Jun 8 2022 — Bill Graveland — The Canadian Press — CALGARY — The Alberta government has expanded a smartphone app aimed at preventing overdoses in people using drugs alone at home. Mike Ellis, associate minister of mental health and addictions, said Wednesday the app is confidential, free and available across the province, including in rural and First Nations communities. The app alerts emergency responders if […]
Jun 2 2022 — Bill Graveland — The Canadian Press — SIKSIKA, Alta. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the chief of a southern Alberta First Nation have signed a historic land-claim settlement which the federal government says is one of the largest of its kind in Canada. Trudeau and Marc Miller, minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, participated in a signing ceremony Thursday with Chief Ouray Crowfoot […]
Mar 9 2022 — Bill Graveland — The Canadian Press — CALGARY — A Canadian military official says the war over Ukraine is being fought on two fronts — armed conflict and disinformation. And more work needs to be done to silence the Russian propaganda machine, says Lt.-Col. Yves Desbiens. Desbiens, who has been stationed with Canada's 500 troops in Latvia for the past four years, […]
Feb 15 2022 — Bill Graveland — The Canadian Press — COUTTS, Alta. — A blockade that paralyzed a United States border crossing for more than two weeks ended Tuesday as trucks and other vehicles with horns blaring rolled away from a southern Alberta town. Protesters had been restricting access to the busy crossing near Coutts since Jan. 29 to rally against COVID-19 vaccine mandates for […]
Feb 9 2022 — Bill Graveland — The Canadian Press — COUTTS, Alta. — Alberta RCMP officers were met with anger and chants of "Hell no, we won't go" Wednesday as they attempted to persuade protesters camped at a United States border crossing to move to another location. "We're not going anywhere. There's going to be more coming," said Keith Alexander, who was among dozens of […]
Oct 17 2021 — Bill Graveland — The Canadian Press — A senior military commander in Western Canada says he doesn't expect much opposition from Canadian Forces personnel over mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. Ottawa is requiring federal employees, including members of the military, be fully vaccinated by the end of this month. The government also expects employers in federally regulated industries, including banks and airlines, to do […]
Oct 2 2021 — Bill Graveland — The Canadian Press — CALGARY — The interim leader of the fledgling Maverick Party says it will be making some key changes after a disappointing result in last month's federal election. Formerly known as Wexit Canada, the party advocates for the independence of Western Canada or constitutional changes that would benefit the West. It ran 29 candidates in Alberta, […]
Sep 24 2021 — Bill Graveland — CALGARY — Two tea houses in one southern Alberta community have become an example of the uncertainty caused by the government allowing businesses to make up their own minds about what is essentially a vaccine passport. Restaurants, bars and pubs have been debating whether they will require a vaccination record before patrons are allowed to […]
Sep 7 2021 — Bill Graveland — CALGARY — Former member of Parliament Kent Hehr is throwing his hat in the ring to become Calgary's new mayor. Hehr has become the 28th candidate seeking to replace longtime Mayor Naheed Nenshi, who announced earlier this year he did not want to seek re-election. Hehr served two terms as a legislature member for the […]
Aug 26 2021 — Bill Graveland — CALGARY — Plans are underway to create a permanent memorial for victims of Canada's residential schools to replace a fire-damaged one that includes hundreds of children's shoes on the steps of Calgary City Hall. The temporary memorial, which also has stuffed animals and a child's bicycle, was blessed by Indigenous elders in a pipe ceremony […]
Jul 21 2021 — Bill Graveland — CALGARY — Canada's environment minister says extreme weather conditions across the country should be a wake-up call for people resisting taking action against climate change. Wildfires are raging out of control, forcing residents out of their homes, in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. A state of emergency goes into effect in B.C. on Wednesday to […]
Jul 20 2021 — Bill Graveland — CALGARY — The federal government has provided the final piece of the puzzle to allow a controversial reservoir that could protect Calgary from future flooding to move forward. Alberta Transportation proposed the $432-million off-stream reservoir near the rural community of Springbank, which is west and upstream of Calgary. The project, which will divert water from […]
Jul 12 2021 — Bill Graveland — CALGARY — Premier Jason Kenney says Alberta will not be following the lead of Quebec and Manitoba on vaccine passports. Quebec intends to bring in the passports, beginning in September, for anyone wanting to visit non-essential businesses in parts of the province where the COVID-19 rate is high. Manitoba has been issuing proof-of-immunization cards to […]
Jul 1 2021 — Bill Graveland — CALGARY — Protesters surrounded Alberta's health minister, his wife and two young sons Thursday at the conclusion of a Canada Day parade and a celebration of the lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions. Tyler Shandro's wife Andrea was in tears and the minister held one of his sons close, putting his hands over his ears while […]
Jul 1 2021 — Bill Graveland — CALGARY — Alberta lifted almost all its remaining COVID-19 restrictions Thursday, but many businesses said they are taking a more cautious approach as things start to return to normal. There are no more limits on indoor and outdoor social gatherings, no more capacity limits on restaurants, stores and places of worship. Weddings and other celebrations […]