Stay a town or become a city? Alberta community again weighing the pros and cons
EDMONTON -- An Alberta town is once again thinking about becoming a city and the obstacles in its way -- including a road.
Jack Farrell
While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Jack Farrell.
Hundreds line up near Edmonton to sign petition calling for vote on separation
STONY PLAIN -- An hour after the doors opened Thursday at a community centre west of Edmonton, an employee poked her head in to make sure the crowd was still under its 650-person fire capacity.
Hundreds line up near Edmonton to endorse referendum on Alberta leaving Canada
STONY PLAIN -- Hundreds of people braved bone-chilling temperatures today at a community centre just west of Edmonton to sign a petition to force a vote on Alberta leaving Canada.
Failed recall petition a vote of confidence in government: Alberta minister
EDMONTON -- Alberta's education minister says he's taking an unsuccessful recall petition launched against him as a new vote of confidence for the government.
Former Alberta justice ministers criticize government for 'unacceptable' conduct
EDMONTON -- Two former Progressive Conservative justice ministers and nearly 30 other lawyers are denouncing Alberta's government for what they say are self-serving legal manoeuvres and "unacceptable" attacks on the justice system.
Former Alberta justice ministers criticize government for "unacceptable" conduct
EDMONTON -- Two former Progressive Conservative justice ministers are among more than 30 lawyers speaking out against Alberta's government for what they say is "unacceptable" conduct.
First citizen recall petition against Alberta legislature member fails
EDMONTON -- The first of more than two dozen recall petitions launched against members of Alberta's legislature has come up short.
Alberta's Smith calls on Carney to speed up major project approvals
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling on Ottawa to further speed up its approval process for major projects, saying she wants to see applications approved within six months.
Disabled warning system, poor visibility led to N.W.T. plane crash: report
EDMONTON -- A report says poor weather and a plane's disabled warning system led it to crash near Yellowknife, prompting a dramatic military rescue during a blizzard.
Alberta school boards remove dozens of library books as provincial ban in effect
EDMONTON -- Alberta's two biggest school divisions say dozens of library books have been taken off the shelves as the province's ban on sexually explicit material took effect this week.
Petition 10K signatures short as first deadline looms in burst of Alberta recalls
EDMONTON -- A petitioner looking to oust an Alberta cabinet ministers says she has a huge task ahead, as the campaign nears its deadline for signature collection.
Three more Alberta recall petitions issued against politicians, bringing total to 26
EDMONTON -- Elections Alberta issued three more recall petitions Tuesday for members of the provincial legislature -- two United Conservative backbenchers and one Opposition New Democrat.
'Independent state?' Proposed referendum question approved on Alberta separation
EDMONTON -- Alberta's election agency announced Monday it has approved a proposed referendum question on the province separating from Canada.
CP NewsAlert: Proposed referendum question approved on Alberta separation
EDMONTON -- Alberta's election agency says it has approved a proposed referendum question on the province separating from Canada.
Elections Alberta gets extra $6.7M to handle outburst of recall petitions
EDMONTON -- Elections Alberta is getting $6.7 million in extra funding to handle the sudden outburst of recall petitions against legislature members.
Advocacy groups apply to keep court case against Alberta trans laws alive
EDMONTON -- Two advocacy groups fighting the Alberta government on its transgender laws say they're looking to keep one of their challenges alive by changing their argument in court.
Advocacy groups apply to keep court case against Alberta trans law alive
EDMONTON -- Two advocacy groups fighting the Alberta government on transgender laws say they are switching tactics to continue their battle in court.
Landmark Alberta legislature sitting raises questions on politicians and rule of law
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government has wrapped up a fall legislature sitting featuring landmark legislation that raised questions on where political authority should end and the rule of law begin.
Alberta's auditor general recommends new system for health reporting, finds disparity
EDMONTON -- Alberta's auditor general says the province needs a new framework for measuring and monitoring health-care system performance.
Danielle Smith becomes first Alberta premier in 90 years to face citizen recall
EDMONTON -- Danielle Smith has become the second Alberta premier – and the first in almost 90 years – to face a citizen-led petition drive to get her removed from her seat in the legislature.
Alberta government amends bill after chief electoral officer warns it harms trust
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government has made last-minute changes to a bill after the province's chief electoral officer warned it would impede the independence of his office.
Recall petition issued for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, two more cabinet ministers
EDMONTON -- Elections Alberta announced Wednesday a recall petition has been issued for Premier Danielle Smith and two more of her United Conservative Party cabinet ministers.
Alberta government refusing questions from NDP legislature member over remark
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government and a member of the Opposition NDP are in a standoff over questions in the legislature.
Alberta government refusing questions from NDP MLA over question period remark
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government and a member of the Opposition NDP are in a standoff over questions in the legislature.
Judge calls Alberta bill on referendum drives undemocratic, disrespect to rule of law
EDMONTON -- An Alberta judge says a bill introduced this week by Premier Danielle Smith's government is undemocratic.
CP NewsAlert: Judge calls Alberta bill on referendum drives undemocratic
EDMONTON -- An Alberta judge says a bill introduced this week by Premier Danielle Smith's government is undemocratic.
Opposition NDP now targeted as more Alberta politicians face recall petitions
EDMONTON -- The list of Alberta politicians facing recall petitions continues to grow -- and now includes the Opposition NDP.
Petitioner looking to recall Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says application approved
EDMONTON -- A woman looking to launch a recall petition to oust Alberta Premier Danielle Smith from her seat in the legislature says her campaign has been officially approved.
Adding Alberta health-care numbers to licences increases fraud risk: privacy watchdog
EDMONTON -- Alberta's privacy watchdog is raising concerns about a new government bill that would add health-care numbers to driver's licences and other forms of identification.
Alberta's Smith only has herself to blame for recall petitions: Labour leader
EDMONTON -- The president of the Alberta Federation of Labour says Premier Danielle Smith only has herself to blame for her United Conservative Party caucus facing more than a dozen recall petitions.
Alberta's Smith says UCP caucus not afraid to defend record in face of recall efforts
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her United Conservative Party caucus isn't afraid to defend its record as its faces more than a dozen recall campaigns.
Nine of Alberta Premier Smith's UCP legislature members facing recall petitions
EDMONTON -- Nine members of Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party caucus are now facing recall petitions - enough to potentially tip the balance of power in the legislature.
Nine of Premier Danielle Smith's UCP legislature members now facing recall petitions
EDMONTON -- Nine members of Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party caucus are now facing recall petitions - enough to potentially tip the balance of power in the legislature.
Nine of Alberta Premier Smith's UCP legislature members facing recall petitions
EDMONTON -- Nine members of Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party caucus are now facing recall petitions - enough to potentially tip the balance of power in the legislature.
Nolan Dyck, third member of Alberta premier's caucus, faces recall petition drive
EDMONTON -- A third member of Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party caucus is now officially the target of a petition to get him recalled from his job as a member of the legislature.
Recall petition approved for third Alberta legislature member
EDMONTON -- Alberta's chief electoral officer has approved a third recall petition application against a United Conservative Party legislature member.
Alberta premier distances herself from $109M DynaLife lab testing debacle
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is distancing herself from a multimillion-dollar lab testing debacle involving the former private provider DynaLife.
Alberta's auditor general says taxpayers lost $109M in lab testing debacle
EDMONTON -- Alberta's auditor general estimates the government's failed effort to privatize community lab testing services left taxpayers on the hook for about $109 million.
Alberta government eyes legal changes to let physicians work publicly and privately
EDMONTON -- The Alberta cabinet minister in charge of primary care says legislation is coming -- but won't provide details -- amid reports the province plans to let doctors work in the public and private health systems simultaneously as they see fit.
Critics concerned over Alberta plan to let physicians work publicly and privately
EDMONTON -- Alberta's cabinet minister in charge of primary health care is facing questions on possible major changes in how family doctors operate.
Alberta tables bill to add citizenship mark, health-care numbers to driver's licences
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government has tabled legislation to add health-care numbers and mandatory citizenship markers to driver's licences and identification cards.
Alberta premier says loss of measles elimination status concerning, urges vigilance
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Canada recently losing its measles elimination status is concerning, but her government might not have many other options on the table to help get it back.
Alberta MLA accuses school principal of weaponizing position to push recall petition
An Alberta legislature member is going on the attack against one of her own constituents.
Resolutions on coal, flags and more up for debate at Alberta UCP annual meeting
EDMONTON -- Reintroducing coal-powered electricity to Alberta's grid and restricting which flags are flown on public property are among dozens of new policy proposals being brought forward by grassroots members of Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party.
No changes coming 'at the moment' for Alberta's recall legislation: Premier Smith
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government has no plans to change provincial recall legislation, at least for the moment.
Airdrie resident behind recall campaign says local MLA not representing community
The man who launched a petition drive to oust United Conservative Party legislature member Angela Pitt says she needs to go because she's not getting the job done.
Alberta's Smith calls on Ottawa to use notwithstanding clause over child porn ruling
EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is calling on the federal government to invoke the Charter's notwithstanding clause to overturn a new Supreme Court ruling on child pornography.
Draft changes to Alberta's provincial ridings sees Edmonton, Calgary gain seats
EDMONTON -- A new report recommends Alberta's two major cities get more seats in the provincial legislature in time for the 2027 election.
Alberta government pays out $95 million to end another coal policy lawsuit
EDMONTON -- The Alberta government is paying out $95 million to a coal mining company to end another one of the lawsuits launched against it over its policy flip-flop.
Alberta government ending hybrid work policy for public servants starting in February
EDMONTON -- Alberta's government is ending its hybrid work policy, mandating all provincial employees return to the office full-time starting early next year.
Alberta NDP urges public to step up as striking teachers may face back-to-work bill
EDMONTON -- Alberta's Opposition NDP says it will fight the government's looming plan to introduce a bill to force striking teachers back to work.
Vote counting resumes in municipal elections across Alberta
EDMONTON -- Vote counting in Alberta's municipal and school board elections has resumed.
Albertans to pick mayors, councillors in provincewide municipal elections
EDMONTON -- Albertans are set to pick their next mayors and councillors today as municipal elections take place across the province.
Alberta teachers reject government request to end strike and enter mediation
EDMONTON -- The union representing Alberta teachers says its has turned down a request from the government to end a provincewide strike on Monday and go through enhanced mediation.
'Strong and free': Alberta government changing licence plate design, slogan
EDMONTON -- Alberta may no longer be known as "Wild Rose Country" -- at least on its licence plates.
Talks stall between Alberta teachers, government in provincewide strike
EDMONTON -- Alberta's finance minister says there's a major divide between what the union representing striking teachers is asking for and what the government is willing to spend.
Alberta teachers, government resume talks as provincewide strike hits second week
EDMONTON -- The union representing Alberta teachers and the provincial government's bargaining committee met Tuesday for the first time since a provincewide strike began a week ago.
'There's a void': Alberta students keep busy, hope for end to teachers strike
EDMONTON -- Many Alberta students are sleeping in these days, struggling with the feeling they should be doing something else instead.
Striking Alberta teachers, province to resume bargaining talks Tuesday
EDMONTON -- The union representing 51,000 striking Alberta teachers is set to resume negotiations with the provincial government's bargaining team after the long weekend.
Alberta education minister concerned about private school funding petition
EDMONTON -- Alberta's education minister says cutting government funding to private schools would only escalate the pressure faced by the province's strained public school system.