Category Archives: Prairies/BC
B.C. commits $53.6M in recovery funding for 10 local communities affected by floods
VICTORIA — Ten communities still recovering from November's disastrous flooding in British Columbia are receiving $53.6 million from the provincial government to help rebuild infrastructure and get evacuees back into their homes. Municipal Affairs Min...
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs appoints new temporary leader
WINNIPEG — The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says it has named a new temporary leader less than a month after one was chosen while a formal complaint against the suspended grand chief is investigated. The group says Chief Cornell McLean of
Vancouver mayor aims to increase empty homes tax to fund affordable housing
Vancouver's mayor has announced a plan to boost the empty homes tax rate to five per cent and double its compliance audits in an effort to provide more affordable housing. Kennedy Stewart says his decision to triple the empty homes tax
Alberta government says it’s not surprised about the rise in COVID-19 cases
EDMONTON — The Alberta government is warning people to take proper COVID-19 precautions as people prepare to gather over the Easter long weekend. The province reported 37 deaths and a total of 1,053 hospitalizations, including 48 ICU admissions over th...
Ex-Alberta justice minister found in contempt of court for defamation-threat letter
EDMONTON — A former Alberta justice minister has been found in contempt of court for threatening to sue a plaintiff in the middle of her testimony in a civil trial. Justice Doreen Sulyma ruled Wednesday that a letter sent last week
Alberta government announces it will match federal funding for transit
CALGARY — The Alberta government says it will match federal funding for municipal transportation across the province because a lot of revenue has been lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Jason Kenney told a news conference in Calgary on Wednesda...
B.C. government worker union says contract talks with province at impasse over wages
VICTORIA — The union representing more than 33,000 British Columbia government employees says contract talks with the province have stalled over differences in wage proposals. B.C. General Employees' Union president Stephanie Smith says the governmen...
U.S. senator backs Alberta premier in energy security partnership
CALGARY — A high-profile United States senator is backing Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in pushing for more North American oil to supplant Russian supplies during the invasion of Ukraine. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a key Democratic vote in the even...
Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation wants return of mask mandates, expanded PCR testing
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation wants the province to bring back a mask mandate because Canada's chief public health officer says COVID-19 cases are rising across the country. The federation says it wants the Saskatchewan Party governmen...
Prime minister visits Edmonton, criticizes Alberta’s response to opioid crisis
EDMONTON — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized the Alberta government Tuesday for not addressing the opioid epidemic in ways that have proven to be effective elsewhere. “As a government, we've continued to push for safe consumption sites," Trudeau...