The seven candidates vying to become the next United Conservative Party leader and Alberta premier are to tackle health, the economy and other key issues in their first debate tonight. They are to square off in Medicine Hat for the first of two scheduled debates ahead of Oct. 6, when party members vote on who should replace Premier Jason Kenney. The debate will be moderated by former Calgary city councillor Jeff Davison and focus on unity, leadership and the environment. The candidates include former cabinet ministers Travis Toews, Rebecca Schulz, Rajan Sawhney and Leela Aheer. Current legisla

The family of one of two women killed in Chilliwack, B.C., last week says they'll never allow a murderer to put out her bright light or destroy the lives of her little boys. Police say 43-year-old Amber Culley and 49-year-old Mimi Cates were gunned down last Thursday and a man was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. A manhunt was launched for the suspect, 50-year-old Eric Shestalo, and police say his body was found in nearby Bridal Falls on Monday. Police say preliminary findings are that he died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds. They say the suspect and the victims knew each other. Cu

Former Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen wept openly as he was found not guilty of sexual assault. A BC Supreme Court jury in Vancouver announced its decision after several hours of deliberations that began yesterday and continued this morning. Virtanen was charged in January with sexual assault after a now-23-year-old woman alleged she was assaulted in his hotel room in 2017. Virtanen was placed on leave after the allegations surfaced last year and the Canucks then bought out his contract.

Heat warnings now cover all but the edges of the province as Environment Canada warns today could be one of the hottest in an ongoing heat wave. Temperatures up to 40 degrees are forecast for parts of central and southeastern BC, including the Kamloops area, the Okanagan, parts of the Kootenays and the Fraser Canyon, where a wildfire continues to burn, unchecked, west of Lytton. Heat in the mid to high 30's is expected in many other parts of BC away from the water and cooling centres have been set up in most communities because hot conditions by day, and little relief at night, have the poten

``Freedom Convoy'' organizer Tamara Lich (LEECH) has once again been ordered released from jail. The Ontario Superior Court found errors in the decision to revoke her bail two weeks ago. Lich was arrested on a Canada-wide warrant at the end of June for an alleged breach of her bail conditions, after she was photographed with a fellow convoy protest organizer at an awards gala in Toronto. Superior Court Justice Andrew Goodman says the justice of the peace made several legal errors. But he warned Lich the authorities are watching her every move and to abide by the letter of her conditions, beca

Police have released photographs of a 28-year-old gunman, as they seek witnesses to Monday's shooting rampage in Langley, B.C., that left two victims dead and two wounded. The photos show Jordan Daniel Goggin wearing two outfits during the course of the shootings, which began around midnight and lasted nearly six hours before police shot and killed him.The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team describes Goggin as a six-foot-one Caucasian man, weighing 150 pounds, with light brown hair and a slight goatee.He is seen wearing a black T-shirt and board shorts, before police say he changed into br

Michel Ruest, a senior director of Sport Canada, says the federal organization was made aware of an alleged sexual assault involving members of Team Canada's world junior hockey team in late June 2018, but did not follow up with Hockey Canada at the time. Under questioning at a House of Commons committee today, Ruest also tells MPs that Sport Canada, a branch of Canadian Heritage, did not make then-sport minister Kirsty Duncan's office aware of the allegations. Current Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge has said she did not know of the allegations until this year. Sport Canada officials have been

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expressing his shock at a shooting rampage in Langley, BC. Two people were killed and two others were wounded before police shot David Goggin dead. In a post on Twitter, Trudeau says his heart breaks for the victims' loved ones and communities. BC Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the ``senseless act of violence'' is ``extremely disturbing.'' PM Justin Trudeau on Twitter: I’m horrified by the news that came out of Langley, BC yesterday. My heart breaks for the victims’ loved ones and communities, and my thoughts are with the people who were injure

Priests, deacons and volunteers meted out communion wafers to tens of thousands of people at a public mass led by Pope Francis in Edmonton. Francis highlighted the importance of parents and grandparents as he delivered his homily to a packed Commonwealth Stadium. He says people should treasure and honour their elders and make sure they are not cast aside or treated with indifference. Pope Francis, who has been using a wheelchair, presided over a large public mass in Edmonton from a specially designed chair. Pope Francis is on a six-day tour of Canada aimed at reconciliation with Indigenous Pe