Results for: Alberta

Evacuation alerts have been expanded to include several new communities as firefighters battle strong winds and a growing wildfire near Fort McMurray, Alberta. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) has expanded its alert to include Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek, Anzac, Fort McMurray First Nation #468, Gregoire Lake Estates, and Rickards Landing Industrial Park due to the risk of wildfire. The wildfire, which has grown to over 1,400 hectares, remains out of control and is located 16 km southwest of Fort McMurray on the south side of the Athabasca River valley. Five crews of wildland firefighters, nine helicopters, and air tankers are working to contain the blaze. Residents in affected areas are advised to be prepared to evacuate on short notice. The latest evacuation information can be found on the Alberta Emergency Alert website.

Wildfires are spreading rapidly in Western Canada, prompting evacuation orders and alerts in several areas. In Alberta, a fire near Fort McMurray has grown to over 1,000 hectares and is listed as out-of-control, forcing the evacuation of residents. An evacuation order has also been issued for Grand Prairie County No. 1 due to a nearby wildfire. In British Columbia, an evacuation order has been issued for the town of Fort Nelson as a wildfire poses a threat to human life. The wildfire service suspects the fire to be human-caused and is battling it with ground crews and air support. In the Northwest Territories, six active wildfires are burning, with the largest fire affecting over 1,500 hectares. Government officials have warned of potential damage from the fires due to warm temperatures and drought conditions, following the worst wildfire season on record in 2021.

Grande Prairie County No. 1 has been placed under an evacuation order due to a wildfire burning nearby. The fire is burning approximately 4 kilometers east of Teepee Creek, at approximately Range Road 31 and Township Road 740. The fire is moving away from the community, according to the government of Alberta. Residents are urged to travel north to Township Road 742 and West onto Highway 733 and register at the Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre in Grande Prairie. Everyone should bring pets, important documents, medication, medical devices, food, and water for at least seven days.

The Alberta government has established a committee to explore methods for expediting the rehabilitation of the province’s growing tailings ponds in the oil sands. The six-member committee, tasked with examining policies and options to facilitate safe and timely reclamation, includes experts from various sectors. The committee will collaborate with an external facilitator but has no set deadline for reporting. Despite previous research and initiatives, the issue persists, prompting criticism from environmental groups. Oil sands producers have filed reclamation plans with the Alberta Energy Regulator, though they rely on unproven technology. Some tailings ponds exceed 300 square kilometers in size and continue to expand. The committee’s members represent diverse perspectives, including a First Nations chief, an engineering professor, and an oil and gas executive.

The Alberta provincial ombudsman has released a report criticizing the government’s Persons with Developmental Disabilities program, which denied a 21-year-old man with autism the supports he needs. The ombudsman says the program’s eligibility rules are unfair and rely heavily on intelligence tests, which have been criticized by medical clinicians. The report recommends that the government review the program’s rules and consider Zenari’s case for reconsideration.

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.