Alberta MLA charged in hacking case won't return to NDP caucus or seek re-election

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she welcomes a range of views within her United Conservative Party caucus after one of her MLAs publicly supported a petition calling for a referendum on provincial separation. Speaking on her provincewide radio show Saturday, Smith said her government remains committed to a “sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,” despite comments from Jason Stephan, the MLA for Red Deer-South and her parliamentary secretary for constitutional affairs. Stephan wrote in an opinion piece published Friday that he supports a citizen-led petition to trigger a referendum o

A Red Deer, Alta., man has been sentenced to 17 years in a United States federal prison after pleading guilty in a child exploitation sting tied to a planned trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. According to U.S. court documents, James Hjelmeland, 31, pleaded guilty in November to attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child sexual abuse material. The case stems from an undercover operation involving a Florida law enforcement officer. Court records state Hjelmeland began communicating online with a detective who was posing as the parent of a 12-year-old girl. The officer, acting in

Alberta’s government says it will introduce legislation in the coming weeks to establish a provincewide code of conduct governing municipal councils, along with third-party oversight for ethics complaints. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said the proposed changes are intended to prevent misuse of local rules and improve public trust in elected officials. According to the minister, the legislation would bring in independent investigators to review complaints and would require public disclosure of municipal officials’ salaries. The move follows a 2025 decision by Premier Danielle Smi