what he described as a period of “profound disruption,” but said he could not support the memorandum of understanding with Alberta.

A man has died after a late-night shooting in Surrey’s Guildford area, prompting homicide investigators to take over the case. Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit officers were called to the 10400 block of 152 Street shortly before midnight on Friday, where they found a man with critical gunshot wounds. Despite efforts by first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has assumed conduct of the file, marking Surrey’s sixth homicide of 2025. IHIT says the investigation remains in its early stages, with officers working alongside the S

Investigators in Stockton, California are appealing for information after a shooting at a child’s birthday celebration left four people dead and several others injured. Local police say the violence erupted Saturday evening inside a banquet hall where families had gathered for a two-year-old’s party. Authorities confirmed that three children – ages 8, 9 and 14 – were among those killed, along with a 21-year-old man. Eleven other people were treated for injuries. As of Sunday, police had not announced any arrests or identified a suspect. Residents told The Associated Press that the cele

A man was killed and another person injured after a boom truck left Highway 20 northwest of Red Deer over the weekend, according to RCMP. Police say the southbound vehicle went into the ditch, causing fatal injuries to the driver. Officials confirm the 44-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger was transported to hospital with injuries that were assessed as non life threatening. Highway 20 is a key route for rural communities west of Red Deer, and collisions in the corridor have raised ongoing concerns about winter driving safety in central Alberta. RCMP continue to investig