Alberta Archives - National Times

11 Oct

Alberta Highlights Mental Health Support on World Mental Health Day

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingWorld Mental Health Day

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta is highlighting the importance of accessible mental health care and community-based support as the province marks World Mental Health Day, with Mental Health and Addiction Minister Rick Wilson urging residents to seek help when facing emotional or psychological difficulties. In a statement marking the occasion, Wilson said mental well-being plays a significant role in personal relationships, workplaces and communities. He emphasized that people experiencing anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns should not have to manage their struggles alone. The minister also encouraged Albertans to view seeking assistance as a positive step, noting that support services…

10 Oct

Alberta Court of Appeal Rules Federal Impact Assessment Law Unconstitutional, Smith Government Says

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

EDMONTON (RAJEEV SHARMA): Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Justice Minister Mickey Amery have welcomed a provincial Court of Appeal ruling declaring that the federal Impact Assessment Act remains unconstitutional, renewing calls for Ottawa to revise the legislation in consultation with the province. In a statement released Friday, the two officials said the decision reinforces Alberta’s position that federal assessment rules should respect provincial authority over natural resources and avoid creating obstacles to economic development. The ruling concerns amendments introduced by the federal government after the Supreme Court of Canada found significant portions of the Impact Assessment Act unconstitutional in 2023.…

10 Oct

Alberta Adds Nearly 26,000 Full-Time Jobs as National Employment Declines

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta recorded a gain of nearly 26,000 full-time jobs last month, even as Canada experienced a decline of approximately 68,000 jobs, according to a statement issued by the provincial government following the latest labour force survey. Joseph Schow, Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, welcomed the employment figures, describing them as evidence of the province’s economic performance and its ability to attract investment and support business expansion. The minister also highlighted a decline in Alberta’s unemployment rate to below the national average. Youth unemployment fell by 2.8 percentage points, reaching its lowest level in nearly…

10 Oct

Alberta Agency Investigates Death of Man in Edmonton Police Custody

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingEdmonton

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is continuing its investigation into the death of a 27-year-old man who became unconscious while being held at an Edmonton Police Service (EPS) detention facility. According to an update released on Friday, the man was arrested shortly before 8 p.m. on September 16 on suspicion of shoplifting and breaching his release conditions. He was taken to the EPS Detainee Management Unit, where he remained in custody pending a bail hearing. An on-site paramedic conducted an initial medical assessment after his arrival. The man was subsequently placed in a holding cell fitted…

10 Oct

Alberta Welcomes Appointment of Two Judges to Provincial Courts

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s Justice Minister Mickey Amery has welcomed the federal government’s appointment of Thomas Rothwell to the Alberta Court of Appeal and Malcolm Lavoie to the Court of King’s Bench, highlighting their legal backgrounds and experience within the province’s justice system. In a statement released on Friday, Amery congratulated both appointees and said their professional experience and contributions to Alberta’s legal institutions would be valuable in their new roles. Rothwell brings experience at both the provincial and federal levels. Before joining the Court of King’s Bench in 2020, he served as a law clerk to Supreme Court of…

09 Oct

Alberta Launches Studies to Assess Future Water Shortages and Infrastructure Needs

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s government is seeking proposals for two studies aimed at identifying potential future water shortages and establishing clearer priorities for water infrastructure investments across the province. The initiative comes as population growth, economic expansion and increasing demand from the agricultural sector place greater importance on securing reliable water supplies. The studies will examine water availability in different river basins and help determine where additional storage and infrastructure may be needed. According to the provincial government, the assessments are intended to strengthen long-term water planning, improve the evaluation of major infrastructure projects and provide a consistent basis for…

09 Oct

Alberta Moves to Tighten Infill Rules in Edmonton and Calgary

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s government is introducing new restrictions on high-density infill development in Edmonton and directing Calgary to restore zoning protections for certain residential areas, citing concerns about neighbourhood character, parking and infrastructure capacity. Under the provincial measures announced October 8, Edmonton must revise its zoning bylaw to reinstate rules governing housing types, density and building heights that existed before the city’s 2024 zoning changes. The city must also bring back minimum on-site parking requirements that were in place before 2020. Edmonton has three months from October 8 to make the required bylaw amendments. The temporary rules will remain…

09 Oct

Fort Saskatchewan Hospital to Expand Surgical Capacity by Nearly 50%

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingSaskatchewan Hospital

FORT SASKATCHEWAN, Alberta (Rajeev Sharma): Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital is set to expand its surgical services following a $12.5-million investment from Alberta’s government aimed at increasing the number of procedures performed each year. Announced on October 8, the funding will support renovations and infrastructure upgrades designed to boost the hospital’s surgical capacity by nearly 50 per cent. Once completed, the improvements are expected to enable more than 3,000 additional procedures annually, giving more patients access to treatment closer to home. Construction is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks, with the upgraded facilities expected to become fully operational by 2029.…

09 Oct

ASIRT Probes Death of 54-Year-Old Man After Edmonton Police Arrest

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingEdmonton

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s police oversight agency has launched an investigation into the death of a 54-year-old man who died three days after being arrested by Edmonton police in northwest Edmonton. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) confirmed the investigation on October 8, saying the man died on September 19 after being taken to hospital in serious condition following the September 16 incident. According to the preliminary information released by investigators, Edmonton Police Service (EPS) officers received several calls shortly after 7:30 p.m. on September 16 about a man behaving erratically near Rapperswill Drive and 173A Avenue. Callers alleged…

08 Oct

Alberta Commits $2 Million to Expand Youth Suicide Prevention Programs

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

EDMONTON (RAJEEV SHARMA): Alberta is directing $2 million toward community organizations working to prevent youth suicide and strengthen mental health supports for young people across the province. The funding will be distributed among 14 community-based projects through the province’s Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Program. The initiatives are designed to help young people build stronger connections, develop coping and life skills, and access support that reflects the circumstances of their individual communities. The latest investment forms part of Alberta’s wider approach to addressing mental health challenges among children and youth through prevention and early intervention. Programs operating in schools, communities and…