Alberta Archives - National Times

13 Dec

Junior Hockey Team Escapes Serious Harm After Bus Slides Off Alberta Highway

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Alberta (Rajeev Sharma): A bus transporting a junior hockey team from Athabasca veered off a northern Alberta highway and ended up in a wooded ditch early Friday, leaving several passengers injured but sparing the group from any fatalities. According to the RCMP, the single-vehicle crash occurred on Highway 2, south of Athabasca, during the early morning hours. Emergency crews arriving at the scene found multiple occupants of the bus hurt as a result of the incident. Two teenage players were taken to hospital for treatment, though their injuries were described as not life-threatening. Others on board also suffered minor injuries.…

12 Dec

Alberta’s Childcare System Strained as Rising Costs and Growing Demand Clash

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

CALGARY (Rajeev Sharma): For parents in Alberta, securing affordable childcare is becoming increasingly difficult, as rising costs and a growing population put unprecedented pressure on the system. For Calgary mother Rachel Kert, the struggle is a daily reality. A full-time substitute teacher and single parent of three, Kert juggles work schedules and childcare needs, constantly adjusting her hours to align with her children’s daycare availability. “It’s tough, really tough. As a single mom, it keeps getting more difficult to maintain a stress-free life,” Kert said. “I have to keep asking my managers for different schedules almost every week because of…

11 Dec

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Faces Recall Petitions Amid Local Dissatisfaction

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingDanielle Smith

Alberta (Rajeev Sharma): Premier Danielle Smith of Alberta is confronting a growing political challenge as recall petitions targeting her and other United Conservative Party (UCP) MLAs gain momentum. Elections Alberta approved the petitions on Wednesday, marking Smith as one of 20 UCP members facing potential removal. Among others under scrutiny are Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz and Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish. The petitions follow complaints from constituents who allege that Smith has not adequately represented her Brooks-Medicine Hat riding. Lead petitioner Heather VanSnick claimed that Smith is frequently absent from the community and disconnected from local concerns. “She isn’t…

10 Dec

Provincial Pushback Escalates: Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Major Police Forces Refuse to Enforce Federal Gun Buyback Program

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta, Saskatchewan

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The debate over firearms in Canada has intensified as Alberta has formally invoked the Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, declining to participate in the federal gun-seizure and buyback program. It has become evident that Alberta is not alone in its stance. Saskatchewan, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), several major municipal police services, and numerous frontline police associations nationwide have also expressed their intention not to assist Ottawa in confiscating legally owned firearms.Alberta’s motion instructs all police forces within the province, including the RCMP, to refrain from making arrests under the federal ban and directs Crown prosecutors…

08 Dec

Holiday Train Rolls Through Alberta With Festive December Schedule

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calagry (Rajeev Shaema): The iconic Holiday Train is set to return this December, bringing music, lights, and Christmas cheer to communities across Alberta. Although the Edmonton region will not be included in this year's tour, enthusiasm remains high as towns and cities prepare to welcome the brightly lit railcars that have become a beloved seasonal tradition across Canada and the United States. The Holiday Train, operated by Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), has been touring since 1999 and is widely recognized for its dual mission: spreading festive spirit while raising awareness and vital donations for local food banks. At every…

06 Dec

Half of Canadians Support Mass Deportations as CBSA Backlog Reaches Crisis Levels

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingCanada

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): A growing national debate over immigration enforcement is unfolding in Canada as new figures reveal a massive backlog at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). According to the latest official data, 18,084 deportations have been carried out in the 2024–25 period, yet the agency continues to struggle under unprecedented pressure. CBSA officials say staff are working overtime, but the situation remains severe, with 31,379 individuals currently listed as missing or wanted by the agency. Another 424,000 files remain non-actionable, leaving enforcement efforts stalled and public frustration rising. A recent survey indicates that nearly 50 percent of Canadians…

04 Dec

Premier Danielle Smith and 14 UCP MLAs Face Unprecedented Recall Petitions Across Alberta

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta, Calgary, Danielle Smih

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta has entered uncharted political territory as Premier Danielle Smith and fourteen members of her United Conservative Party caucus face officially approved recall petitions, marking the largest and most coordinated recall effort since the province introduced recall legislation. The surge of petitions reflects rapidly growing public dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of major issues, from education disputes to governance concerns.The recall wave began gaining momentum in late November, when Elections Alberta confirmed that petitions targeting fourteen UCP MLAs had met the requirements to move forward. The applications, filed by citizens across the province, accuse the MLAs of…

03 Dec

UCP Delegates Reject Key Parts of Smith‑Carney Pipeline Deal

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta, Canada

Edmonton ( Rajeev Sharma): Delegates at the United Conservative Party (UCP) convention in Edmonton have overwhelmingly rejected major aspects of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s recent agreement with Prime Minister Mark Carney. The resolution opposes federal regulation of industrial carbon emissions in Alberta, arguing that nationwide policies do not reflect the province’s unique economy. The November 27 agreement had aimed to support a new pipeline to northwestern British Columbia, abandon the proposed oil-and-gas emissions cap, exempt Alberta from certain clean electricity rules, and negotiate an increased industrial carbon price. It also endorsed a northern Alberta carbon capture and storage project. Despite…

02 Dec

Alberta Set to Unveil Plan to Resist Ottawa’s Gun Buyback Program Today

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaAlberta gun buyback, Alberta Sovereignty Act, Danielle Smith

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma)— Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will release further details today on its proposed strategy to counter Ottawa’s gun buyback program. The announcement is expected at an afternoon news conference led by Justice Minister Mickey Amery.Smith told delegates at the United Conservative Party’s annual convention over the weekend that her government would introduce a motion to prevent provincial authorities from enforcing or prosecuting individuals under the federal gun rules. The move is set to be brought forward under the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, a legislation that Smith says allows the province to push…

01 Dec

Experts Warn Alberta’s Shift Toward Private Practice Could Undermine Public Health System

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaAlberta, Public Health System

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma) : Alberta’s plan to allow doctors to work in both the public system and private clinics is drawing mixed reactions, with supporters calling it a strategy to reduce wait times and critics warning it could undermine the province’s public health-care foundation.The proposal part of the government’s effort to modernize health-care delivery would permit physicians to bill privately for some elective procedures while still treating patients within the public system. Government officials argue the change will increase flexibility, expand surgical capacity, and help attract more doctors to Alberta. However, health-care analysts caution that a dual practice model could…