Results for: Alberta

Roger Bilodeau and his son Anthony have lost their appeals of convictions in the fatal shooting of two Metis hunters, Jacob Sansom and Maurice Cardinal, in 2020. The Bilodeaus confronted the victims on a road near Glendon, northeast of Edmonton, after becoming concerned about a parked truck on their property. Anthony fired the fatal shots, and both men fled the scene without seeking assistance. Roger was convicted of manslaughter on the basis of being a willing party to the crime, while Anthony was convicted of manslaughter and second-degree murder. The appeal courts dismissed arguments that the trial judge erred in instructions to the jury and concluded that no substantial miscarriage of justice occurred.

On March 14, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) executed a search warrant at a business in Eleske, Alberta, and seized approximately 140,000 cigarettes. The seized tobacco products consisted of 704 boxes, with each box containing approximately 200 cigarettes.

The Alberta government has announced a comprehensive 15-year Passenger Rail Master Plan, outlining ambitious plans to expand passenger rail services across the province. The plan envisions a modern and efficient rail network, connecting major cities and regional destinations, with a focus on commuter lines and intercity travel. To facilitate this expansion, the plan includes the establishment of a Crown corporation modeled after Ontario’s Metrolinx to oversee infrastructure development, operations, and future expansion.

Thick smoke visible in eastern Alberta is part of a controlled burn on the Canadian Armed Forces’ Wainwright Garrison training area. The prescribed burn, located southwest of CFB Wainwright, is being monitored by range control staff and firefighters 24 hours a day and is currently under control. The military conducts these burns regularly to ensure the training area’s safety and coordinates with local stakeholders for the safety of Wainwright residents. Any fires outside the Garrison perimeter should be reported to local authorities by calling 911.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has forwarded an anonymous letter raising concerns about Edmonton City Councillor Keren Tang to the city’s ethics commissioner. The letter alleges that Tang used her position to benefit a non-profit organization co-founded by her husband, which had received sponsorship from an Edmonton technology organization that later leased land from the city as part of a research park development. Tang has denied any wrongdoing, stating that she has always sought guidance from the city’s ethics advisor and followed procedures closely.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has defended her decision to have a physician who has accused the province of exaggerating the impact of COVID-19 on hospitals lead a review of pandemic-era health data. Dr. Gary Davidson, the former chief of emergency medicine at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, was appointed chair of the task force a year ago. During the height of the fourth wave of the pandemic in 2021, Davidson claimed hospital admission numbers were overblown and being manipulated to justify public health restrictions. The provincial health authority, Alberta Health Services, rejected those accusations as false.

A recent survey conducted by Fertility Alberta revealed that cost is a significant impediment for many Albertans who are struggling to start a family. The study found that 74% of respondents postponed fertility treatments due to financial constraints, and 90% of those individuals indicated that provincial government financial assistance would have enabled them to pursue treatment. The Alberta Reproductive Centre, which opened in Edmonton in 2023, provides fertility care to a diverse range of patients, including couples struggling to conceive, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those seeking fertility preservation services before cancer treatment. The center’s Dr. Ariana Daniel highlights the prevalence of infertility, which affects 17% of the population, and emphasizes the need for government support to ensure that individuals have access to the care they require to build their families.

Residents near the intersection of Township Road 830 and Range Road 231 in the Municipal District of Peace No. 135 and Birch Hills County have been ordered to evacuate immediately due to a nearby wildfire. The fire covers approximately 250 hectares and is located about five kilometers southwest of Peace River.

Residents in northwestern Alberta’s Municipal District of Peace No. 135 have been ordered to evacuate immediately due to the threat of wildfire. The fire covers approximately 250 hectares and is moving rapidly in the Peace River Valley. Evacuees are advised to head east to Grimshaw, Alta., and register at the Royal Canadian Legion. The province is using water bombers and helicopter bucketing to help contain the fire.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has appointed Dr. Gary Davidson, a physician who previously accused the province of exaggerating COVID-19’s impact on hospitals, to lead a review of pandemic-era health data. Smith defended her decision, stating that she wants to hear a range of viewpoints, including from those who have been silenced in the public sphere. The work of the task force is nearing completion, but few details have been made public since its creation in 2022. Smith’s decision has drawn criticism from the opposition New Democrat Leader Rachel Notley, who called it a waste of public money and an effort to legitimize fringe views.